As a Cyclist/Motorist/Pedestrian I have to say the general levels of aggressive behaviour on the roads have gone up noticeably over the last decade or so, some people will act like a dick whatever vehicle you’re in/on, basically if you take a common or garden cock and put them in the drivers seat of an A4 it magnifies they “Cockishness” by a factor of about ten and they abuse just about anyone…
I think the increase of late is down to the more general “malaise” of the country at the minute, Economic crisis, Shite weather, Papers and TV news that seem to report nothing but Kiddie murders, Bankers bonuses, MP’s on the fiddle and Redundancy’s galore all contribute, plus there are just too many cars about, I do my best not to avoid driving now, certainly around town, any journey under 3 miles can be walked if you allow the time so why heap stress on yourself and I do feel better adjusted after a weekend without driving, even though I really quite like driving or at least used to…
“Road rage” stems from the old “fight or flight” response, having 2 tons of metal makes some people Err more towards the “Fight” end of things, and I think if people are feeling generally more harassed then their fuses get shorter still, I’m not trying to justify it merely looking at the contributing factors… My advice is to pity them, they’ve sat getting fatter and angrier in their tin box while as a cyclist you can glide past the jams and will have done some exercise by the end of your commute, don’t bother to wave your fingers back at them or shout, just turn the other cheek, be the bigger man (or woman) and rise above it all (easier said than done I know)…
I stopped commuting after having driver clip me. I raised my hand in anger at him, he stops further up and then we have a few words. I ride off, he then wheelspins and aims the car at me and only just missed me as I had the sense to jump the bike onto the pavement.
I had a witness, he has been charged with Dangerous Driving. Just waiting on the court date now.
@ west kipper - Maybe I am less tollerant then - no offence intended 🙂
Nah, foxy, maybe I came across as doubting the fact, and it is a fact, that there are a lot of angry, wound up folk on the roads that wouldn't dare behave like that if they weren't inside a car.
I definitely think things get worse every year, and the only thing thats going to stop it is, y'know, like actual law enforcement. 🙄
(absolutely not more stupid f***ing cyclelanes!)
wouldn't dare behave like that if they weren't inside a car.
Good point - I'm only aggressive on my bike when my life has been put in danger but I agree that people have a different persona when behind the wheel 🙂
but there is some shocking driving out there and driving attitudes
I know, my poor-driving attitude is almost legendary... 😆
In answer to Foxy's original question from the day the car was invented it's always been that way for'some' motorists.
But as lots have said above, as the roads reflect social attitudes generally so 'some' has grown and has perhaps sadly become the majority.
For those who find themselves rising to challenges (red mist) this is a recommended read:
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