Rude gestures from another motorist

AdrianC

Electro_Magnet wrote: »

I find it strange that some people don't think (or care) that not everyone knows the road layout in advance

TBF, we don't know where this was, so we don't know what signage the OP may have missed.

Electro_Magnet

AdrianC wrote: »

TBF, we don't know where this was, so we don't know what signage the OP may have missed.

Thanks for your comments on this thread, I appreciate your advice!


It is of course possible that I missed a sign on approach to the roundabout. If I drive that way again I'll have to check if there were any signs I missed.


I suppose what confused me was the duality of the experience. The silver car driver was considerate, and gave me room to change lanes. This clearly upset the van driver (who I assume must have been further back in the queue) who decided that catch me up after the roundabout and vent his anger at me.



But as you - and everyone - has helpfully said, these experiences are going to happen to me as a driver. Next time, I won't take it so personally and will try not to let it get me rattled.

onwards&upwards

Other driver overreacted for sure, no need for it at all.

That said...

Sometimes if you get in the wrong lane it’s better to just go with it and get back on track a different way. Trying to nudge across in stationery or slow moving traffic can hold up the flow and it’s not a great habit to get into.

Are you wearing P plates? They will cause most drivers to cut you some slack but make others irrationally aggressive and impatient!

Alanp

Imagine when we’re all running around in driverless cars, wonder if there will be a “ gesture to another driver” button in the options list..��

Seriously though, just ignore drivers like this, but it’s funny how in life in general we can make a small mistake and others will understand, but get behind the wheel and the slightest infringement is viewed as a major issue

cubegame

Electro_Magnet wrote: »

Hi all,

I've been driving only a few months but feel like a confident and safe driver. Today I had an experience which I cannot understand and which shook me up, so I'm looking to get your advice and hear if you've had similar experiences.



I was driving to somewhere I hadn't been before, and approached a roundabout. I have been taught to stay in the left-hand lane unless otherwise required, and that it is standard practice to be in the left-hand lane if going straight ahead at a roundabout. On the road sign approaching the roundabout, straight ahead was marked at the 12 o'clock position (if that helps).



Approaching the roundabout there were two lanes, and thus I was in the left-hand lane. However, just before getting to the roundabout, road markings said my lane was 'left only'. This would have taken me onto a motorway, which I didn't want.



Realising that I was in the wrong lane, I indicated that I wanted to get into the right-hand lane. It was about 11.30am, and not particularly busy. There were no cars behind me in the left-hand lane, and maybe 5 cars queueing in the right-hand lane.



A silver car in the right-hand lane held back, allowing me to get into the correct lane. As the silver car let me in, I could hear someone behind blasting their horn. It was not the driver of the silver car, so I didn't think anymore of it. As far as I was aware, I had made a safe maneuver - I did not cut anyone up, and it's not like I was trying to jump the queue or anything.



Having gone straight ahead at the roundabout, the road opened up into two lanes. Then (about 30 seconds after the roundabout) a small van pulled alongside me - we were doing about 40mph. He starts honking his horn. A bearded middle-aged man with a baseball cap was staring into my car, scowling at me. Both his hands were off the steering wheel as he was gesticulating 'backwards' - I can only assume back to the roundabout. He then made a series of obscene hand gestures at me and sped off.


I was really surprised / shocked. I've never experienced that kind of rudeness from another motorist before, and I don't even understand what I could have done to upset him.



What do you think - was my maneuver of changing lanes at the roundabout really bad? How do you deal with these kinds of situations?



I was fortunate to have a passenger with me who told me to let it go and continue safely, which I did.



Any advice, similar experiences and opinions of the situation much appreciated. Thanks!

So reading between the lines you:-

1. Panicked like most drivers do and braked unnecessarily as you realised that there was a consequence to your poor observation skills.

2. Proceeded to use your indicators to obtain "permission to move" rather than what they are actually for which is to indicate "I have made the observation that it is safe to move so I am now executing that move".

I can see why you would have annoyed the driver behind you. Perhaps their annoyance was disproportianate but you there is both cause and effect at play here.

Jackmydad

Mercdriver wrote: »

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

This sums it up for me. We all make mistakes.
Some people make the mistake of getting behind a steering wheel though.

Jono111

Just out of interest, the space the car made for you didn't contain a van did it.

mollycat

cubegame wrote: »

So reading between the lines you:-

1. Panicked like most drivers do and braked unnecessarily as you realised that there was a consequence to your poor observation skills.

2. Proceeded to use your indicators to obtain "permission to move" rather than what they are actually for which is to indicate "I have made the observation that it is safe to move so I am now executing that move".

I can see why you would have annoyed the driver behind you. Perhaps their annoyance was disproportianate but you there is both cause and effect at play here.

Never a good idea really, always just better to read what's written.

No evidence at all that the OP did what you have assumed in points 1 and 2.

Still, if posting that makes you feel good....sad really.

Sea_Shell

There probably doesn't exist a driver who's not ever got in the wrong lane before and had to "ask nicely" to be let across.

Even experienced drivers can come unstuck in unfamiliar territory.

I once ended up in the Motorway north lane, rather than south, at a T junction with traffic lights. My mistake, yes. But indication, eye contact and a wave of thanks sorted it out.

Ignore the ****ers, who gesticulate, they just have sad little lives.

cubegame

mollycat wrote: »

Never a good idea really, always just better to read what's written.

No evidence at all that the OP did what you have assumed in points 1 and 2.

Still, if posting that makes you feel good....sad really.

I suspect I called it right though.