That's a bit slack isn't it?

[Junkyard-Dog]

Killing with kindness has it's time and place I suppose.

[au350hp]

Originally Posted by commodorenutt

Sometimes being overly polite has more of an impression than an outburst. ;)

Unless your dealing with somebody completely irrational, I agree with you. Somebody told me once, the minute you raise your voice you've lost. My wife told me to say ''that wasn't very kind'' and drive off.

[vztrt]

I normally fill up late at night so I don't have to deal with others. Carparks and servos seem to be difficult for people.

[Ben73]

My local servo has about 8 pumps side by side and none in front of the other. I prefer that layout the most anyway. No one can block you.

[commodorenutt]

Originally Posted by Roostercam

Unless your dealing with somebody completely irrational, I agree with you. Somebody told me once, the minute you raise your voice you've lost. My wife told me to say ''that wasn't very kind'' and drive off.

In a lot of cases, she's right. One of my mates is a HWP cop, and when he gets to an accident (or a road rage incident) he says normally the most vocal person turns out to be the one at fault.

I was used as the example for company policy around the turn of the millennium. Travelling up a 2-lane (each way) road, with thick traffic, doing around 40km/h, a Tarago pulled out of the school driveway into a gap in the left lane, but came across too far into my lane. I slammed on the brakes (I had already anticipated the wide swing and was slowing) but she decided she wasn't just swinging wide - she wanted the spot where my car was now heading.

I ended up swerving to the right, finishing up in a spot where I was crossing the dividing line by about 2 feet with my front right. She was on about a 30 degree angle, and I was on about a 15 degree angle, and my LHF corner was millimetres off her side panels. The guy behind me barely stopped in time too. Now I couldn't reverse back. She couldn't go forward without the back of the van swinging around & taking out my front. So she starts abusing me, carrying on like an absolute turkey, with language that would shame a coal miner (with kids under 5 in the van too).

Instead of having a go, I just pointed at her and laughed - and I mean roared with laughter - slap the steering wheel type laughter. She was dumbstruck - had no idea what to say or do. Eventually the guy behind me got out, walked up to her door, and told her to reverse back then swing around clear of me, and then she could proceed. She had a big go at him to, so he looked at me, pointed to her, and did the cuckoo sign - we both cracked up laughing - egging each other on. Eventually she realised she wasn't getting anywhere, so she reversed back, I drove around her nose, and we all carried on.

About 1/2 hour after getting into work, the CEO called me in (a very rare occurrence - so I was looking for spare undies). He asked me what my driving skill level was like, and I answered pretty good, and my clean record (accidents & fines) should be enough to tell him that. He then said "so I believe you had a road rage this morning?" I quietly agreed. He asked what my strategy was to defuse a road rage. I was puzzled. I told him I simply laugh it off - it's not worth bothering about. Then he dropped the bomb "I was diagonally behind you in the left lane. I don't know how you didn't hit her. But I did like the fact you laughed at her, and defused the escalating tension."

And then an email went out to all company car drivers, with a "suggested addition to the fleet policy - methods for dealing with road rage."

I should have been pretty proud of that, and it was by pure chance he'd witnessed it, but I was actually more relieved, as I normally would have ripped into the other person in that situation - I just couldn't be bothered, and it created a turning point in my life.

Laughter - it can be the best medicine (for you) and taste bloody horrible for the one in the wrong who you're laughing at.

[au350hp]

Good story & some tidy driving by the sounds of it. I spent a good 15 years working in hotels which taught me a lot about people & myself. I am sure you can imagine the sorts of situations you witness some nights, and often wind up having to deal with yourself. Using humour, even self depreciating, was always the best option and nine out of ten times, worked flawlessly.

[Ben73]

Originally Posted by commodorenutt

In a lot of cases, she's right. One of my mates is a HWP cop, and when he gets to an accident (or a road rage incident) he says normally the most vocal person turns out to be the one at fault.

I believe that. I have been in a couple of road rage scenarios where I have had someone screaming and carrying on at me because I have beeped at them for something they did wrong. Almost hitting me while pulling some stupid move.
It's funny when you calmly make a good point that proves they are wrong and they know they can't argue against it so they just swear and throw a few pointless words around.

These people usually have ****box cars already covered in dents.

[NX74205]

Originally Posted by commodorenutt

Instead of having a go, I just pointed at her and laughed

I reckon I would have lost my ****, so well done for remaining composed.