The Roads and People Are Broken #2 

Everyone’s in a rush until someone annoys them, then they have aaaaaalll the time in the world to go out their way to chase someone down. 😂

The headbutt was him trying to remove his last braincell

I keep trying to tell myself that 99% of drivers aren't doing things like this. That's why your 'nice driving' videos are so welcome. Stay safe all.

It's why making things a "non-event" has become one of my top mindsets when on the road. I'm not saying i wouldn't stand up for myself, i would but you don't know who is unhinged out there.

Driving should be seen as a team game where we're all on the same side. The aim is to get where we're going safely and efficiently, and we all help each other out along the way.

One of the worrying things about these kinds of incidents is that they can arise simply because you are driving correctly and the other driver either doesn't understand that (merge in turn perceived as queue jumping for example) or simply takes exception to you doing the correct thing, such as obeying a speed limit for example. This is all aside from the possibility of making a simple honest mistake, which we all do from time to time. I haven't had anything like this ever happen and hopefully never will but it's quite worrying that these situations can arise out of something very minor and sometimes just because you followed the rules.

That is assault, send the video to the police. If you make somebody feel that they are in imminant physical danger, you are guilty of assault.

Because we have a society that takes its social queues from soap operas where bad news means you have to go and sit in a layby somewhere, finding out someone has died necessitates punching a door and any form of disagreement means you have to behave like this. Since the early 80s and the advent of Albert Bloody Square all people see on TV is how to over react. But you are right the roads like the rest of the country are entirely broken.

To say safe on the roads I was once told "treat everyone as if they are an idiot about to do something stupid", very wise words back in the day but now to stay safe on the roads the saying is different...."treat everyone as if they are a psychopath about to attack you".

I got cut up on a dual carriageway a couple of years back, my reaction was to shake my head. The driver saw this and then kept tying to box me in on the road, when i finally filtered off the road he followed, got out his car came to the window and asked me to get out the car so he could slit my throat. When i refused he said i wasn't such a big man anymore. All from me shaking my head in disapproval. Shook me up for a few months, was a little scared id see him again as it was on my journey to work.

thinks he's hard when in reality he looks like a 5 year old throwing a hissyfit!

Was assaulted by a road rager at the beginning of March, this resulted in me receiving serious head & leg injuries as I fell to ground landing on knees then striking head on pavement. I was knocked unconscious for about an hour & have memory loss. At the time of incident I was a pedestrian who was nearly knocked over. Road rager exited his vehicle & struck me on head. Lucky there were a number of witnesses who waved down passing Police vehicle & the man was arrested. He has since been charged & will appear in court in June. I was hospitalised with my head injury & may also require surgery to my knee. The last thing I expected was someone to assualt me without reason!

I work in the claims team at a motor insurance company and saw a very similar clip just recently. A driver was cut up on a 2 to 1 merging lane, the driver whos vehicle was hit immediately bolted out of his vehicle. He started using abusive language and attempted to forcefully enter the other vehicle. He ended up ripping off their door handle and punching all of their windows from n/s front to the rear. Insane

unfortunately over the years I live in UK (12 now), it went downhill, but not only here, and I think all of that is due to no enforcement. No police keeping road users safe from idiots.

I've never seen such aggression on the roads as I'm seeing now, it appears to be who can drive the closest. Front and rear cameras a must A reflection of our society

And let’s not forget, it’s only getting worse, there are a vast majority of people that I wouldn’t trust with a shopping trolley yet they are allowed to operate what is essentially a killing machine in public!! Yet for any offence carried out they are likely to face a suspended sentence and/or a fine which has little to no effect on their behaviour. Laws are outdated & judges don’t care unless it directly affects them so things will just carry on regardless.

Scary. Never, ever, ever get involved in any form of road rage or aggression. Just let it go. You never know who you will encounter, and who will lose the bap over a simple road incident.

We need a nice driving video to make up for this!

"Oh no, I panicked when he opened the boot. I just wanted to get out of there and hit the accelerator, pinning him between the cars. If only he hadn't been so aggressive."

Even driving at the speed limit annoys some drivers.

This is in Canterbury Kent, to set the scene there is many factors to consider here. This is a route which is used as a turnaround point, due to the coast bound having no exit at this point of Canterbury, so drivers travel up to the next junction and come back on themselves. There is a crematorium nearby with usually the older generation of persons paying respects etc, there is a nearby village which has somewhat lower end of the spectrum of society living there (it has a reputation), the junction they stopped at is a recently introduced one for a new housing development, the speed change is from 70mph to 30mph in a very short distance. The junction takes you into a very busy part of Canterbury, and is always a traffic hotspot regardless of time. The motorway is a very busy one as it’s one of the main route from Dover into Kent. There is always a mix of drivers along this piece of road, some whom drive to the limit or less and a growing majority that do whatever they want. A lot of Drivers of Kent from my experience seem to be particularly aggressive ones of late.

You have the added problem of drug driving on top of road rage, someone on cocaine for example is going to react without any inhibition to a situation, I saw enough problems running pubs and hotels with coke heads.

And even if the police gets involved, not a lot will happen. Give the guy a five year ban and a re-test.

Despite having some of the safest roads, paradoxically the UK is one of the most aggressive places I drive - minor issues like someone moving into your lane, merge in turns, car park manoeuvres all get honked and a disproportionate level of rage I rarely see in other countries. I think it’s the lack of sun. I drive in the US and as a result I imagine everyone else has a gun - as depressing as that is it’s a great leveller and I apply that same mindset back home in the UK.

I’m a HGV driver and the standards of driving nowadays are terrible. I avoid accidents almost daily. I think impatience is a big factor everyone seems in a hurry to get nowhere. Most car drivers don’t want to be stuck behind a truck and will risk their life cutting in front and braking to make their exit on the motorway rather than waiting behind an extra 20 seconds.

Society is broken. People are a lot angrier than they used to be.

Mercy to criminals is cruelty to their victims.

Never get out of the car, it’s the best shield and best weapon you’ll ever had.

I remember reading a book by Chris Daw KC and his experience working with criminals. He said one prisoner killed another prisoner over a misplaced onion in the prison kitchen. Road rage is similar IMO - it’s usually over nothing significant. But when (usually but not always) male egos boil over, they can only see red.

Just to put things in perspective folks, when I was back in my other homeland of Vancouver Canada for two months earlier this year, I also noticed less of a police presence than in years / decades gone by. As beautiful as it is over there, they've had cutbacks over there too. I didn't witness any road rage over there but you do occasionally read or hear about it in the local Vancouver news. Similarly for across the border in the USA and yes, there are the occasional freeway shootings. If I may, I think sometimes there's a tendancy to think only the UK has a certain issue or that we are "the worst in the world" regarding something, when in reality, other countries have similar / identical issues. I will say, I found the driving a bit more "sedate" in North America but aggressive driving certainly exists over there, particularly around the larger population centres.

These bullies pick their targets, if you show fear they can sense it. They don’t pick on big built guys who come out their cars before they do. I believe the true hard guys never cause trouble

Road rage seems worse now than ever before, faced this type of reaction daily when I lived in London and saw quite a few incidents. I blame the lack of routine traffic police patrols and the reliance on cctv after the fact footage rather than prevention.

"I'm sorry officer. I accidentally ran him over as I was in fear of my life and trying to get away".

This sounds grim and extreme, but if in a situation like this, where you genuinely fear for your life, and you don't have the luxury of a second lane to use as an escape, it will not be held against you to go **through** the person that is threatening your life. You will however need to immediately call 999 to inform the emergency srvices of what just transpired, both police and ambulance. It's shocking that this needs to be said, but you are always much safer in your car, never get out, lock the doors.

An associate of mine did something similar. As he opened his boot the man panicked because he had his baby in the car, he drove into my associate and broke his, leg, pelvis, back and damaged a kidney so bad it had to be removed. My associate can walk albeit badly, but if he further damaged his pelvis or leg he will have to have an amputation. All for a moment of madness. The driver was charged with GBH with intent but the case collapsed. It was all avoidable and silly. Please be the adult in the room.

I see these sort of lunatics almost daily in my village high st, and it is getting worse. Grate Britain!!

I honestly couldn't tell you the last time I seen plod on the roads, or indeed anywhere locally around where I live. They have been cut to the bone. This allows this kind of behaviour to go unchecked, and these people just go about their business so aggressively as they know there's no consequences until they come upon someone bigger and stronger than them that's willing to slap them down. A sad state of affairs, this country really has gone to the dogs in so many ways over the past decade or so.

"That guy just opened the boot, and the driver of the black car has accelerated and pinned him to the bumper." I'm a firm believer of f about and find out : dude would have found out just how squishy he was.

I’m a mechanic and the amount of weapons I find in door cards and under seats is frightening.

A very timely video! We often take for granted that other drivers are safe, polite, and aware but for many years standards have been in decline to the point now where every driver must be assumed to be ‘a bit soft under the cap’. Very sad

This guy is going to challenge the wrong person. Hopefully we get that dash cam footage. 😂

Imagine thinking you’re hard when going for a weapon and punching someone’s window. I got money on he went up to the window, saw the person was either terrified/smaller than him and proceeded to do what he did cus if someone his own size or bigger was sat in there he woulda said sorry and got back in his car.

Last summer, I was without my car for a week, whilst it had work to get it through its MoT. A work colleague, who I didn’t know all that well, offered to give me a lift. That was nice of him, I thought! He took a different route to our factory, on that Monday morning; and when we reached a place in the road where two lanes merged into one, an Audi driver came fast up the outside lane and cut us up. My colleague sounded his horn, at which point the driver and his passenger both got out of the Audi; the passenger was holding a baseball bat in his hands, and was certainly going to smash our windscreen with it. My colleague jumped out of our car, and I suddenly noticed that he too had a large baseball bat! He must have had it hidden under his seat. When the two Audi thugs saw the bat, they shouted obscenities, before driving off. Now, I’m NOT saying that carrying a weapon in your car is acceptable; of course it isn’t. But I do understand why more motorists are doing so. I caught the bus to work for the rest of that week.

problem is, the police are broken too.

Many years ago I stopped at some red traffic lights in the left of two lanes. After the lights the two lanes would merge into one further up. A BMW pulled up next to me in the right lane. When the lights changed to green I just pulled away as normal, not giving it any welly (I was driving a pretty low-powered non-sporty car). The BMW driver next to me didn't react to the green light very quickly, so was behind me. But he suddenly decided to floor it aggressively (wheel-spinning) and get ahead of me, which didn't bother me too much as there was a queue of traffic ahead anyway. When we got to the queue of traffic the driver and passenger of the BMW got out and started to approach me looking very angry. Fortunately I'd kept well back and had been scanning the road around me do I decided to swing a U-turn and dash the other way. When I saw them getting back into the car in my mirror, I dived into a car park next to the road, and got out to walk down the road. I could see the car still in the traffic and made a mental note of their number plate (never have pen and paper when you need one, no mobile phone back then). I reported them to the police, but they didn't give a hoot. I really didn't get why the driver got so insulted by me just reacting to the green light faster than he did, and I certainly wasn't trying to race him (wasn't in a car equipped to do that!). I wasn't trying to prevent him getting ahead either. I just wonder if he'd had a really bad day (and maybe a few too many 'roids - had that look about him) and I was just the straw that broke the camel's back?

The roads and the people, in my opinion, are totally broken, In the urban maze, where shadows lie unspoken. Beneath the city's pulse, where dreams are forsaken, Lost in the chaos, where hearts are woken. Streets, like veins, carry life's heavy load, Echoes of laughter and tears in their abode. Yet amidst the clamor, a silent plea bestowed, For healing and renewal, on this weary road. In the asphalt labyrinth, where fates entwine, A yearning for redemption, in every sign. The roads and the people, in their design, Seeking solace and meaning, in this grand design. WH AudenGPT

9 times out of 10 these altercation result from the aggressor having been at fault and didn't like his wrongful action being highlighted!

"Sorry officer, I thought I saw a knife, i panicked and my foot slipped. Do you think that mess will wash off easily?"

More lifetime driving bans would be such a good thing for this country.

This looks like it happened in my old home town of Canterbury, as you come off the A2 (London bound) up to the A28 at Wincheap/Thanington. Enough said really!!

This is why your advice to ‘submit’ is so helpful. Better to lose face (if that’s what it feels like) than possibly lose your life.

Did you know that in Northumberland we have the worst main roads. Nearlry every day there tail backs on the A1, because it should have been dualed over 30 years ago. Also that they have been reparing the roads with baged tarmac (the sort that you repair drives with) and not tamped down; instead of using 'Hot Box' tarmac. Some have now had to be filled in 3 times! Since before Christmas, as they have been washed out. What a waste of money

I hope this lunatic was brought before the courts. He needs banning and jailing.

I escaped the UK thirty years ago - partly because of endemic BS like this. I used to drive a Lada Riva; it was built like a tank and worth not much more than its scrap value. How I longed for situations like this to happen to me! I would have had no qualms about taking a door off, or leaving a large dent in his wing.

Trying that in areas of the USA will get you ventilated real fast.

sadly something happened like this in Glasgow on the M8 last week, we even had local newspaper cover the incident.

Assault, threatening words and behaviour, and dangerous driving from what I've seen. There's a lot of police bashing going on in the comments but I guarantee they will investigate this if it is reported.

And our sloppy flakey law and justice system have allowed society to think this is ok. Good luck trying to change it back

Thing is, he'll do it to someone that's the same as him one day only they'll be bigger and badder than he is. Is it really worth it? Furthermore, remember that no one out there is as big and powerful as your vehicle. If someone is this irate and gets a weapon from their boot then get the hell out of there and if they are in the way, tough!

I’ve been riding and driving for over 50 years. There has always been road rage, but nowhere near the level it is today. At one time a little toot of the horn or a hand up In acknowledging of making a mistake and everyone got on with their day. Now, not just on the roads, it’s becoming a free for all, no curtesy or respect for fellow humans and it usually those who are in the wrong, react the most badly. Has Covid affected peoples thinking and logic?

It's because more and more people are just unhappy with their lives. It's gotta come out some way

Part of the problem is when these people are caught, they are given too much leniency by the courts, which doesn't deter them from repeating this aggression.

Things like this wouldn't happen if the police gave a shit. I was blocked in and threatened by a van claiming my driving caused their windshield to explode and they used intimidation and their van to try and extort me out of my money. Witnesses and full information was provided along with the location of CCTV likely seeing it and all I got was a fucking crime number. I know for a fact after they left me, they tried it with someone else. Only reason they left me is because I refused to get out of my car and I didn't let it escalate.

Something like that happened to me in 2013. I might have a clip of it somewhere. I moved into the correct lane and was overtaking a black Mk7 golf on a 2-lane one way system. He decided he needed to be in that lane so turned into it without checking. I stamp on my brakes to avoid a collision. He stopped, got out and came around to give me a mouthful for daring to drive on an open road and prevent him from cutting me up.

He has two remaining brain cells and they are both fighting for third place.

We’ve reported numerous altercations dangerous situations etc we even followed a vehicle for 15 miles swerving between 3 lanes..no Police arrived.

If you feel a need to get out your car in a situation like this you are probably not fit to drive. Your fuse is to short. What would he have done in an actual collision? Who knows what went on before but if the other car provoked this short fused man lost. He looks like an raving idiot and potentially could have ended up in a conversation in plod central. Weird how people get angry so easily when sat in a metal box?

One of the reasons I've had a dash cam fitted since 2012. You don't always need to have actually done anything these days for idiots to somehow feel aggrieved. Sometimes the perceived indiscretion is in their head, or due to their sense of entitlement.

Madness, One of the reasons I no longer enjoy driving.

Was it just me or did he headbutt the door of the car, not the driver? a perfect answer to this kind of situation, farb gel, 100% legal, gives them enough time to get the hell out of there, and he probably wouldn't have bothered taking it further after that due to being more concerned about the red dye all over his face and clothes that he wouldn't be able to get off for days

That bloke needs to be banned from driving for life.

Things have defiantly gone crazy, had a few times recently were people from a distance accelerate at me up to about 60mph when I'm crossing the road on my housing estate, they seem to think it's a game to make you move faster, even had it on the zebra crossing. and it's not just on the road either, wasn't like like this before the pandemic, something's not right.

At least we're not the US where everybody is armed.

If he'd tried that in some places I know in the US, he'd have got a bullet in his face. Now I'm not advocating that sort of behaviour, I hate guns, but just pointing out what could happen. Some time ago, I heard of a British tourist from the city I live in who knocked on a door in Texas late one night to ask for directions. He was gunned down by the homeowner, no action was taken against him as by Texas law a homeowner is legally allowed to kill an alleged intruder on his property. Glad I don't live there..!

Imagine having your wife and kids in the car and having to deal with that... why can you not defend yourself and have to be chased and run and put them in danger?

I absolutely agree. I've been driving in London for 30 years and the standards have gone seriously downhill why aren't foreigners made to take a British theory and driving test when they arrive none of their cars have working indicators

Of course it's a Bora. 😂

Very threatening! A good reminder not to use the horn or lights (or hand signals) to tell people off after an event, not matter how wrong. Only as a warning to prevent an accident. If you are dealing with this type of person anything could happen.

I don't know what that was about but plenty drivers actively impede the progress of others. Aggression is a by-product of that.

Wow, he’s got a screw loose, he shouldn’t be allowed to drive a car, the victim must have been terrified, I really hope they’re ok, things like this can put you off driving for life, I really hope this footage has been sent to the police.

Wouldn't waste my time trying to talk to the police about anything

In 30 years of driving I’ve never known it like now, it like people are infected with something that has removed all reason and manners. I’m not sexist but having women speeding and driving up my back end is every other minute in my town.

In my experience the police will follow up a 999 call in this sort of situation. Also looks like the window was slightly open.. be aware, some people are spraying liquids and spitting

I've definitely noticed that people are getting more easily worked up............hate driving nowadays and one of the reasons I stopped driving HGV's and am litter picking the streets now...

That's not far from where I live, and it confirms my belief that there are far too many dangerous people behind the wheel of a car, and probably not just where I live too.

Before lead was removed from petrol, afternoon violence between drivers was not uncommon due to overdosing on lead. Violent ocurrences dropped after lead was banned. Something else seems to have taken over

The other day I was reversing out of a drive in a cul de sac, there were cars all around and I managed to bump one that was behind me. The guy in his 20's was standing next to the car so I got out and apologised and asked what he wanted to do. It was a small scuff about the size of a tennis ball and his reply was " You better f**k off before I hit you" Being nearly 60 and quickly realising that this was a win for me and my 7yrs no claims I took him up on his offer.

Your car is your best friend in a defensive encounter like this one - back it up if you have to so as to give yourself more options - either drive away - the best option in every situation - or so you can ruin the aggressor's day when he's opening his boot.

Even the most innocuous action will trigger some drivers. A few years ago I overtook a driver who was ambling along at a sedate 40 on a national speed limit road. The stretch of road was perfectly straight and dry. I overtook safely only to encounter the driver flashing their headlights and seemingly following me, even when I routed to go back on myself. I eventually lost them on a bend by turning into a residential street.

I’m convinced that a lot of road rage incidents like this are committed by otherwise perfectly normal, sensible people…yet like many do, they get a steering wheel in front of them and they immediately dehumanise others. Awful behaviour.

Shocking! Hope the police were informed !

I had a similar thing happen to me. The guy got out of his vehicle, started to approach my car but then realised I had a dash cam. He rather hastily got straight back in his car and sped away.

Road Rager used Headbutt! It's not very effective... It hurts itself in recoil!

I witnessed a very similar incident a few years ago. When the guy pointing his finger got close enough the second driver grabbed the finger and promptly broke it for him. I honestly advise anyone and everyone to 'turn the other cheek' and walk/drive away from conflict.

it also bears mentioning, don't get in the middle; unless it becomes necessary to prevent severe bodily harm, all that does is risk adding you to the casualty list.

When I was a kid, we didn't even lock the car doors when mum or dad parked in local villages or towns. How things have changed for the worse in my lifetime

Even as a half handy man myself, getting out the car or opening the door 8s the worst mistake you could make in that situation.

I genuinely don’t know what it is about this country and why we are so aggressive behind the wheel. I’ve been to Rome where drivers do the most crazy things, but not one shred of anger or violence happens, just a beep of the horn. It’s truly embarrassing in this country.

I remember seeing a road rage attack years ago. I was stuck in traffic in London, on my bike with no where to go. Two drivers next to me had an run-in a couple of minutes before. They were now sitting in traffic next to each other. One of the drivers got out and produced a short piece of what looked like a scaffold pole. He proceeded to smash every window and panel of the other car. The other car driver got out and fled back through the line of traffic leaving his mashed car. I was just stuck next to them. Not nice. I prefer to have loons in front of me, so I can see them. When I am on my bike or in a car I have gone round roundabouts twice, or taken the first possible exit to avoid people intent on escalating matters.

It just shows how ANYONE can get caught up in the heat of the moment, resulting in potential tragedy! 😵