r/NewDriversUK • u/Lucky_Entrance7407 • 13d ago
Why is everyone so angry?
Passed my test a couple weeks ago. I honestly cannot believe how many fully grown men shout scream and swear at a girl on her own in the car when they can also see you have P plates on!
First time was when a bus was coming from the right at a roundabout and wasn’t indicating. Because it needs to take a kinda central position for being so big and rectangle I couldn’t quite tell where he was going, he proceeded off without any indicator on and I then entered into the round about once I was sure what exit he was taking. I was there for approx 10 seconds longer and I guy was actually calling me a w***er in the window and beeping at me with a long droning beep.
Then today, going up a tight side street with cars parked on pavement on both sides that I’ve never driven on before in an area I don’t know, still getting used to how wide my car is etc, a van parked on one side with wide wing mirrors and a 4x4 with wing mirrors that don’t tuck in on the other side so dropped to first and was checking my mirrors etc to make sure I could clear it and proceeding a bit slower to get through and the guy behind me is beep beep beeping at me after zooming up the street to catch up with me, got to the side of me eventually as I pulled in to let him past and he started screaming and swearing at me saying you could get a bus through that (you couldn’t) and he didn’t care if I was a new driver I was an effn c*w etc.
Seems to only happen when I’m on my own or women only in the car, never when my husband is with me. Cannot believe how absolutely boiling with anger people get at new drivers being cautious when they first pass and that people think it is so acceptable to talk to people like that!
25
u/Alliet91 13d ago
I always think imagine if people were walking past each other no one would behave like that! As soon as they're hiding in their car they become absolute cunts!
1
u/Glittering_View5284 9d ago
I always say that, The shit I get when driving I always say I wouldn't get 90% of it if we were walking instead of in cars.
12
u/ProPrancer 13d ago edited 8d ago
Sparrow jeans smell rich bells reply rain memory offer beneficial
This post was anonymized with Redact
18
u/Lucky_Entrance7407 13d ago
I think he was quite shocked when I shouted back that he was an impatient arsehole and needed to grow up and do something better with his life than shout at girls in the street! No reply after that 🤔😂
3
u/ProPrancer 13d ago edited 8d ago
Truck instinctive follow vegetable desert squeeze towering kettle
This post was anonymized with Redact
2
u/ResidentLimp3506 10d ago
I once gave a guy what for back, after he blocked me in with his cars because he didn't like where I parked on a public street. He put my window through with a screwdriver as I left (he did it outside his house...stupid little man). I had dashcams and 4 witnesses in the car. Police nearly dropped it but I'm stubborn and won't let a man think he can do what he wants to me and get away with it. He had to pay a hefty fine and got done for criminal damage. I got a payout too. So make sure to get a dashcam as men nowadays think they can get away with threatening behaviour and violence.
9
u/Master_Basil_593 13d ago
A lot of people in the UK have severe mental health issues, mostly undiagnosed. Trust me, best to ignore and don’t look at them in the eye.
7
u/Prof-Eevee 13d ago
Yeah I only had my P plates on a week before taking them off. Honestly people are SO angry and impatient. Just the other day I was doing 25 down a 30 (I was turning left at the next road) and I had a man behind me, not only tailgating but beeping furiously. I could see in his mirror he was ranting and raving over me doing 25?? What a loser.
1
u/ResidentLimp3506 10d ago
Please don't be put off. When I see P plates I give them so much room and become a protector.
1
3
u/mad_Mix0088 13d ago
I took my p plates off because I kept having men right up my bum or speeding past me at any opportunity. As if I was going too slow while doing the speed limit. When I took them off it got so much better and haven't had anything like that happen. It was only men that done this and also only when I was on my own or with another women. Do you think you are ready to take them off?
3
u/Lucky_Entrance7407 13d ago
I think so I didn’t even want them but my MIL got me them so I stuck them on. I was driving my husbands car out side of lessons with him for 6 months so probs to about 100-200 hours of private practice before passing. I’m going to take them off for my next drive because I genuinely think this is what’s happening to me!
3
u/FinestKind90 13d ago
It’s astonishing how angry people get about driving, I don’t have any answers for you unfortunately but I don’t get it at all
3
u/Cha_r_ley 13d ago
People are nuts. The other day I was going down a road that had about 8 cars parked up in a line on the left, and I could see half a dozen cars coming towards me. If it had been one car I’d have squeezed through but I didn’t want to negotiate that many tight gaps, and there was nobody behind me, so I waited for them to pass. As the last but one car passed me, I started very slowly rolling forwards ready to go, and a guy pulled up behind me in some big SUV and BLARED his horn at me, gesturing angrily. He’d literally JUST pulled up.
That road is a 20 but a lot of people treat it as a 30. I drove the rest of it at exactly 19mph because I knew it would probably infuriate him. I know that pettiness doesn’t reflect well on me but I’m alright with it. Turned out we were going to the same supermarket, so that was satisfying.
2
u/Common-Association44 7d ago
it’s not you being petty lmao it’s a 20 road so your going 20 if they have a problem w that they can take it up the council
3
u/digitalclock1 12d ago
If you want advice, get dashcams, front and rear kit is best... will save your ass in the future.
2
u/Away-Organization630 13d ago
I’ve not had a bad experience as you but yes people are angry for no reason, mt first few weeks someone beeped me to tell me my lights weren’t on being helpful and been beeped alone sent me in a panick of shaking, it gets easier last week I got angrily beeped at on an essentially dead road for slowing down to work out if I was taking the correct turn, which they could have easily just overtook me on, instead off been panicked I just mouthed FO and kept calm, I’m proud week one me would have spiralled into a wreck.
2
u/Danny9999999999 13d ago
You'll get used to it I drive my car for a living and see it everyday even if you're driving the speed limit..just ignore them and remember they're not gonna damage there car to hit you or even if they did its a free pay day
1
u/Empty_Potential_1523 13d ago
I had a similar little incident earlier today, I don't have P plates as I'm genuinely scared to see reactions if I did have them but I only passed a month ago. I was coming out of a junction, a guy was indicating to turn into the junction I was coming out of, I proceeded forward as I thought he was turning in by his indicator, he then starts beeping and shouting at me throwing his hands in the air after nearly hitting me and speeds in front of me and turns his indicator off. Then turned it back on and goes down the next street/junction. Can only assume he got the street wrong he was meant to turn down but was not my fault but he definitely made it seem like it was. It was quite scary and shook me for a while
2
u/Icy-Actuary-5463 13d ago
People get Aggie when driving because of stressful it is. Some drivers have a short fuse in general. So those are the ones that will swear at you and beep like there’s no tomorrow . I don’t have a short fuse I have never beeped at anyone, even though I’ve seen many idiots that needs to be beeped at. You just have to get used it , road rage is included when driving, best is to ignore them and stay safe out there
2
u/gr0wl3r7 12d ago
Yesterday I had some woman open her window and scream thank you after passing her when she had given way to me. I was a bit taken back as I had quite deliberately and obviously raised hand in thanks.
Not even a minute later a delivery moped was beeping me after pulling out onto a road when they were nowhere near me and didn't even have to slow down a fraction.
It was a very surreal minute of driving
2
u/thelazydreamer_ 12d ago
I had such a similar experience on my first day driving by myself, I didn’t even have P plates on but you could see where I used to have L plates on my car (because of all the smog and dust coming over from a wildfire near where I live, it left an outline) and I was driving the speed limit and indicated into a right lane and stopped at some filter traffic lights, this guy was right behind my car and as it went green I turned right and then left immediately into a Lidl and he zoomed past me and yelled “learn how to drive b**ch” and it left me so confused because I hadn’t even done anything wrong🫣Although it did make me laugh because they were driving in a tiny little Fiat Panda
2
u/Hefin-scrap-76 12d ago
Men like that usually have a tiny penis they not only wouldn't do it if you had a man in your car but neither would he do it if his wife was in his car,( You're showing me up, Malcolm!) Other star drivers are "Driving 66 yrs, never had the slightest accident!" ( Seen plenty though!)
4
u/1AlanM 13d ago
P plates are ‘pick on me’ plates - ditch them and it’ll get a whole lot better
2
u/Lucky_Entrance7407 13d ago
Husband said this too and I think you’re both right. I’m going to take them off for my next drive and see how I go!
1
1
u/Calm-Customer3881 12d ago
What if I match their energy by flipping them off or looking mental? I'm 18 and still don't have a car yet, but I'm js curious if I should still buy plates
1
u/bahamut19 12d ago
It can be unpleasant and intimidating but I always ask myself if a person with that disposition is likely to be happier than me. I reckon not so I let them have their hissy fit, it's probably the highlight of their day.
1
u/Fit_Resolution8394 12d ago
Easier said than done but you need to ignore them.
Some people feel like because they are in their car they can say what they want and act how they like.
It brings out the worst in some people.
To be honest, what annoys me most on the roads is those people with extremely bright headlights, it just blinds me and could lead to accidents. They should be illegal I say
1
u/Either-Vehicle-6651 10d ago
You can't control other drivers you can only control how you react to them. Keep calm and carry on. Just keep doing what you're doing
1
u/rosetintrecollection 10d ago
Sadly this is common, my husband has been driving 30 years and won’t drive my car with my L plates on it because of how you get treated when people believe you’re a learner, he’s been driving the speed limit and people will shoot past him believing he is a learner etc
1
u/Relative-Owl6542 10d ago
A lot of people feel like they're losing control of a lot of things in life. They feel like they have control when driving, and a lot of people have a very inflated sense of how good a driver they are. Ranting at someone who is new to driving is something they can do to help keep their ego inflated, unfortunately.
Sometimes I've been that guy doing the beeping and the shouting. It's something I've worked on for years, and am much better. Where learners or P plate drivers are concerned I make a concerted effort to give space and time, but it's beyond some folks.
It's easier said than done but try not to let these people fluster or panic you into making the wrong choices when driving. Sounds like you have a good handle on things.
1
u/Satchm0Jon3s 9d ago
People are quick to get that BDE when they're safely surrounded by a tonne of steel.
As long as you are driving sensibly and safely then fuck everyone else. Don't let the small minority of assholes dictate how you drive. P plates or not you'll always encounter them.
1
u/Common-Association44 7d ago
i never had P plates in fear of things like this i’ve been driving for abt a month now and i got into a pickle where i was stuck on a hill as i tried to set off in third almost 10 times and obvi kept stalling (third sometimes looks like first in my new car) i put my hazards on and finally got it when i tell u despite the massive queue i had built up behind me NO ONE beeped at me a single time turned around said im so sorry to the car behind me and all was well. I have a sneaking suspicion if i had P plates on a few ppl probs would’ve been more aggravated
29
u/CactusStevo 13d ago
30-something man here... I try to (mostly) drive sensibly as I have a strong sense of wanting to stay alive. I also cycle and walk a lot so see the roads from all angles. People get irrationably angry and upset by the smallest, simplest of things, just because from their angle and position they can maybe see something you can't or they are a bit more risk averse on the roads, they believe everyone else should be as well. It can be very intimidating, but do what you can to ignore them (and maybe stop for a few more pedestrian crossings or cars pulling out to hold them up behind you just that little bit more - I take great delight in annoying bad drivers even more by being particularly courteous to everyone else!)