I was happily enjoying my Mozart on the drive to work when this impatient Camry behind me kept honking for me to make a U-turn when there is fast-moving oncoming traffic. Sorry buddy, I thought, I'm in front and if I get into an accident it isn't on your insurance so just bloody wait. But wait this fella could not and he overtook me at the U-turn junction and made a hasty (and dangerous) turn, despite being honked and high-beamed by oncoming traffic. He's still stuck in the yellow box anyway and threw me dirty looks for a full minute to which I raised my hand to signal What is your problem?
Mr I-didn't-get-it-last-night opened his door and started banging on my car window, yelling vulgarities at my mockery of him. He then went back into his car, cussing along the way, and pulled over on the left to wait for me to pass so he can follow me into my building. He waited until I had parked the car, continued to give me dirty looks over his wife's shoulder, before driving away.
He may be having a bad day but I'm in no mood to let his road rage pass, so I called building security as well as the police. And now this is a police case on his head, serves him well and right. I hope he gets slapped with a big fat fine.
Strangely enough I cannot find any useful article on the issue from SPF or the Driving Centres although there are many on individual's experiences with them. How is the line drawn between road bullies and uncouth drivers? When is it appropriate to get the police involved?
Lady drivers, know your rights (thanks Zack, the ex-policeman, who gave me a rundown of what constitutes a road bully, I was paying half attention that day over prata but it came in useful today!
1) Most importantly is that the driver a) gets out of his car, b) comes over and c) threatens you physically or verbally, that makes him a road bully in the eye of the law.
2) Do not get out of your car, lock your doors and windows but turn on your phone camera and film him threatening you. This serves as evidence to the cops if you've no eye witness (which usually is the case as no one else is arsed to get involved and your passenger may be viewed as biased) but bullies usually back off from fear of being implicated (or get even more violent).
3) Take down his license plate and report immediately to the police.
4) If the going gets rough and you're alone and/or being followed, get help from a nearby police post or building security.
Stay safe ladies and give those bullies what they deserve- a bad driving record.
