Rude gestures from another motorist

Goudy

I feel for you, I live in a city full of similar people.

You should really vent your anger at the road planners, they're the idiots.
It's madness that they paint lane direction arrows on the road surface near the edge of junctions that they know full well will more than likely have vehicles stopped over the top of it!

So you either can't see the arrow in the first place or you see it at the last minute and have to change lanes into one that's likely already full of nose to tail traffic.

I can't see why they don't just use signs well ahead of the junction, why paint them on a surface that everyone knows will be covered by traffic?

I honestly can't see any reason for all this paint other than it's cheap, but try riding a motorbike in the wet over it all, it can be as slippery as ice.

I gave up riding in London because of it, the paint is everywhere, but it's particularly bad in braking zones on junctions.
I've yet to drive round a foreign city with as much painted road as London and it's not all white paint, the roads are like Joseph's frickin' coat!

mcpitman

OP - this happens, unless you are/were driving like a fool (which it doesn't sound like you were), just shrug your shoulders and carry on.

Literally treat these fools with a "Meh" attitude and all will be well.

bertiewhite

JackeeBoy wrote: »

but drive how you want to drive

that's what the van driver was doing

NBLondon

Yes - you were in the wrong lane on approach; maybe because you were unfamiliar with the area; maybe because the signage was poor. You indicated, the silver car helped you out.

The van driver comes across as a rectal exit sphincter - as others have said, there will be many others about so don't let them wind you up.

mattyprice4004

Why did your passenger have to tell you to let it go and continue safely; what other option is there? Drag them out of the van for a fight?

People are rude, it happens, it's just how the world is. Motoring really brings out the worst in people - if you can't handle the odd middle finger or 'coffee beans' gesture when you make a mistake, then driving is the wrong mode of transport

caprikid1

I think one thing that has been missed is that you may have made a mistake done something wrong prior to that ?

pinkteapot

You'll encounter these idiots every so often on the roads.

A couple of years back, I was on my regular commute and there was a simple 'cross-roads' roundabout (4 exits at 12 o'clock, 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock, 9 o'clock - roads even at perfect right angles to each other). I went straight over it. Two lanes on the approach, one lane off. Everyone (correctly) used the left lane to go straight over.

I was in the left lane as usual and went straight across. Someone who'd been next to me in the right-hand lane as we pulled onto the roundabout also went straight across. We went round at the same sort of speed. I'd assumed they were turning right but they braked and dropped in behind me.

Then they started blasting their horn, flashing their lights and gesturing. I *think* that they hadn't noticed me next to them and thought I'd carved them up from the road on the left? They kept flashing and waving as they followed me down the road. I actually got quite scared as I was close to home and thought they'd follow me there, so I pulled into a busy supermarket car park in between, just in case they followed!! (They didn't )

I've only had it happen once or twice but it is really unnerving and still shakes me up after 20 years of driving. I keep an eye in my mirrors for nutters weaving about in traffic, driving aggressively, etc and stay as far away from them as I can around junctions/roundabouts.

Mercdriver

Drive like everyone else is an idiot. Sometimes the idiot is you. That's the rule I apply to myself.

DoaM

My motto when driving is "Infamy! Infamy! They've all got it in for me!"

bonnyrigger

Hat theory strikes again - anyone wearing a hat while driving is either aggressive/useless or both.