Rage against the machine

[Slunnie]

So Ive been spending a few weeks enjoying driving a car instead of a lumbering 4WD. Its nice to have outrageous power and handling and enjoying it in the twisties.

Or is it?

In the car leaving work on Friday.... waiting in a que to turn right across the main drag in town. The car behind is beeping and the driver is carrying on like a manic - no idea why. When I get to the front he comes up on my LHS and I hear him begin to yell something as I take off through a gap in the traffic.

Driving to Wollongong yesterday... driving between Orange and Bathurst I was following a P plater who had just overtaken in an overtaking lane and then pulled into the LH lane. I continued in the RH lane as there was another pass coming up. As I was passing the P plater and the car infront of it (ie my bonnet was beside the P-plater) the P-plater pulls out on my forcing me into the oncoming traffic. I'm not sure how she didn't notice me as my horn was blaring with my bonnet level with her rear vision mirror an me now on the wrong side of the road! Thankfully no oncoming traffic! She continues out into my lane and passes like nothing had happened - not making any efforts that indicated that she noticed me. All accidental and ignorant so I press on and get the hell away from her.

Next was coming up behind someone driving slowly sheparding another car while blocking the overtaking lane up Mt Victoria. He eventually moves forward and as I go to pass though he accellerates. I wont say what speed we were doing at the top and through the corners to keep the high horse brigade happy, but for a significant portion of the trip over the mountains he continues to block my passing by doing everything he has to, but by only just enough so that I couldnt pass, but lets every other car through. When I saw the challenge I simply squeezed him out as he let the car infront through by jumping up and sticking my bonnet on the car in fronts bumper - but when he realised what I was doing he absolutely booted his car from behind me up to beside me to squeeze me out as his lane finished and then when he dropped in behind again gives me the finger! Strangely after his failed efforts to keep me behind he then straight away dropped back to never be seen again.

Sadly yesterday I also passed a freshly burnt out Lancia and a BMW X5.

Coming from Wollongong up to Sydney in the afternoon I then see a car cut across in front of a learner from the left lane into a turn right lane. The learner in front of me stops the car and starts going absolutely off his brain at this car that just cut him off! I couldn't believe it, but at the same time couldn't stop laughing - sure the car that had cut across had done the wrong thing, but hide of a learner (or anybody) to stop and hurl abuse - where the hell had he learnt that!

While I was in Sydney I changed back into my Disco..... and from there for the return trip to Orange last night there was........... the usual nothing once more. The cars are really nice and easy to drive - but I think I'll stick to 4WD's.

It made me realise why car drivers hate 4WD's. Its roots are probably somewhere in not being able to bully them and that must surely do the heads in for those road ragers, muscle flexers and Alpha personalities.

[VladTepes]

I reckon you might be onto something.

Try riding a motorbike !

[BigJon]

Sounds like you had a good few days there!

A couple of days ago there was a little sitting in the righthand lane on the SE Freeway as I was driving towards Adelaide to go to work.

The "driver" (more like steering wheel attendant) seemed to be completely unaware of the long line of traffic banked up behind her.

I am not sure why that would be the case, because as I overtook in the lefthand lane I saw the advertising stickers all over her car.

Tarot Reading, Horoscopes, Fortune Telling, etc.

Surely she should have known a few days prior about the trouble she would cause!

[groucho]

Try doing that every day in a fully loaded semi. Putting up with it on a daily basis. Now you know why they call me groucho. 32 years continuous in the transport industry shishhhhh.

[Slunnie]

Sounds like you had a good few days there!

A couple of days ago there was a little sitting in the righthand lane on the SE Freeway as I was driving towards Adelaide to go to work.

The "driver" (more like steering wheel attendant) seemed to be completely unaware of the long line of traffic banked up behind her.

I am not sure why that would be the case, because as I overtook in the lefthand lane I saw the advertising stickers all over her car.

Tarot Reading, Horoscopes, Fortune Telling, etc.

Surely she should have known a few days prior about the trouble she would cause!

Clearly she not making much of a prophet.

[Slunnie]

Try doing that every day in a fully loaded semi. Putting up with it on a daily basis. Now you know why they call me groucho. 32 years continuous in the transport industry shishhhhh.

The thing is, I cant ever remember having any issue with a truck. It is just about always other cars.

[Spenboyd]

My work car is a Prius and from what I can tell the wee hybrid beastie can inflame road rage in the average suburban nutbag like no other vehicle, one slim, agitated gent actually rammed me the other day while frothing at the mouth and gesticulating with both hands.
This sort of thing never seems to happen in a Landy, even the Freelander aroused no bile in the short fuse brigade.

[rovercare]

Rage against the machine is

[groucho]

The thing is, I cant ever remember having any issue with a truck. It is just about always other cars.

Exactly my point

[clean32]

i HAVE DRIVEN 1/2 AROUND THIS PLANET

And I would say that Adelaide drivers are close to being the worse in the world!!!!

Truck drivers excluded, the bigger the truck the better the driver, they do what they can within road and vehicle limits. that’s based on my experience.

There is no respect for other drivers, maybe because of the restrictive gun licences where road rage usually means you get shot so there is no road rage.

But next to no one in this town can accelerate into a merging lane ( they stop!!) and if you do get yourself up to speed, everyone is tailgating and no one will let you in ( unlike a zip)

I had one P plater nutting of at me, he was speeding on the left hand lane and didn’t like that when I changed form the right hand ( car tuning right ahead) to the left that he had to slow down ( even I was above legal). He drove around me and was held up in front by a red light. he jumped out and decided to give me an earful. I responded by getting at to go toe to toe ( language in front of the misses and kid) and he run off still yelling abuse. The lights turned green and he’s still running down the road. cop on a bike tuned up so I gave him my card and left ( with his permission), got a call a few days latter from the cop saying not to worry about any thing because they had been looking for that kid anyway ( driving offences)
Now that may be the exception, but many other drivers are just as bad around here.

Rant over