Mia Freedman
by MIA FREEDMAN
I was sitting in gridlock the other day on a main suburban street, mid afternoon on a weekday. Slightly ahead of me, I became aware of two drivers wildly gesticulating at each other. Within seconds, one man reached across to the passenger seat and grabbed a cricket stump with one hand while undoing his seatbelt with the other.
He did this in a seamless and alarmingly well practiced move. Clearly, it was not the first time. Nor, I suspect was the cricket stump kept in his car in case he spontaneously wanted to play a bit of beach sport.
As other drivers watched, the cricket man marched over to the other guy’s car and lifted the stump above his head, pretending he was going to strike him with it. As they kept shouting abuse, the second man got out of his car, ran to his boot and retrieved a large mallet. They then stood in between the cars, in the middle of this beautiful afternoon and threatened each other with their make-shift weapons.
In the end, they both walked away unharmed but it left me shocked.
Is this a thing now? Do people carry weapons in their cars so they can terrorise and assault other drivers? Clearly it was naive of me to believe that road ragers had taken their aggro online and morphed into trolls.
Do you have road rage? Have you ever witnessed a fight on the road?
Still enraged? And want to be even more so? Have a read of this.
Comments
67 Comments so far
i think you need to move… sounds like you are living in a crap place! what’s that? sydney? oh yes you are living in a crap place
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it appears rage is not confined to roads but blogs as well, there seems to be quiet a few highly strung people here today, apparently the freedom of speech has been ransacked to you speak you get torn to shreds!!!!
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Just a quick comment – the whole ‘freedom of speech’ thing is an American amendment and not in the Australia constitution. Two cents :p
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Some of the readers here may not have road-rage but there’s definitely a bit of comment-rage going on! I kind of love it though.
I saw a guy pull in front of a cab the other day in Melbourne, get out and smash the bonnet and windows of the cab with a cricket bat. Scary stuff, poor cabbie… I personally would never do that but I have been known to gesticulate, clap, toot or yell at idiots on the road if they’re doing something dangerous. Cars/traffic has a special way of making people angry I guess… mind you, I have been to known to sigh dramatically if some annoying person steps out in front of me or stops suddenly in the middle of the footpath when I’m on foot as well.
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My pet hate is people who refuse to use their indicators or don’t use them until the very last moment because heaven forbid their use may actually INDICATE to other drivers what your intentions are and allow them to react safely.
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That’s crazy but you know what’s even crazier…. if that were here in the U.S those weapons would probably have been guns!
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A good friend of mine had a bad incident where he was having trouble with a crazy young driver on the highway (slowing down speeding up and driving erratically, my friend had flipped him the bird but no more than that) then my friend pulled over to let him go ahead and basically remove himself from the dangerous situation, but the crazy driver pulled over as well and got out of his car with the jack handle from the boot and threatened him. My friend was terrified, and locked himself in the car. The other man gave up and drove away thank god, but it made me think, when you yell at other drivers for cutting you off or whatever you never know who you are yelling at and how easily it can escalate.
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The only time I’ve ever experienced road rage was a couple weeks ago when I was on the highway where the double lanes were ending, and as I was trying to merge over into the single lane, some lunatic overtook me. I’m assuming he saw my p plates and couldn’t stand to be stuck behind me at 80km/h for the next 2km until the next overtaking lane. He overtook me, and the car in front, while in the lane next to us which was travelling in the opposite direction. It scared me and my friends who were in the car, and it put all of our lives at risk. If there had been traffic coming the other way he would have caused a serious accident. P platers have a bad reputation for driving recklessly, but some people’s attitudes towards P platers are just as dangerous. I was doing the right thing by going at 80km/h, only to have people do stupid things like illegally overtake me, because they don’t want to travel at a slower speed for another 2 km.
The disrespect for L platers is even worse. The other day I was behind an L plater at a set of traffic lights who was going straight ahead, and a car pulled up the inside of us both, and instead of turning they went straight ahead, and cut in front of the L plater. The same thing happened to me multiple times while I was learning. People see your plates and think, oh I don’t want to be stuck behind them, they’re probably a terrible/slow driver. So they do something ridiculously stupid and reckless, just to get in front of you.
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I tell people off for being on their phones often.
People thinking that blinkers are optional also does my head in – you’re the only person who knows where you’re going, the people behind you are not mind-readers.
People doing 20km under the limit. Why??
Slowing down so you don’t have to stop at the lights, but not realising that people behind you may need to get further up to turn off. Just friggen stop you dope.
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Try driving in Perth, worst drivers in Australia!!! Slow, self righteous, nasty! So many people here agree, but I wonder where all the reasonable ones are?? Lol! I am on the road all day, and see some corkers, tho I did rather top the list today, going down the wrong side of the road, got confused with roadworks! No one got nasty, phew!!
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I do live in Perth and I too spend a lot of time on the road – but I still think the traffic here nothing comparable to other places I’ve lived like the UK and SE Asia. I drive around thinking lucky, lucky, lucky me.
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Omg I did the exact same thing last week. I had my dad in the car and I never drive him anywhere and I drove down the wrong side of the road because of road works and I got confused. Felt so stupid
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I used to suffer from road rage till I travelled to an very over crowded Asian country a few years back. Poverty and hardship was everywhere but the people struck me as friendly and welcoming. The traffic was ridiculous. Vehicles jammed in from all directions, it was chaos. But I noticed no one beeped or yelled at each other. No one brandished weapons or even flipped a modest bird. I asked myself why everyone was so calm? Why did they happily let other vehicles cut in front of them or peacefully deal with the madness that ensued from broken traffic light after broken traffic light? Why? Perspective was the answer I came up with. I came home and realised we’re so bloody spoilt here in Oz that we’ve forgotten what hardship is and God forbid if someone slows us down in traffic! Watch out anyone who signals a bit too late or not at all. Hell to pay for the person who might’ve got confused about what lane they needed to be in and taken just a few seconds out of our travel time to decide. I used to think road rage was a harmless, almost amusing feature of daily life. I now think of it as a ridiculous side effect of our spoilt first world lives. Perspective! Unless your life was seriously in danger, ask yourself was what the other driver just did really so unforgivable, worth stewing about, worth shaking your head at? Life’s short, we live in an amazing country, traffic shouldn’t even register on our list of worries.
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I had an accident because of a psycho with road rage. I was driving at the speed limit, which appeared to upset the person behind me driving a ute, as he kept getting closer and closer. As I was pregnant and had my 18 month old in the car with me I just tried to focus on driving correctly and ignoring him. Until he pulled out from behind me as the road moved into 2 lanes each way, before I had time to change lanes he overtook on the inside lane and then cut in front of me and slammed the breaks on. For absolutely no reason. I ran up his bum. By this stage I was terrified and shaking and locked the doors. I spoke to him through the tiniest opening in my window and he claimed the accident was my fault because I hit him. We excahnged details and I then drove to the nearest police station and reported the whole thing. I also rang his employer who owned the ute he was driving and told them the whole story. Which he denied. I actually had a visit from the police at my home about my report and they told me the driver had reported that he breaked suddenly to avoid hitting a dog! The policeman was very apologetic as it was clear he believed me – pregnant mum from nice suburb with clean driving record, over ute driving yobbo from outer suburbs – however there was nothing he could do.
To this day I hold out hope that karma will get this creep.
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My son’s a ute driver, and we live in the “outer”suburbs. Are you say you’re just naturally to be believed because you’re a woman from a “nice” suburb? Rather an offensive generalisation, don’t you think. Or do you think you are better than us, and we’re people you just look down you’re nose upon?
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I can’t edit. It was meant to say, “are you saying”
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Not at all, I didnt mean to offend. But this man clearly had a huge problem with aggression and didnt mind intimidating a pregnant woman with a child. From my experience the scariest time to be on the road is around 4pm on the M4 in Sydney because thats when there are many utes driving very aggressively. Just an observation thats all.
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My husband runs a mechanic workshop and has told me how many weapons he has found in cars when they are bought in to be serviced, just under the passenger seats things like knives, baseball bats, nunchucks….
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I drive to work along quite a busy country road, where there are a few long staights, but quite a bit on either side is windy.
I will often yell at other drivers (from the interior of my car) who will drive 30km under the speed limit, and then speed up when I have the chance to overtake, only to slow RIGHT down again. Even worse are the people who continue to go 30km an hour under the limit the whole trip, but you cant overtake due to oncoming traffic, or the 10 cars between me and the sloooow driver.
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I first saw road rage in the mid 80s. Two guys got out of their cars at traffic lights in front of the petrol station I was at and start punching on. Their partners were screaming and they got back in their cars when the lights changed to green…..
I’ve been followed by nutters a couple of times but that’s it. I get angry occasionally, but realistically everyone makes stupid mistakes at some stage.
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I’ve been known to give the bird. That’s about it. If every one obeyed the road rules, there wouldn’t be ANY road rage.
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The other day I was a bit antsy while driving and cars were backing up where I didn’t expect them to … I yelled out “For f*cks sake people, sort yourselves out!” and then sheepishly saw that my window was open …
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Not so much road rage,but was in qld for a holiday driving to a theme park ,dad and stepfamily in the other car,my sister and her husband and me in the other we wernt sure were to go and were stoped at traffic lights my dad a big beefy guy with a bald head tatts and a big beard mo thing,got out of his car to tell brother in law directions but he looked all tough and everything the looks and alarm of the other cars thinking this was road rage looked so scared and worried for us after dad got back in his car we had moterists ask if we were alright
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I blasted my horn at a guy who cut straight in front of me when he came SCREAMING up a highway entry ramp, he then followed and harrassed me for 20mins til I finally thought to pull up in a police station and sound the horn.
I also have an umbrella I keep down the side of my seat for when it rains, but I did also grab it one time when a guy washed my windscreen after I clearly told him I didn’t want him to, then refused to pay him and he went ape-shit.
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I don’t have a lot of road rage – although I expect that to change now that I am no longer able to touch my phone in the car!.
But the other day (after a particularly shit day at work) I was going to pick up my son. I was driving down a fairly busy road when some man on a bike hooted at me and started gesticulating wildly. I had no idea what I had done wrong so I just waved my hand in apology (just in case) and drove on. At the next set of lights he got off his bike and came up to the passenger window and just smashed it! Hard.
I still get scared when I think about it – it really left me feeling horribly rattled
The funny side of it was that I thought I would take a picture of this man to get his rego so that I could claim insurance on my cracked window. I held up the phone and pressed the camera and then looked at the brilliant shot I had taken of my own very frightened face – I had the camera set to do a selfie!!!
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My husband stopped at the traffic lights and had the door of his car kicked by a guy on a pushbike. He has no idea what he did wrong either. The door was left with a huge big dent. But of course as bikes have no way of being identified there was no way he could do anything about it. I’m all for sharing the road, but when they feel they can damage property like that just to prove a point its not on. A simple, hey you did the wrong thing would be fine. Nobody is perfect and if they made us aware of what we did wrong politely we could learn from it.
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Once I was out driving with my dad and the rest of the family and we had just pulled out from a T intersection. All of a sudden, this guy who was parked on the side of the road that we’d just pulled out onto decided it would be a great time to drive off as we were pulling onto the road. We nearly collided, and then he followed us to the traffic lights, where he opened his car door and threatened to come over and abuse us. Then he followed us halfway home, where we tried to shake him off by going around and around a huge roundabout but he parked on the side of the road and when we’d turned off the roundabout, he kept following. We had to keep driving for ages and eventually managed to shake him off before we went home. Scary stuff! There are so many lunatics out there.
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What a freaking loon. Arseholes on the road are the worst.
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I’m sorry that happened to you, that’s awful. If you are unfortunate enough that it happens again, just drive to the nearest police station. That should get rid of them!
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No, But I do get incredibly frustrated when I am sitting EXACTLY on the speed limit, to have people having a go at me – Regardless of whether I am in the right or left lane. Sorry. Being in the right lane does not mean I need to put myself at risk because you failed to get out of bed on time. Especially in morning peak hour.
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No, but being in the right lane if you’re not overtaking is incorrect, whether you’re doing the speed limit or not. Drivers shouldn’t intimidate you about it but you shouldn’t ignore the fact that you are also in the wrong.
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Only in an 80 zone or higher (I’m pretty sure) – in a 60 or 70 zone you can drive in either lane can’t you?
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No you can’t! The right land is only for overtaking (or speeding). It is never ok just to sit in the right lane st the speed limit. Plus you can be booked for doing it – it is illegal.
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Sorry but the Australian Road Rules state the following;
130 – Keeping to the left on a multi-lane road
This rule applies to a driver driving on a multi-lane road if:
(a) the speed-limit applying to the driver for the length of road where the driver is driving is over 80 kilometres per hour; or
(b) a keep left unless overtaking sign applies to the length of road where the driver is driving.
So if it’s a 70 zone and there is no sign saying to keep left unless overtaking, then you CAN drive in the right lane at the speed limit.
Plus it’s the law to maintain a safe distance from the car in front of you so all the tailgating people do when I’m driving the speed limit while in the right lane is actually what is illegal.
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I’m not sure about all the other states, but in mine (ACT) the rule clearly states that keeping to the left only applies when the speed limit is over 80km/h. When the speed limit is 80 or under, it is valid and legal to use whichever lane suits you, inlcuding the right lane.
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Er, the right lane is used for overtaking. So why not just stick to the left lane and stop annoying everyone?
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I don’t disagree with your right to do the speed limit, I do it also. However considering that this isn’t the case for all, it does frustrate me when people sit in the right lane so that those who wish to speed then choose to weave throughout the other lanes. If it’s left free for those who speed, then I can stay out of it, and drive in peace!
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Sarah, the right lane is for OVERTAKING. Drivers like you are infuriating!
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Hey Sarah… how do you know YOUR speedo is accurate?? Drivers like you are SO self righteous… just try for courtesy… if you’re blocking someone.. change lanes!
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Even if her speedo is a couple of km/hr off does it really matter? Seriously if getting there in time comes down to a few percent in speed, then you need to leave earlier. There’s all sorts of things that slow you down.
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Settle Petal. Even when you are overtaking in the right hand lane, you have to stick to the speed limit.
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Well put…
it is a worry reading the comments re this issue. Fancy a person feeling self righteous about what is perceived to be the law (and it isn’t the case in WA), whilst clearly advocating overtaking beyond the speed limit.
The concept is just so simple: the designated speed limit is the fastest you can travel on that road. This fact applies to the entire nation.
By being in control of a motor vehicle on a public road, a driver is engaging in an inherently dangerous activity. All drivers are required to adhere to the traffic code to the letter… no exceptions, no excuses.
Any driver who exceeds the speed limit (or drives contrary to the traffic code in any way), is placing others in danger, which is morally wrong.
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Thanks for that. I don’t believe I said anywhere in my comment that I sit in the right hand lane for extended periods of time. People jump to that conclusion because they just want to blame someone. Whether or not I am changing lanes, I still stick to the speed limit. These pesky things called laws prevent me from doing anything but.
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I know lots of people are saying the right lane is for overtaking, but it took me over a year and a half of having my license to learn this. Because, people:
THEY DO NOT TEACH THIS AT DRIVING SCHOOLS.
I am not joking. Both of my driving instructors told me that as long as I’m doing the maximum speed limit in the right hand lane it is totally OK!
Now I realise that it is common courtesy to stay in the middle or left lane so that people who want to speed/overtake can do so without compromising my safety in the right lane. But I still disagree that this is a widely accepted understanding amongst Perth (I can’t speak for all of Australia) drivers.
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Did the “Keep Left Unless Overtaking” signs not give you a hint?
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There is no need to be rude. That is rather assuming of you.
There are no signs like that anywhere in my area. The only place where I have seen similar signs are on long country roads.
And to skydrifter below this, I am merely pointing out my observations as a driver on Perth roads. I am also confused as to why this law is not taught at driving schools.
From a lot of the comments on this article, it is clear that there are many misconceptions about road rules in different parts of Australia.
I don’t think it is fair for anyone to be infuriated about the actions of others when nobody seems sure of the laws themselves. For example, somebody above this said you can be booked for sitting at the speed limit on the right lane. I have never, ever heard of that ever, ever, ever happening, ever.
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I agree with you, but I don’t know about driving schools, as I have had a license for over 30 years… it seems to me that these are things which should be within the learners permit.
The inclination to be infuriated is the genesis of roadrage I would think. Road users should never drive with their emotions. A rule of thumb, never drive if you are tired or angry.
I totally agree with you about rudeness… it is interesting that there is a slightly abrasive feel to some of the opinions on this post. It is a bad look.
If only people could chill instead of becoming self righteous. Having worked in the Trauma Unit of RPH, I know unequivocally that proving a point whilst driving is just not worth it. It is enough to have to avoid the results of mistakes that drivers unwittingly make.
Oh, and all the best to you Jess, I wish you good health on our roads. Stay safe.
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I am in Perth and it happened to me. I was driving on the freeway in the RHL at the speed limit and I was pulled over and given a warning. I had no idea that it was wrong until then.
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It’s not being rude. It’s pointing out (as you yourself admit) that there are signs that say “Keep Left Unless Overtaking”. It’s not a courtesy, it’s a road rule.
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Not in WA
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I have heard of it happening – it happened to my father. True story.
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For your information Jess;
In WA, one is required to stay left only when the speed limit is 90 kph and above.
At any time, if you have any doubts or queries about the traffic code, a phone call to your local police station will generally result in an informed person clarifying the matter for you. In my experience, the police have without fail been enthusiastic to give sound advice in this area.
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Sarah, this is a bit frustrating for other drivers and can really wreck the flow of traffic.
The right hand lane is kept for overtaking under freeway or highway conditions, but it’s considered common courtesy to clear out of the right hand lane under all multi-lane conditions if you’re not moving faster than the left hand lane.
You’ll find that nobody will have a go at you if you’re in the left hand lane. Why not just go with the flow of this convention and lower your and everybody else’s angst levels?
My grandpa used to call drivers with a fondness for hogging the right hand lane ‘squadron leaders’ because they’d always have a line of cars in formation behind them.
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Yes I’m shocking. The abuse I dish out. But then I have to put up with Adelaide drivers so it is to be expected.
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Whew….nice. Just….real nice.
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It’s a fair call. Adelaide drivers are terrible.
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I can understand how people get angry, I drive about an hour to work every Sunday and it seems like because no one else has anywhere to be people loveeee driving 30 kms under the limit. It drives me mental and when i under take them im often yelled at with the “bloody p plater” line. If your going to drive slow drive in the left lane
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Perhaps it’s because on Sundays people are more likely to be in an area they’re not familiar with? And if you’re looking for where to turn right it makes no sense to be in the left lane and then have to suddenly cut across traffic.
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I don’t know what country you live in Chris, but here in Australia there are NO right-hand turns off freeways – all exits are to the left.
And even if the multi-lane road is not a freeway, ignorance is no excuse.
Keep left unless overtaking – it’s the law!
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Sorry Lisa but if you are intending to turn right on a road (under 80km) it is NOT illegal to be in the right lane, in this case it is just common sense to do so.
In fact as long as you are on a road under 80km as correctly explained by others above it is courtesy to stay to the left- NOT the law.
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Lisa its only because you typed `NO right right hand turns off freeways that I thought of the right hand exit to Military Rd when you are heading northbound exiting the Harbour Tunnel. Maybe it’s the only one of its kind.
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There is also a right hand exit off the freeway in Perth. Just after the Hay St exit in the city (I forget the name of the exit) so they do exist elsewhere too!
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Sorry Lisa, there is a right hand side exit in Australia…the M5 freeway in Sydney has one just after the main tunnel. However I do agree with the rest you said..
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I hear you! I work in North Sydney and use the North Sydney exit from the Cahill Espressway. I hate getting stuck in that lane behind people cruising along 20kms below the speed limit who then merge out at the last minute into the city lane! They dont even need to be using that lane, and in the process have a queue of cars who need that lane sitting on their bum trying to get to work, who would like to be travelling at the speed, not 20 kms under it. It happens every day!
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I have a steering wheel lock under my front seat. I have only had to threaten to use it once against someone who randomly went off their nut for god only knows what reason. This person had gotten out of their car and was running up and down the line of waiting cars threatening people. Fortunately she went away after seeing me waving the the lock around. I still keep it under the seat because you never know these days!
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Me too!!! Never had to use it but love knowing it’s there….just in case.
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I fear that I could succumb to road rage (although a milder version than examples here) due to 2 different things that frustrate me:
1. Drivers who drive with bright lights on close behind my car – practically blinds me and I seethe with inward rage (!) – often wish there was a sign or indication at the back of one’s car that could be utilise to indicate ‘switch your brights off idiot” – also applies to those coming towards you but at least you can flick lights at them…
2. Totally agree with comments made about drivers who try to intimidate and drive up behind if I’m trying to keep to the speed limit – especially on the Anzac Bridge in Sydney as a few people have been booked ther and I don’t wish to have a nasty fine and points taken away. I have sometimes pointed to the speed limit sign when the driver has impatiently sped past me and just hope they get booked for being road bullies…uurggh!!
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