Another driver [dis]courtesy story. Am I wrong?

The Antichrist said :

… Snip awesome tirade …

And the OP wonders why they get flipped the bird ??

You gotta be kidding me.

The actions of the OP in this instance are nothing more than passive-aggressive driving, designed to get a rise out of the monstrous gas-guzzling environment-destroying fourbie behind them. They get the rise they were looking for – then complain about it and justify their actions with some totally p!ssweak argument about saving fuel ??? what a crock.

… Snip awesome tirade

I have to agree with most of the sentiment here, but am still left puzzled by 4WD drivers behaviour.

I would like to see if we can draw a link between the increased price of cigerettes (and associated angry bogans recently forced to quit, or change to rollies) and the increased incidence of angry asshats on our roads? But Gillard didn’t see that one coming when she punched the prices up 🙂

If you really are that much more concerned about your fuel usage than about accommodating the other drivers on the road in any way, you should just sit on a constant speed . Depending on your car, it’s somewhere between 40 to 89kph. Don’t slow down at all until you get to your destination because any acceleration will increase your fuel consumption.

You cannot complain about ‘discourtesy’ if you will happily hold people up to save yourself a few cents.

It doesn’t excuse the other drivers’ rudeness, but really, being that rigid about your driving style is pretty poor form.

Very Busy said :

c_c™ said :

Very Busy said :

For those of you that have a trip computer with an “instantaneous fuel consumption display”

Those displays are a guide only, and from experience, only a good guide one you’ve gone about 1/3 a tank.

I’ve owned many cars with a trip computer and have never had a reading more than 10% out. I also get actual figures at each fill. So yes, a guide only, but a very very good guide.

Also, I think you’re getting confused with the function I am talking about. It appears you are referring to the “average fuel consumption” display, not the “instantaneous fuel consumption” display. The instantaneous display has nothing to do with how much fuel is in the tank.

Yeah, I’ve got a lease car and track my fuel with the average function and the real amount on fill ups. Always pretty accurate.

c_c™ said :

Very Busy said :

For those of you that have a trip computer with an “instantaneous fuel consumption display”

Those displays are a guide only, and from experience, only a good guide one you’ve gone about 1/3 a tank.

I’ve owned many cars with a trip computer and have never had a reading more than 10% out. I also get actual figures at each fill. So yes, a guide only, but a very very good guide.

Also, I think you’re getting confused with the function I am talking about. It appears you are referring to the “average fuel consumption” display, not the “instantaneous fuel consumption” display. The instantaneous display has nothing to do with how much fuel is in the tank.

D***head tradies in 4wds – Canberra has lots of them.

poppy said :

This is something I don’t understand about human psychology.
snip…..
This is what enrages me and I feel I should be able to if not punch these people in the back of their head ram my shopping trolley up their ass so I can get on with my day.

You make a good point. Driving laws and regulations don’t always follow human psychology.

There was a guy on here about 6 months back saying how he drives in the overtaking lane and won’t move over if somebody wants to get past…..he’s at the speed limit so he will touch his brakes to scare them backwards. He’s not breaking the speed limit so deems himself a legal driver, but he cant’s see the need to move into the left lane (irrespective of there being huge Keep Left Unless Overtaking signs dotted on all the highways)..
What do you call that? Bloodymindedness? Obstinate? Is he right?

They’ve had the same problems in the UK where other road users have become so enraged that it’s exploded into violence and accidents. But nobody accepts they’re in the wrong legally?
They’re just introducing a new series of fixed penalties based around “anti-social” driving because public annoyance over “bad” drivers is huge.
Block an overtaking lane when you could move over – £100
Tailgate – £100
Hopefully it will stop people taking the law into their own hands and smashing up cars because they think the other driver is dangerous.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2335986/Roadhogs-face-100-fines-Crackdown-motorway-drivers-clog-middle-lane.html

Aeek said :

gungsuperstar said :

Aeek said :

I wonder how many of those 10,000 times you discourteously, selfishly and ignorantly impede other road users so you can save no fuel whatsoever.

I wonder how many of those 10,000 times you discourteously, selfishly and ignorantly impede other road users so you can save no fuel whatsoever.

Me? I drive VERY aggressively. You happier now?
I save fuel by cycling as much as possible, which makes the roads safer for everyone.

Cyclists who think they’re doing the rest of society a favour.

That’s what gives us – yes, US – such a bad name among other road users mate. Lose the holier-than-thou cyclist attitude please. It’s undoubtedly the worst thing about cycling culture.

That, and it’s reliance on coffee. But that’s a rant for another day.

Very Busy said :

For those of you that have a trip computer with an “instantaneous fuel consumption display”

Those displays are a guide only, and from experience, only a good guide one you’ve gone about 1/3 a tank.

Have you been driving a different car lately? Maybe you were just driving a car that he assumed his car had a right to overtake. 🙂

I have a theory that there are unwritten rules of the road in Canberra, where the bigger and older the car, the more they get to abuse the smaller and/or newer cars.
We have two cars in our family. When I drive the Subaru outback I seem to have no trouble on the road. Everyone treats me with respect.
When I drive the Nissan Micra people are always trying to overtake me dangerously (despite the fact that I am doing the speed limit), they tailgate, etc.
Yet my driving style and skills are exactly the same. In fact the only difference I can think of is that the micra is a tiny bit zippier so it takes off from lights etc faster.

The smaller the car the more it seems to offend some drivers.

Very Busy said :

Um no!!! Absolutely 100% INCORRECT.

For those of you that have a trip computer with an “instantaneous fuel consumption display” in your car, you will already know that these comments above are totally uninformed.

Not to mention wear and tear on the brakes.

Regardless of fuel economy and wear and tear, it is much less stressful, and more comfortable for passengers, to drive in a conservative manner rather than an aggressive one.

Rubbish. How much *extra* wear and tear on the brakes is going to happen here ?? Absolutely none. Nobody is suggesting that the OP should be driving up the lights flat-out, then stop in a screaming hurry with smoking tyres ?? FFS look no further than your own dribble for uninformed comments.

The reality here – as confirmed by the OP themselves – is that in the first instance, other traffic was going past them – i.e. – faster. Well yes it would be, when you have started to slow down some 300m away from the lights. From the point of view of the 4WD driver – he is driving along minding his own business at the same speed as the surrounding traffic – all of a sudden they are faced with a vehicle directly in front that is slowing down for no apparent reason, some 300m before the lights !

And the OP wonders why they get flipped the bird ?? You gotta be kidding me.

The actions of the OP in this instance are nothing more than passive-aggressive driving, designed to get a rise out of the monstrous gas-guzzling environment-destroying fourbie behind them. They get the rise they were looking for – then complain about it and justify their actions with some totally p!ssweak argument about saving fuel ??? what a crock.

I am just glad that others here can see right through the argument. I would bet my left one that if the OP had just continued to *drive* up to the lights in a normal manner – well, normal for the rest of us – then the 4WD driver would have had no reason whatsever to flip anyone the bird.

gungsuperstar said :

Aeek said :

I wonder how many of those 10,000 times you discourteously, selfishly and ignorantly impede other road users so you can save no fuel whatsoever.

I wonder how many of those 10,000 times you discourteously, selfishly and ignorantly impede other road users so you can save no fuel whatsoever.

Me? I drive VERY aggressively. You happier now?
I save fuel by cycling as much as possible, which makes the roads safer for everyone.

He must have been having a rough day!!! Where you behind some other cars as well??? I am assuming you were and were near the end of the slip lane for him to turn left. Sometimes people have no idea and he is one of those people. If I am near the slip lane and the close to the beggining of it I always (if possible go as close as possilble and as far as possible to the other car and right of my lane as I can)

kumadude said :

Erg0 said :

kumadude said :

You are responsible for what is in front of you, not the loons behind. The more you worry about tool at the rear the more anxious you may become.

I don’t think this is the right attitude – you need to be aware of what’s happening all around you, or you’re putting your safety in the hands of the drivers that most posters agree are a bunch of self-entitled wankers. Personally, I start to feel anxious if I don’t know (without turning my head) what all of the vehicles around me are doing at any given time.

To a certain degree yes, when changing lanes it is the driver’s responsibility to check their environment, other than that you should be passively taking into account the changing shapes and colours via the rear view mirror. BUT, if you are actively worried about how close the tapeworm is to your ass all the time you are neglecting your duty of care for what is ahead and exponentially increasing the probability of crashing. The idiot behind you pays for your damage. Kids, cars, bike and motorbike do not come out from behind you.

What a load of crap. You need to be FULLY aware of what is happening around you including behind and beside and you should be constantly think about what will happen if… and where and what you are going to do if that happens.

Some examples I am approaching traffic lights I like to know what is behind because if the lights change and someone is too far up my arse I sure the hell am not going to risk being rear ended, even if they are paying.

You mentioned kids, bikes etc coming from the front, yep true, but again I want to know what is around me so that I know if I need to do something in a hurry, like change lanes that I am not going to cause an even bigger problem.

Lastly when changing lanes you are not responsible to a certain degree as you said, you are responsible full stop for your actions and what they may well be, and being responsible is ensuring you are aware of what is around you. No degrees here.

Aeek said :

gungsuperstar said :

The argument about fuel consumption is such bullshit. Sitting on your accelerator for an extra 150m has such a negligible impact on fuel consumption, the whole argument is ridiculous.

Doing it once, no it doesn’t. But 10,000 times – it adds up.

I wonder how many of those 10,000 times you discourteously, selfishly and ignorantly impede other road users so you can save no fuel whatsoever.

What about even when I have indicated ahead of my intention to use the slip lane turning left, guy proceeded to cruise to a stop to the furthest left of the left lane, blocking the slip lane and I had to wait for the entire lights turn. Then saw I was shaking my head in disgust in his revision mirror, proceeded to gave me the bird.

I think I wished I knew what have I done wrong to deserve a bird.

what_the said :

I think the fact that its happened to you multiple times this week it may be a hint. If its light traffic and you’re in the far lane of a 2-3 lane road where’s there’s a slipway and you can see someone wants to turn, just move to the middle lane or at least make an effort to not hold up traffic. That’s what I do, it’s just considerate, takes no effort and avoids you getting in these situations in the first place.

this was two lanes and there was traffic passing me on my right – and, as stated, the goose didn’t bother to let me, or anyone else, know of his intention [road rule breach #1 right there]… i am generally, i believe, a considerate driver and applaud your philosophy – such options were not available to me. and it doesn’t excuse his bird and anger….

I think the fact that its happened to you multiple times this week it may be a hint. If its light traffic and you’re in the far lane of a 2-3 lane road where’s there’s a slipway and you can see someone wants to turn, just move to the middle lane or at least make an effort to not hold up traffic. That’s what I do, it’s just considerate, takes no effort and avoids you getting in these situations in the first place.

Maybe there’s sin here, but I reserve my Dick Smith thermo-nuke button for those drivers who drive under the limit when approaching lights, especially the one in the right lane, and then sneak through on the orange leaving you stuck with the red.

Maybe OP, you did something, or not do something further down the road and you were only aware of it at the event you described?

IMO if as a driver you are noticing this behaviour a lot, ie other cars getting upset with you, then maybe your driving style needs tweaking. If its rare or occassional it is probably just the other driver is a idiot.

Completely understand the notion of trying to save fuel, but also if you notice something on the road and you can adjust what you are doing to make another drivers job easier (regardless of how they are driver) you can be smug about it and avoided a potential accident or road rage incident.

I recently got a bike and because i’m on my L’s drivers feel the need to overtake at all opportunities, even though i’m often doing the speed limit or dare i say a few km’s over. I’m aware this is how they drive, so i just give them room and let them go. I had people tailgating me on corners in the wet last night, they have no idea how dangerous that is and clearly don’t think what would happen if the rider in front came off, they probably be fine at the slower cornering speeds of say a roundabout until the car runs over them. Unfortunately most people just don’t think and stick to “their” style or stubborness to stop people doing things they don’t like.

OP you probably did nothing wrong, but if you had of just kept your foot on the accelerator a little longer, maybe nothing would have happened and this whole post wouldn’t have happened. Again that is assuming thats what the other driver was pissed off about and IMO was still acting like an idiot because they could have also been a bit more patient also.

eyeLikeCarrots said :

Maybe it wasn’t your driving that piseed him off.

Do you have a Collingwood sticker or one of those stupid ‘my family’ stick figure collections on the back of your car ?

good call, but no – i toyed with the idea of getting frangipanis in the shape of the southern cross once, but my vehicle is devoid of decoration. if it had anything it might be darwin fish, but no, now’t…

Erg0 said :

kumadude said :

You are responsible for what is in front of you, not the loons behind. The more you worry about tool at the rear the more anxious you may become.

I don’t think this is the right attitude – you need to be aware of what’s happening all around you, or you’re putting your safety in the hands of the drivers that most posters agree are a bunch of self-entitled wankers. Personally, I start to feel anxious if I don’t know (without turning my head) what all of the vehicles around me are doing at any given time.

Absolutely correct for we are all responsible for our actions and the potential consequences so being aware of what’s going on in all directions when driving enables us to respond to situations and avoiding putting ourselves in the firing line.

I must add that I really do think it’s a bit selfish to not adjust your driving when you notice someone behind you wants to turn left at the lights. If you drive the same route every day, you know the light cycles and sometimes someone slowing down early can make you miss the gap to turn left. Which still isn’t a reason to throw such a hissy fit – I agree that if you cannot control your temper, you should not be in control of a 1 ton vehicle. But I personally find that situation annoying too when it happens to me and I’m a pretty conservative driver.

Erg0 said :

kumadude said :

You are responsible for what is in front of you, not the loons behind. The more you worry about tool at the rear the more anxious you may become.

I don’t think this is the right attitude – you need to be aware of what’s happening all around you, or you’re putting your safety in the hands of the drivers that most posters agree are a bunch of self-entitled wankers. Personally, I start to feel anxious if I don’t know (without turning my head) what all of the vehicles around me are doing at any given time.

To a certain degree yes, when changing lanes it is the driver’s responsibility to check their environment, other than that you should be passively taking into account the changing shapes and colours via the rear view mirror. BUT, if you are actively worried about how close the tapeworm is to your ass all the time you are neglecting your duty of care for what is ahead and exponentially increasing the probability of crashing. The idiot behind you pays for your damage. Kids, cars, bike and motorbike do not come out from behind you.

Of all folks that should be concerned about fuel consumption is 4wd owners. Moving from a stationary position in 1st gear is where the bulk of it is used, one should do as much as possible to prevent stopping completely. I would not compare it to escaping earths or jupiters gravity, but the concept is close. All car owners should be aware of the efficiency of the different gear ratios that make their transmission, 1st always being the worst and if you have a 5th, the best. There are world wide competitions where the winner is the person who can get the most miles/kms out of a single tank of fuel. These experts do as much as possible to prevent coming to a complete standstill. The maths and science is true and tested, you may find though that some of the revheads can not count nor understand basic formulas. Though, keep flogging it, you are paying for better roads.

kumadude said :

You are responsible for what is in front of you, not the loons behind. The more you worry about tool at the rear the more anxious you may become.

I don’t think this is the right attitude – you need to be aware of what’s happening all around you, or you’re putting your safety in the hands of the drivers that most posters agree are a bunch of self-entitled wankers. Personally, I start to feel anxious if I don’t know (without turning my head) what all of the vehicles around me are doing at any given time.

The Antichrist said :

gungsuperstar said :

Obviously you aren’t doing wrong by the law. But someone called the other driver another example of a self-entitled arsehole in Canberra.

I argue that you are the self-entitled arsehole. Traffic doesn’t stop because you have a red light, and where you’re on a major road with a long slip lane, you’re being incredible ignorant and inconsiderate to the traffic behind in thinking that it does.

The argument about fuel consumption is such bullshit. Sitting on your accelerator for an extra 150m has such a negligible impact on fuel consumption, the whole argument is ridiculous.

Absolutely 100% correct. Any argument about *saving fuel* is just an excuse for self-indugent poor driving. Coasting to a set of lights that are 200-300m away ??? Give me and the rest of the world a break you ignoramus.

Want to save fuel ? Catch a bus or ride a pushie. But please, leave the bullshit out of your arguments.

Sounds to me like just another excuse to bash the 4WD brigade. Pathetic.

Um no!!! Absolutely 100% INCORRECT.

For those of you that have a trip computer with an “instantaneous fuel consumption display” in your car, you will already know that these comments above are totally uninformed.

Not to mention wear and tear on the brakes.

Regardless of fuel economy and wear and tear, it is much less stressful, and more comfortable for passengers, to drive in a conservative manner rather than an aggressive one.

Maybe it wasn’t your driving that piseed him off.

Do you have a Collingwood sticker or one of those stupid ‘my family’ stick figure collections on the back of your car ?

TheBusDriver said :

I think you should have used some CORRECT punctuation and grammar. That was one of the hardest peices of crap I have ever read.

the errors in grammar are..? [allowing for obvious colloquial style]

how was the ‘peice’ [sic] ‘hard’? oh, you mean ‘hardest to read peices [sic] of crap…’? stones. glass houses…

and for the naysayers – as pointed out by others, and specifically noted in the op, i didn’t drop my speed to near zero – and yes, i’d have driven in the same manner were it a police vehicle behind me (police are trained professional drivers and should know better)

poppy said :

It seems that the vast majority of drivers become extremely angry if me (or another driver) is driving 10km under the speed limit. Even if it is wet, hard to see, etc. Yet (presumably) the same people think it is OK to walk EXTREMELY slowly (even when they have no disability and are not elderly) in crowded public areas three abreast, whilst chatting and waving arms, so that I cannot pass them. This is what enrages me and I feel I should be able to if not punch these people in the back of their head ram my shopping trolley up their ass so I can get on with my day. I cannot understand why people are enraged with my driving slightly under the speed limit yet those same people think it is OK to impede me whilst going about my shopping. And then they get angry with ME because I bumped into them due THEM stopping suddenly in order to look at a pair of shoes in a shop window, whilst totally blocking my passage due to prams etc.

😀 +1

I really liked that tangent you went on.

You are responsible for what is in front of you, not the loons behind. The more you worry about tool at the rear the more anxious you may become. I am developing an arduino program that uses gps to monitor my speed, calculate the safest distance a car should be behind me (based on the 3 second rule) using a laser and then activate a camera and/or nail gun to destroy their radiator.

I think you should have used some CORRECT punctuation and grammar. That was one of the hardest peices of crap I have ever read.

He’s an aggravated knob, but there’s plenty of knobs that are just dumb or arrogant or both, I’m undecided. GDE Friday night, I picked up a friend from Woden who drank more than planned to take them to Bonner (aren’t I a good friend?).

Bugger all traffic, 11pm maybe. Left lane, a needle over 90, cruise control engaged, heading north. We were just passing Bruce as this knob slowly approaches from behind and proceeds to sit on my arse. I assumed they were heading for the Ginninderra drive exit but no, continues on my arse. So I pulled right (no other cars in sight) let him roll by and pulled back left. WTF?

Why all the panic about letting off the accelerator a couple hundred metres out? It’s not like cars just stop because you let them coast. They barely slow down unless it’s uphill. I’d do this fully expecting to need the brakes very shortly. If 4wd dude was in such a hurry maybe he should have left 20 seconds earlier.

CBR said :

OP was being a bit of a self-entitled arse, maybe, but at the same time that’s no reason for a torrent of road/roid rage. If the 4WDer can’t keep his temper in response to a fairly insignificant crime then he probably shouldn’t be on the road.

No doubt and that behaviour is not acceptable. That said the OP was not being very courteous to everyone else around either. Post 28 really sums it up in a rather direct manner.

gungsuperstar said :

The argument about fuel consumption is such bullshit. Sitting on your accelerator for an extra 150m has such a negligible impact on fuel consumption, the whole argument is ridiculous.

Doing it once, no it doesn’t. But 10,000 times – it adds up.

Yep, I always have a chuckle to myself as I see other motorists on the roads incapable of assessing the situation around them, particularly when it comes to traffic lights in the distance, near or far. I guess the one good aspect of the overall situation is that well over 90% of the drivers I see are capable of working out that easing off the loud pedal well before a red light is OK, and is actually beneficial to all road users. (Caveat: need to understand the upcoming lights’ cycles so as not to be left well short when the green does appear).

gungsuperstar said :

Obviously you aren’t doing wrong by the law. But someone called the other driver another example of a self-entitled arsehole in Canberra.

I argue that you are the self-entitled arsehole. Traffic doesn’t stop because you have a red light, and where you’re on a major road with a long slip lane, you’re being incredible ignorant and inconsiderate to the traffic behind in thinking that it does.

The argument about fuel consumption is such bullshit. Sitting on your accelerator for an extra 150m has such a negligible impact on fuel consumption, the whole argument is ridiculous.

Absolutely 100% correct. Any argument about *saving fuel* is just an excuse for self-indugent poor driving. Coasting to a set of lights that are 200-300m away ??? Give me and the rest of the world a break you ignoramus.

Want to save fuel ? Catch a bus or ride a pushie. But please, leave the bullshit out of your arguments.

Sounds to me like just another excuse to bash the 4WD brigade. Pathetic.

This is something I don’t understand about human psychology.

I am not bothered by someone who drives 10km under the speed limit. I am not enraged even if someone drives 20-30kms under the speed limit, I would simply consider overtaking them if it is safe/convenient and/or I’m in a hurry.

It seems that the vast majority of drivers become extremely angry if me (or another driver) is driving 10km under the speed limit. Even if it is wet, hard to see, etc. Yet (presumably) the same people think it is OK to walk EXTREMELY slowly (even when they have no disability and are not elderly) in crowded public areas three abreast, whilst chatting and waving arms, so that I cannot pass them. This is what enrages me and I feel I should be able to if not punch these people in the back of their head ram my shopping trolley up their ass so I can get on with my day. I cannot understand why people are enraged with my driving slightly under the speed limit yet those same people think it is OK to impede me whilst going about my shopping. And then they get angry with ME because I bumped into them due THEM stopping suddenly in order to look at a pair of shoes in a shop window, whilst totally blocking my passage due to prams etc.

gungsuperstar said :

Obviously you aren’t doing wrong by the law. But someone called the other driver another example of a self-entitled arsehole in Canberra.

I argue that you are the self-entitled arsehole. Traffic doesn’t stop because you have a red light, and where you’re on a major road with a long slip lane, you’re being incredible ignorant and inconsiderate to the traffic behind in thinking that it does.

The argument about fuel consumption is such bullshit. Sitting on your accelerator for an extra 150m has such a negligible impact on fuel consumption, the whole argument is ridiculous.

OP was being a bit of a self-entitled arse, maybe, but at the same time that’s no reason for a torrent of road/roid rage. If the 4WDer can’t keep his temper in response to a fairly insignificant crime then he probably shouldn’t be on the road.

urchin said :

you’re not alone. the other day on fairbairn i was being tailgated for (gasp!) going the speed limit. the car (a compact car driven by an excitable middle-aged woman) was within a meter of me, honking and gesturing. this… despite the fact that there were two lanes and she could’ve just gone around. so i eased my foot onto the brakes and gradually slowed down to 20 km/hour at which point she apparently woke up to the fact that another lane existed and went around.

seriously, back the **** up. if i had been travelling alone instead of with my family and driving the solid steel american gas guzzling piece of crap i drove in my younger days i would’ve been sorely tempted to slam my foot on the brakes (a dog ran in front of me!) and let her car crumple to bits… ah the nostalgia.

This is called winning

Obviously you aren’t doing wrong by the law. But someone called the other driver another example of a self-entitled arsehole in Canberra.

I argue that you are the self-entitled arsehole. Traffic doesn’t stop because you have a red light, and where you’re on a major road with a long slip lane, you’re being incredible ignorant and inconsiderate to the traffic behind in thinking that it does.

The argument about fuel consumption is such bullshit. Sitting on your accelerator for an extra 150m has such a negligible impact on fuel consumption, the whole argument is ridiculous.

bigred said :

My target consumption is in the range of 5-6 l/100 km. To do that involves gentle acceleration and minimal braking. See white 4WDrivers behaving like this all the time. Also annoys middle aged women no end (I guess because someone else pays for their fuel). Oh yes, a hint for those using angel gear to roll to a halt – better off staying in gear and letting the fuel shutoff do its job.

Only took 25 posts before it became a racial debate…

My target consumption is in the range of 5-6 l/100 km. To do that involves gentle acceleration and minimal braking. See white 4WDrivers behaving like this all the time. Also annoys middle aged women no end (I guess because someone else pays for their fuel). Oh yes, a hint for those using angel gear to roll to a halt – better off staying in gear and letting the fuel shutoff do its job.

JC said :

No excuse for what the 4WD did, but slowing down too early and coasting to the lights on a major road (presumably in peak hour) is also very discourteous. The reason being it effects all the traffic flow behind you, such as the 4WD for example. I see it every day on Northborne Ave in particular.

The question though is what is too early. To me if your just coasting it is too early, but if you leave it later and have to slow with a gentle, and I repeat a gentle application of the brake then it is the right time.

no, wasn’t peak hour…

Speed cameras will fix it!

Solution: live in the inner burbs and you won’t need to use those major thoroughfares during commute/roadrage time ….

you’re not alone. the other day on fairbairn i was being tailgated for (gasp!) going the speed limit. the car (a compact car driven by an excitable middle-aged woman) was within a meter of me, honking and gesturing. this… despite the fact that there were two lanes and she could’ve just gone around. so i eased my foot onto the brakes and gradually slowed down to 20 km/hour at which point she apparently woke up to the fact that another lane existed and went around.

seriously, back the **** up. if i had been travelling alone instead of with my family and driving the solid steel american gas guzzling piece of crap i drove in my younger days i would’ve been sorely tempted to slam my foot on the brakes (a dog ran in front of me!) and let her car crumple to bits… ah the nostalgia.

No excuse for what the 4WD did, but slowing down too early and coasting to the lights on a major road (presumably in peak hour) is also very discourteous. The reason being it effects all the traffic flow behind you, such as the 4WD for example. I see it every day on Northborne Ave in particular.

The question though is what is too early. To me if your just coasting it is too early, but if you leave it later and have to slow with a gentle, and I repeat a gentle application of the brake then it is the right time.

Talking of dumb things on the road near traffic lights, did anyone see the accident at the big intersection near the airport….Monaro highway and the road that goes across it, can’t remember what it’s called.

Happened on Saturday just as we had decided to visit Costco. Traffic banked up, not moving, police on point duty. Looked like a car turning to the airport from the Monaro had been taken out. I wondered out loud to Monsieur Cholet if it wasn’t someone running a red light which is so very common at this intersection. No police reports that I have come across yet. I was thinking of enquiring with them and then suggesting red light cameras – I think this intersection is very dangerous.

As for coasting to the lights…no problem with that if its clearly red, although if someone is trying to get to a slip road that isnt serviced by the lights the. I can see the point of the annoyance maybe. But yes, too many angry people on the roads.

I do the same thing and often find people ride my ass the whole way. Don’t worry about it astrojax, it’s simply a fact that Canberran’s are simply a bunch of a$$ monkeys. In a thousand years when sociologists do a study of Canberra in this century, they’ll ask the question how could it be that there was such a huge concentration of w@!kers in such a small area and why the rest of Australia didn’t nuke us from orbit.

Seems to me the other bloke has the problem. He’s obviously more important than you and needs to get where he is going.

I whack it in neutral and coast in such situations. As the old man used to say, ‘son, brake pads are cheaper than gear boxes’.

bundah said :

buzz819 said :

By the road rules your not at fault.

Depends on how far down the road you were when you started to “slow” down. If it was the Wentworth Avenue and Northbourne Avenue intersection and you started slowing before the slip lane, then maybe you did leave it a far up the road to start slowing down.

2-300 meters is a long time to coast, I can see why someone behind you might have got the shits, specially if it means they are caught up at another lights, or because of your driving manner has impeded them further, ie now they have to wait at the end of the slip lane as well as having to wait behind you, it is one of those things that can just keep building up thus causing the “road rage.”

Again, by law you haven’t done anything wrong, the person behind you probably shouldn’t have been such a douche.

Wentworth Avenue doesn’t intersect anywhere near Northbourne i’m afraid.

Oops Macarthur Ave!

I’m in my car a lot during the day all over the north side. believe me this kinda thing isn’t just restricted to peak hour and 4wd’s

I feel like I’m missing out on some kind of club here, because after seven years of driving around Canberra I’ve never been subject to this kind of behaviour (with one minor exception that I put down to embarrassment by the other party at their incredibly poor judgement when merging).

Then again, I remain aware of my surroundings, anticipate the actions of others, and practice active douchebag avoidance when I’m on the road. Is it possible that the “this is how I like to drive and I’m not changing for nobody” attitude is a contributing factor? In a sense, you’re gaining a generally more relaxed driving experience in exchange for copping the occasional outburst.

buzz819 said :

By the road rules your not at fault.

Depends on how far down the road you were when you started to “slow” down. If it was the Wentworth Avenue and Northbourne Avenue intersection and you started slowing before the slip lane, then maybe you did leave it a far up the road to start slowing down.

2-300 meters is a long time to coast, I can see why someone behind you might have got the shits, specially if it means they are caught up at another lights, or because of your driving manner has impeded them further, ie now they have to wait at the end of the slip lane as well as having to wait behind you, it is one of those things that can just keep building up thus causing the “road rage.”

Again, by law you haven’t done anything wrong, the person behind you probably shouldn’t have been such a douche.

Wentworth Avenue doesn’t intersect anywhere near Northbourne i’m afraid.

He was probably in a hurry to get to his penis enlargement appointment….

I get very similar things as well. I find I get it more with people trying to ram up my back or race me into form one lanes when I am the car in front. I try to give people in front of me going into F1L enough room so I can slip in behind them without too much problems but people think I am leaving them their own personal gap that they can barge into and create a bottle neck that would have been avoidable if you just went in behind me like you would normally do.

Depends. If we’re talking Northbourne and Mouat then it sounds like you’ve slowed way too early.

However, if I suddenly notice someone going bananas at me when I’ve done nothing wrong, then I do enjoy annoying them further on purpose, especially if they’re in a 4WD.

Travelling down Murranji St, Hawker yesterday, a road I am totally unfamiliar with.There are a couple of school zones, so did the right thing and stuck to the 40 limit. Some goose decided that the rules dont apply to him, and overtook me, to then hang a left maybe 100 metres further on.

Should have it on dashboard camera.

LOL I have an image on the cartoon screen in my head of this white 4WD warping to squeeze underneath your Kia (“MyKia”)… I guess I watch The Simpsons too much!

But yes, you’re right and he’s wrong. You’re good and he’s bad. You’re angelic and he’s devilish. You’re from somewhere else and he’s from Canberra… characterise it however you wish, just get used to it, you’re not likely to stop it, no matter how good you are. I’m just glad you’re good-humoured enough to smile at them; that’s what I do too!

One incident like this can usually be laughed off, but a few different ones start to become depressing, I find. I can totally understand someone giving up driving, or riding a bike, because of lots of little examples of anger.

Sounds like you encountered an angry man in a big car. Your life is probably more happier than his; so try not to let him drag you down.

I drive the same as you. Easier on my car and less stop-starting.

I’m not accelerating up to a red light just so some d***head saves two seconds.

I slow down really early to anticipate the lights, if I can. But if there’s lots of cars behind me who seem to prefer the “drive up to the light at full speed and then brake hard” strategy, I’ll allow myself to get influenced by peer pressure. And I will check for cars wanting to turn left and abandon my long braking distance plan to allow them to go past if I can. It depends a bit on how long the slip lane is too.

I’m always very pleased when I notice the car behind me slowing down even more than me at the same distance from the lights or roundabout/intersection. It always makes me want to give them a “kindred spirit” nod.

arescarti42 said :

You must be having a bad run, I do what you’ve described all the time, particularly if I think the lights are about to go green and I can avoid bringing my car to a stop.

Contrary to some people’s belief, the crime is going above the posted speed limit, not below it.

+1.
I too do that pretty much all the time. I like smooth ride with as few accelerations and decelerations as possible.

That being said, it really depends on traffic conditions, i.e., if there are lots of cars I’ll probably coast for shorter distances to keep the flow going. But yeah, nothing wrong with gaining fuel efficiency by maintaining momentum. 🙂

Self entitled assholes. Canberra is full of them.

I find blowing kisses to road ragers the most effective form of acknowledgement.

Was it a white 4wd? There I was in the middle lane on Cth Av headed north. I had a gap to my right and eased into it. The white 4wd behind me reacted as if I had called his mother fat. Long loud honk with follow up honking as he attempted to undertake over the bridge.

Still no idea what his problem was.

You must be having a bad run, I do what you’ve described all the time, particularly if I think the lights are about to go green and I can avoid bringing my car to a stop.

Contrary to some people’s belief, the crime is going above the posted speed limit, not below it.

By the road rules your not at fault.

Depends on how far down the road you were when you started to “slow” down. If it was the Wentworth Avenue and Northbourne Avenue intersection and you started slowing before the slip lane, then maybe you did leave it a far up the road to start slowing down.

2-300 meters is a long time to coast, I can see why someone behind you might have got the shits, specially if it means they are caught up at another lights, or because of your driving manner has impeded them further, ie now they have to wait at the end of the slip lane as well as having to wait behind you, it is one of those things that can just keep building up thus causing the “road rage.”

Again, by law you haven’t done anything wrong, the person behind you probably shouldn’t have been such a douche.