Rude gestures from another motorist

Mercdriver

cubegame wrote: »

I suspect I called it right though.

Keep telling yourself that Mr Perfect Driver :j

onwards&upwards

Sea_Shell wrote: »

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.

We’ve all ended up in the wrong lane at times! But if you can’t correct it without holding up traffic or taking a risk you should just go with it and turn around/turn back/adjust your route when it’s safe/appropriate to do so.

onwards&upwards

cubegame wrote: »

I suspect I called it right though.

You very likely did, I know I ended up in those situations as a new driver, who hasn’t! It doesn’t excuse the road rage response though, that should be saved for people who are driving dangerously stupidly and those in BMWs, there is significant overlap.

RichardD1970

onwards&upwards wrote: »

We’ve all ended up in the wrong lane at times! But if you can’t correct it without holding up traffic or taking a risk you should just go with it and turn around/turn back/adjust your route when it’s safe/appropriate to do so.

Indeed, but as far as the OP indicates he was allowed in by another driver without incident/taking a risk/holding up traffic. It was the driver behind the obliging one that took exception to being 1 whole car length further back in the queue, who then acted like a !!!!.

Arklight

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.

If you think getting that wound up because a car lets another car in, in front of you, is a proportionate response, then it isn't the OP who has a problem with their driving.

Arklight

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!

You don't know what's going on in people's lives, and unfortunately it does boil over on the road as often as not. People driving vans and the angry middle aged men in German sales exec mobiles aren't worth riling up. Their attention is 100% on the thing that started ten minutes ago they're still 15 miles from and the roasting they'll get for the targets they aren't hitting.

Best thing to do is avoid antagonising them any more, and try and make sure you aren't anywhere near them, as they are likely to cause an accident elsewhere.

Electro_Magnet

cubegame wrote: »

I suspect I called it right though.

Firstly, thank you for your input into my thread. I appreciate it. I can understand your point - that changing lanes at a roundabout can cause upset and may not be safe.



However, I think you have misunderstood my actions (reading from your initial comment). I did not panic or brake unnecessarily. I slowed down as I approached the roundabout, which gave me time to notice that my lane had 'left-only' painted on it. I was aware of my mirrors, and there was nothing behind me.


I then used my right indicator for its intended purpose, which is "I intend to make a maneuver to the right. I was of course aware that there was traffic in the right hand lane. As the traffic ahead moved, another motorist in the lane noticed that I was indicating to change lanes and allowed me space to make the maneuver safely.


I'm not trying to deny that I may have missed a sign on approach to the roundabout. I was in the wrong lane - my fault. But your interpretation of events was not correct. I was not panicked or driving dangerously.

Electro_Magnet

cubegame wrote: »

S
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".

My understanding is that indicators are used to show intent to make an maneuver to the left or right, not that it is necessarily safe to do so. If I get to a junction onto a main road, I stop and put on my right-hand indicator - it doesn't imply it's safe for me to turn right immediately. It is to signal to traffic in front / behind me that it is my intention to turn right. I will only actually turn right when I can observe that it is safe to do so (e.g. the main road is clear of traffic).

Scrapit

Electro_Magnet wrote: »

Firstly, thank you for your input into my thread. I appreciate it. I can understand your point - that changing lanes at a roundabout can cause upset and may not be safe.



However, I think you have misunderstood my actions (reading from your initial comment). I did not panic or brake unnecessarily. I slowed down as I approached the roundabout, which gave me time to notice that my lane had 'left-only' painted on it. I was aware of my mirrors, and there was nothing behind me.


I then used my right indicator for its intended purpose, which is "I intend to make a maneuver to the right. I was of course aware that there was traffic in the right hand lane. As the traffic ahead moved, another motorist in the lane noticed that I was indicating to change lanes and allowed me space to make the maneuver safely.


I'm not trying to deny that I may have missed a sign on approach to the roundabout. I was in the wrong lane - my fault. But your interpretation of events was not correct. I was not panicked or driving dangerously in my opinion.

The van driver may have a different view.;)

Dr_Crypto

The joys of motoring.

If it’s any consolation if the man is getting so worked up over nothing he’ll probably keel over with a coronary soon enough.