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General Do you get bullied?

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General Do you get bullied?

nottsfiat07 said:
Dont you find when people do roar round you tho, that you catch up with them at the next junction or set of lights? I do. Makes me feel smug.
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Yes! A guy in a 4x4 yesterday undertook me on a roundabout and got off at the same exit as me onto a dual carriageway. He then drove like a maniac over the next few miles, reaching about 110.

Got to the next roundabout, I breezed past him waiting to pull on in the left hand lane :ROFLMAO:
 
I'm a cyclist, and we are all aware that we get bullied by motor vehicle drivers out on the roads. It goes with the territory and we get used to it and make allowances for it. After all, a cyclist is in a vulnerable position, so we ride defensively.

However, as a driver, I'm finding I'm getting bullied too.

We have two cars. An elderly 2001 Clio and a Fiat 500. The two cars are similarly sized: Clio is only 4" longer but the same width as the 500. The 500 is a good 6" taller in the roof, so the car appears much smaller because of the proportions .......... if you see what I mean.

As we've had the Clio since new, we're very very used to driving it and very used to the way we're treated out on the roads. As soon as we bought the 500, it was evident that other car drivers were bullying us. Pulling out of junctions in front of us, not giving way on roundabouts, ignoring us when we want to turn, tailgating very close, pushing past etc etc etc. We have never seen (or rarely seen) the same behaviour when driving the Clio. It's almost consistently when we're in the 500.

Remember, the Clio and the 500 are very similarly sized cars, it's just that the 500 looks small.
Could this problem be just because it's specifically a 500, and that small cars don't get treated like this generally? Can't remember it when we drove a (real) Mini (we've had loads of them over the years!)

Is it just 500s?
I'm finding it very annoying indeed.

Regards,
Mick.
 
Yes, size does have something to do with people giving way. I drove a small commercial truck at one time, when I first started driving it I noticed that people were more likely to give way. When we got our Panda I found that people weren't so likely to do so, this car was slightly larger than the 500. When a friend of mine (also a Panda owner) asked if I got bullied by other drivers I realized that this had been happening. We now have a Ford Fiesta and have found other drivers behaving more courteously, going beyond what I would have expected. I am not sure exactly what triggers the courteous behavior. This car is a bright red and I wonder whether the colour can make a difference too. My daughter has also noticed a difference, but she just thinks that the car is easier to drive.
 
I've not noticed to be honest but you've now probably made me paranoid:)

The are certain "types" who always drive aggressively, I'm about to get stereo typical but it's middle aged/middle management men who obviously think they're very important and have to get somewhere for a very important meeting. They will be in Audi, Merc. and BMW.

Then there's the yummy mummy in a LR, X5 who's equally important.

Then there's the 20 something girl in the car that I must not mention but built by bmw.

All are incompetent and dangerous drivers. I see this if I'm in the 500 or the G Wagen.

As has been said earlier, drive assertive, drive competently and drive defensively. But never aggressively, life's too short to mess with cretins.
 
Different cars seem to attract different treatments from all different places.

I first noticed this when I had my Range Rover, thinking that it's size and age would mean it was less likely to be target to idiots.

I quickly found that middle management types in mondeo and vectra's always tried to overtake/pull out in front and generally cut me up.

At every set of lights any youth in a Saxo or Clio would try to kill themselves just to get past despite the huge Diesel engine I was sitting on top of.

The punto was always overtaken by everything no matter how fast I was going, I believe the perception was small little car must be going slow even if over the speed limit.

My Saab many years ago used to get a lot of attention from Porsche drivers, scared a few of them aswell.

When I had the fiesta recently for work I noticed similar treatment to what's described with the 500... Wasn't my car though so I didn't care to be careful
 
Well it's been 4 years since I replied to this thread...in that time we've gone from a K12 micra and a Swift to a DS3 and a Mazda 3. Observations would be the DS3 gets significantly more road respect than the cutesy looking micra ever did despite being pretty much the same size. Also the only people who will attempt to bully the Mazda would be SUV drivers but it's big enough to make them think twice.

So small cute looking cars get bullied...less cute looking cars of the same size get bullied less. An entirely not cute looking reasonably large car in a high visibility colour rarely gets bullied.

Defensive driving is the way forward, I can't remember the last time I used the horn (or had anyone sound theirs at me) as it's quite easy to play spot the prat (insert your own rant about brand stereotypes here) and avoid what they're about to do before the idea has half-baked it's way into their head. It has possibly added about a minute or two to my commute but arriving at work not feeling stressed and angry is worth it...
 
We've several 500s (lol). My one with stripes and shiny wheels and spoilers and boy racer bits seems to be treated better than the ones with squares and flowers on.

Maybe it's due to the person behind the wheel too? After all, all youths carry weaponry these days. :rolleyes:
 
Noxide said:
We've several 500s (lol). My one with stripes and shiny wheels and spoilers and boy racer bits seems to be treated better than the ones with squares and flowers on.

Maybe it's due to the person behind the wheel too? After all, all youths carry weaponry these days. :rolleyes:
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Joking apart that's a very good reason to not let the red mist take over. You never know what loon is in the other car.

Not saying it's never affected me:)

I have had some training in defensive driving, it's really worth it. A worst it makes each journey less stressful, at best it could save your life.

I'm sure there is an element of small / "cute" cars being picked on but I'm certainly not going to lose any sleep over the type of person who does this. They really aren't worthy of even my contempt.
 
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RussH said:
Joking apart that's a very good reason to not let the red mist take over. You never know what loon is in the other car.

Not saying it's never affected me:)

I have had some training in defensive driving, it's really worth it. A worst it makes each journey less stressful, at best it could save your life.

I'm sure there is an element of small / "cute" cars being picked on but I'm certainly not going to lose any sleep over the type of person who does this. They really aren't worthy of even my contempt.
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Exactly this. And if anything, this is probably the key thing. Plastic and metal can be replaced always. But if someone gets out and knocks you out, you're in trouble.

Someone I know got stopped by a van and thumped in the middle of a dual carriageway. Police got involved unsurprisingly. Someone crashed into my mum once, got out and had a go, drove off. Got charged with leaving the scene of an accident. ****. :rolleyes:

I know for a fact I've had confrontations with other drivers before. Only ever verbal though. (and from the safety of my car)
 
StevenRB45 said:
Well it's been 4 years since I replied to this thread....
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It was me wot dragged this old thread up, due to an incident yesterday.

A car pulled out in front of me and drove quite slowly, so I sat behind waiting to overtake. As soon as I had the opportunity, I slotted the TA down into 2nd and floored the throttle to pass. Instantly, the car I was trying to overtake did the same and I had no chance, so dropped back. Yes, you've guessed it, the car slowed right down again. It was an Audi something-or-other, big diesel estate and filthy dirty.

I gave up and sat behind for the rest of the trip into town.

This is a typical scenario. Pushed around, almost made fun of, abused, and sometimes deliberately obstructed. It almost makes me want to get rid of the 500. :cry:

Regards to all,
Mick.
 
There isn't much you can do about them apart from grit your teeth and keep your cool, but what you can do is get youself a dash-cam (or two) so if worst comes worst you can prove your case. If their behaviour is actually dangerous you might even take it to the police - otherwise roadshamer.com.
 
battlefield-4-humvee-real-life.jpg



:chin:
 
Mick F said:
It was me wot dragged this old thread up, due to an incident yesterday.

A car pulled out in front of me and drove quite slowly, so I sat behind waiting to overtake. As soon as I had the opportunity, I slotted the TA down into 2nd and floored the throttle to pass. Instantly, the car I was trying to overtake did the same and I had no chance, so dropped back. Yes, you've guessed it, the car slowed right down again. It was an Audi something-or-other, big diesel estate and filthy dirty.

I gave up and sat behind for the rest of the trip into town.

This is a typical scenario. Pushed around, almost made fun of, abused, and sometimes deliberately obstructed. It almost makes me want to get rid of the 500. :cry:

Regards to all,
Mick.
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Nooo!

Just think Karma Mick.

The 500 is a happy car, don't let kn#bs take that away. Not worth a milliseconds worth of thought(y)
 
Just reading through this thread as I thought it was just me... My old 1.2 would happily cruise at an indicated 75-80 on my daily commute, but as soon as I overtook someone in a 'better' car, they immediately had to re-take me and then settle back to their slower speed...

...I thought this would change when I got my Abarth, but no, I just get people in more expensive cars getting upset that I overtook them and the same thing happens!

I guess the answer is either drive defensive as written above or get a horse and cart!
 
Mick F said:
Instantly, the car I was trying to overtake did the same and I had no chance, so dropped back. Yes, you've guessed it, the car slowed right down again. It was an Audi something-or-other, big diesel estate and filthy dirty.

Regards to all,
Mick.
Click to expand...

When I was far dumber than I am now (well hopefully;)) I actually did this, sort of unintentionally, I was overtaking a slower car and a kn#b behind me tried to overtake me at the same time if that makes sense. I was in the right so put my stupid head on and didn't lift off. He had to give up and pull in behind me.

Imagine my joy when I saw the blue lights come on behind the grill:eek:
Yep it was an unmarked police traffic car, it was quite quick but not quick enough:slayer:

As I say you just never know.........
 
I drive an S-Max and the 500 and havent noticed any difference as to how I'm treated by other road users.

Well that's not completely true - went for a spirited drive in the 500 a couple of nights ago and as I approached the car in front (at reasonable speed it has to be said) they indicated left and slowed to the side of the road to let me pass. That's never happened in the Ford. Maybe they felt a little intimidated. Wonder if they were surprised when I shot past in the little Fiat!
 
Mick F said:
I'm a cyclist, and we are all aware that we get bullied by motor vehicle drivers out on the roads. It goes with the territory and we get used to it and make allowances for it. After all, a cyclist is in a vulnerable position, so we ride defensively.

However, as a driver, I'm finding I'm getting bullied too.

We have two cars. An elderly 2001 Clio and a Fiat 500. The two cars are similarly sized: Clio is only 4" longer but the same width as the 500. The 500 is a good 6" taller in the roof, so the car appears much smaller because of the proportions .......... if you see what I mean.

As we've had the Clio since new, we're very very used to driving it and very used to the way we're treated out on the roads. As soon as we bought the 500, it was evident that other car drivers were bullying us. Pulling out of junctions in front of us, not giving way on roundabouts, ignoring us when we want to turn, tailgating very close, pushing past etc etc etc. We have never seen (or rarely seen) the same behaviour when driving the Clio. It's almost consistently when we're in the 500.

Remember, the Clio and the 500 are very similarly sized cars, it's just that the 500 looks small.
Could this problem be just because it's specifically a 500, and that small cars don't get treated like this generally? Can't remember it when we drove a (real) Mini (we've had loads of them over the years!)

Is it just 500s?
I'm finding it very annoying indeed.

Regards,
Mick.
Click to expand...

Mick, I think it is specifically the 500 that causes problems for certain people down this part of the world (we are in South Devon by the way, but also experienced the same in Mid Devon).

We have a 13 plate 500 in Volare Blue and a 62 plate Punto in turquoise. The 500 will often get tailgated by some tool who thinks they can intimidate me or my wife, but the Punto rarely does.

I agree with David Bliss re the Panda. Actually I think it was marginally worse with the Panda than it is with the 500.
 
I love driving my wife's 500S although you definitely get treated differently than when driving an Insignia, BMW, etc. A bit more flashing and honking for innocuous or perceived driving errors.

Also, I've noticed a lot more idiots needlessly overtaking (when I'm more than doing the speed limit), seemingly just to prove a point and usually not getting any further than me. Just a bit of aggressive selfishness, the horror that they might be stuck behind an ickle Fiat!

None of this puts me off though, and I am insanely jealous of my wife's "pocket rocket" :cool:

And on the flip side people seem to let me out of junctions a lot more, especially if they are driving a 500 themselves. And we always get the last laugh when getting around tight city roads or "impossible" parking spaces, whilst the lumbering 7 series sits forlornly across a box junction, waiting for the required 2 miles of space to turn round :D

Any aggression is normally met with a smile and a wave!
 
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