Road Rage

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Originally Posted by trout1105

Is it just me and am I wrong in thinking that City drivers are more prone to fits of road rage than their Country cousins?

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No, it's not just you. I believe city life destroys courtesy, on almost all levels, these days. Everyone is in a hurry, everyone has "rights", everyone is self important, and everyone else is in everyone's way. It's hideous. Everyone 'expects' to be safe, and will sue when they find out that that doesn't work.

The very first time I experienced road rage I was in North Sydney, in 1973. I was up there in the army from Wodonga, and I obviously didn't understand something that I should have. This fat, bald bloke in a suit got out of his car (ironically the same model Fiat that I was driving) and crossed the traffic to kick my passenger door. I was so gobsmacked that I didn't react at all. I guess Sydney was crazy even then.

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Originally Posted by trout1105

Here is some Bush road curtesy that works both ways.[biggrin]
On most of the "Skinny" one lane bitumen roads I have travelled on the majority of the drivers in the bush tend to pull right off the blacktop to let a Truck pass and not force the poor Bugger to have one side of his rig swinging on the dirt.
There are two reasons why we do this.
1/ it makes it safer and easier for the truckie to pass.
2/ with all the trucks wheels on the blacktop there is little danger of it flicking a stone up into your windscreen or spotties.
Win Win

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I can't tell you how much that means to blokes like I used to be. I only ever drove a couple of trains, but B-Dubs are bad enough. The biggest things I'm asking, on a road like that and you are coming the other way, are where are the spoon drains, how soft are the edges, where are my run offs; so some courtesy from the 'locals' is very much appreciated, and I thank you, even if it wasn't you in person. One thing you don't mention, but I bet you did it, was to get off to the side early, so we'd know what you were up to. One of the best ways to pick a smart local from a transient is the anticipation shown.

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Originally Posted by Wraithe

That being said, I went east when I joined the Army, thought I knew what a city person was, until I met them at basic training..Now I was either nieve or stupid, but there weird...

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That's a trifle tiresome, Wraithe. People can't help where they're from. I did my basic at Kapooka. Maybe you did too. I had to put up with country boys who were no doubt tougher than me. But, I was far brighter than the ones I had to share with, and I could shoot better. What does this mean? Nothing at all. We came from different walks of life, that's all.

Time we all accept that we are different.

I've had a bloke nearly kill me on Southern cross drive by changing lanes quickly and without notice. When i beeped my horn and put my hands up in the air to suggest "wtf" he decided to give me the finger and I could tell that he was telling me to **** off. He had his mrs in the car and im not sure if he was trying to look tough or he was just a dick head
I was so angry that I wanted to follow this bloke until he stopped and bash him in front of his mrs. As I was following him he decided to hit the breaks on a few occasions trying to stop me on the motorway. Eventually we came off on the m7 and stopped at a set of lights where I rolled up to his mrs window and asked him to step out off the car. It was at this point he started apologizing and that's when my better judgement kicked in.
I left it at that and some choice words. I can underatand why some riders get frustrated to the point of acting like that. Once a pon a time I would have had no issue dealing with that differently to today but im older and wiser I'd like to think.
For a bloke on a bike to kick out at a car I'd bet my left testicle that the driver deserved it. I know it's illegal to retaliate but as a rider you always get the "i didnt see you, sorry!". One day you might not be lucky enough to hear this and that might be your last day, people in cars that don't ride don't get that.

People are so angry on the roads here in Australia and it's often over nothing. I mean, a bloke cuts you off - so what? Shrug and move on. It is what it is.
I lived in Bangkok for 3 years where the traffic was far, far worse than here, and I never saw these road rage incidents. Everyone knew the traffic was terrible so why get angry?
Friends from Australia would freak at the Bangkok traffic and I'd tell them to just chill and flow with the go. It made me a very defensive driver. I just assume other people are going to do the wrong thing and often I'm right.
Come back to Oz and there are people behaving like angry idiots all the time. Why?

To badly channel Yoda, frustration leads to anger, anger leads to rage, rage leads to being a d-head

As a city dweller I reckon a large part is being stuck in traffic takes away people's sense of control, leaving them frustrated.

Most have the good sense and self control to accept it and as DiscoMick said, just chill.

Some don't and get angry, then do dumb angry things in a way of trying to reclaim control, cutting off to get ahead, giving the bird, tailgating and onwards until someone gets hurt. A bit like the bully in the playground at primary school.

There's probably a mix of other factors in there as to who will go loco - self entitlement, social ineptitude - but that's one for the shrinks.

It's funny though how Sydney drivers don't seem keen to bully a 110, makes my day a lot easier. Either that or they are just all faster than me anyway......

Recently my wife was in the centre lane slightly ahead of a young bloke in a battered Hilux when the lanes ran out. She was ahead so she kept going and he should have just pulled in behind. Instead he revved up behind her, beeped repeatedly and gave her the finger. At the next dual lane roundabout he roared up alongside, gave her the finger again and then roared ahead and pulled over in front of us, giving the finger out the window.
The wife and I just sat there roaring with laughter at his moronic behaviour. Seriously, where is natural selection when you need it?

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Originally Posted by johntins

That's a trifle tiresome, Wraithe. People can't help where they're from. I did my basic at Kapooka. Maybe you did too. I had to put up with country boys who were no doubt tougher than me. But, I was far brighter than the ones I had to share with, and I could shoot better. What does this mean? Nothing at all. We came from different walks of life, that's all.

Time we all accept that we are different.

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Your probably right, as I do have a few friends(well probably more acquaintances as I keep getting told I dont have friends) that live in Perth...

Mind you, Perth was a country town when I left the farm and ventured north to more open country...
Now its a ??? well city I spose...

I did have a friend during basic training that was from Brisbane, nice guy... The other 2 in the room where from the country... Others from the city I got on with, didnt mix so well with the other city people...

But it probably didnt help that I came from a station in the Kimberleys, straight into the Army... Carrying my gear from the station...

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Originally Posted by Wraithe

Still its a yank thing, I just wish we looked the gate but alas the horse has bolted and that attitude has arrived here...

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How is it a "yank thing"? I've witnessed more road rage here in 5 years than I have in the USA in 40...... Have had my car kicked more than a few times at traffic lights by pushbike and motor bike riders alike for not being far enough to one side or the other in MY lane.....

the reason i'm an "anger motorist" is cause i'm sick of the declining driving standards. and driving is risky. your mistake might kill me.

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Originally Posted by DiscoMick

Seriously, where is natural selection when you need it?

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Kid's in a LowLux, give him another month on the outside... there used to be a kid down the road from us who went to the same school as our lad, drove an old FJ40 like it was a Skyline. Didn't last all that long after he got his P's.