Agressive Tw@t

dirk_van_gently

This isn't a cycling incident, this happened to me this morning whilst walking between offices.

I was walking between my office building and another one. I saw a white van coming towards me, and I noticed that the driver was using a mobile phone. I used my thumb and little finger to indicate that I had seen he was using the phone, and mouthed the words "get off the phone".
The driver drove past, and turned around squealing the tyres, and then pulled up alongside me.
The conversation went something like this:
Driver: "What's your F'in problem?"
My response: "You were on the phone, it's illegal"
Driver: "So what? you the old bill?"
My response: "No, but you were on the phone"
Driver: "I'll have you know that was very important phone call"
My response: "Doesn't matter, it's still illegal"
Driver: "Your not the old bill, I can do what the F I like"
My response: OK
This not a verbatim recollection of the conversation, but as close as I remember.

He then drove off, revving the engine very hard, trying to intimidate me I suspect, I gave him a smile and a wave.

The van was unmarked, as I mentioned earlier, I did get the registration number.
I work on an MOD site, so have reported this to the base liaison office, who tend to take this kind of thing seriously.

Gussio

Let us know if you see the driver doing push-ups in the rain, being shouted at by the RSM

Agent57

Drivers that are on the phone really wind me up. I often wish I had the authority to pull 'em over and give 'em a ticket.

My 'incident' of the morning was a cyclist that I overtook this morning. He was going pretty quickly, but I was going faster. I went past him and carried on my way, but I could hear his gear changes behind me; the cheeky beggar had latched on to take a tow. I wouldn't mind so much, but he didn't even say thanks when we went different ways!

e999sam

I recently saw an article in my local paper which said the police would prosecute drivers reported by members of the general public.

cee

e999sam wrote:

I recently saw an article in my local paper which said the police would prosecute drivers reported by members of the general public.

I thought there needed to be 2 separate reports (otherwise its my word against yours), unless it is a police officer who witnesses it (and whose statement is treated as if it was from 1 and a half people!)

Eat My Dust

At lunch time I saw a guy driving a HGV, steering with his elbows with his chin resting in both of his hands like a day dreaming schoolgirl!!! What he was going to do if there was an emergency is beyond me.

st68

yesterday morning riding across christmas common a mondeo driver coming the other way swirving all over the place! the knob who was driving was using an electric shaver!!!!!!

e999sam

I recently saw an article in my local paper which said the police would prosecute drivers reported by members of the general public.

prj45

Agent57 wrote:

Drivers that are on the phone really wind me up. I often wish I had the authority to pull 'em over and give 'em a ticket.

Incredible isn't it.

My stock line (if I have time) at the moment is: -

"If you hit somebody and kill them and it can be shown you were using that at the time that's death by dangerous driving' then as they speed off, " Two to six years in prison!"

Beggars belief that people are willing to take such a risk; I'm sure they think, "I'm not going to hit anybody", but that's like a drunk driver thinking "I'm OK to drive", but if you do happen to hit somebody you're in quite a lot of trouble.

duckfoot1606

A question, does anybody know for sure whether cameraphone footage of somebody using a mobile whilst driving is admissable as evidence?. Has anybody been prosecuted with the use of evidence odtained in this manner?.

Tks

AP

hoathy

I don't understand how people can smoke and drive either, like that thing is on fire! its a small fire! who wants to drive with a small fire in their hand!

Bassjunkieuk

Sounds like fun! I despise drivers on phones! Having said that I'm still not sure what the driver of the van I made skid to a halt this morning was concentrating on. I was approaching the mini roundabout from the opposite side to him, in the right hand lane with my arm up. Noticing he obviously wasn't paying attention I went back on the brakes and took my turn, only for him to have to slam on the anchors to avoid running me over!
Then to top it off within the next 2 miles I had some dozy bint on her phone step out into the road in front of me, only realizing I was there as I nipped round the back of her yelling "look where your going!"

Cunobelin

Gussio wrote:

Let us know if you see the driver doing push-ups in the rain, being shouted at by the RSM

Can get even better!

We had one girl banned from driving (or bringing her car)on the site for 6 months!

JWSurrey

On the way back from a very nice Bike Events Dorset ride this weekend.
On the M3 - Wife starts laughing
"What's up?"
"We just passed a woman reading the paper"
"Sure she wasn't just glancing at a map?"
"Nope - That's today's Style Magazine from the Sunday Times" !!

About 30 minutes later, we exited the M3 due to some major accident and tailback, as 2 ambulances raced past us.

I don't normally drive in the week - It's crazy at schoolrun time.
Rounded a bend on a 40mph country lane, to meet a car on my side of the road overtaking a cyclist, on the bend. Emergency stop for me; Jag behind nearly joined me in the passenger seat.
Wow, that was close, I think - then a Ford Transit with a double white racing stripe goes and does the same thing!
Mental note not to cycle on that road.

highwaymunky

Hi, new to forum,

I was doing my Monday morning long ride yesterday and some idiot buzzed me on a country lane. He was on the phone! 1 mile straight road nothing coming the other way and he passed within a inch of me cutting back so quick I had to brake!

Needless to say I expressed my disappointment at his driving and he returned thanks for the advice!

I then did the same as Dirk Van Gently, and told a woman off for using her phone at a junction.

Me "Oi! get off the phone, whilst your driving!"

woman "but my calls important!"

Me "more important than looking where your going? more important than me? more important than what?"

Woman - stares blankly

Me " put the phone down or pull over!

Woman "Pi$$ off"

Me - Reaches for my phone

Woman" what are you doing"

Me "Calling the police and photo's you for evidence"

Woman - Sets off like Lewis Hamilton, still on the phone, nearly into a tree and a van!

Phones + cars + people = disaster.

t4tomo

pedestrians are as bad, blindly walking into road without looking whilst yakking on the phone.

abbots_mike

some people + cars = disaster

JWSurrey

Oh yes, and a couple of youths in a grey Ford Ka were driving along tooting and yelling at cyclists up Wareham High Street - The kid on the passenger side leaning right out in attempt to push me whilst I was riding along.

Same thing happened to a guy on Box Hill about 3 weeks ago on a Monday, early lunch time - fortunately, the plod were not far behind and caught up with the miscreants.

mailmannz

Anyone know how many people have actually been killed by people in cars using their phones (that lord ahmad dont count just yet cause its not proven he was a tosser at the time of his crash, which killed person in the other car)?

Mailman

whome

pedestrians are as bad, blindly walking into road without looking whilst yakking on the phone.

But the obligation is still on you (as a vehicle operator) to avoid the pedestrian.

anweledig

on my journey to work in rural shropshire I sometimes think it would be easier to count the drivers who don't use their phones, there aren't as many cars but the standard of driving is often dire. it is not easy to concentrate when you're making that vital phone call and it is frightenly common to see a car on the wrong side of the road heading straight at you. I don't think they care if some dumb cyclist has to head for the hedge. No hope of any policing round here either sadly

jrduquemin

I got beeped at this morning on the Northern Perimeter road at Heathrow whilst on my way to work. Some airline pilot chump in a Corsa took offence that I was riding in the lane he was in.

He got the finger and a string of expletives for his troubles.

Also, car drivers on the phone really annoy the hell out of me too. If the government passed a law that allowed cyclists to shoot car drivers who are talking on the phone, i'd be first in line!!!