Woman driving alone

messrs · 08-04-2012 03:56PM #1

Hi

Im prob posting in the wrong forum here - so apologies if i am.
just wondered if any of you ladies experienced this while driving on your own?

Yesterday morning i was driving through Clondalkin Village and came to a set of traffic lights which were red as i approached so i was first in line to go once the turned green, then a car pulls up behind me and its a man with i assume his daughter - she looked about 13/14 or so. Anyway he started screaming and shouting about the car in front of him (me) and how it was a woman and they shouldnt be allowed to drive and that i wouldnt know how to take of in time and i would be holding him up ect - very loud and very vulgar language been used - anyway lights go green and i move of and come to next set of lights which are also red - again he is behind me screaming and shouting ect - then just before the lights turned green an eldery gentleman using a walking stick started to cross the road then lights went green but i couldnt move as if i did i would have knocked down the man so i waited for him to cross then i moved of (prob bout 15 seconds in total) but the guy behind me was beeping and screaming abuse at me, so i pulled into tesco carpark and he drove in behind me so i drove around the carpark and back out on to the road again to which he did the same, i drove up convent road with him following me, then i came to a left hand turn and went up there, again he followed, i then drove to newlands garden centre and he followed me in there to. at this point i got out of my car and went into the store and he just drove back out of the carpark so i waited a few mins and then just got in my car and went home. thought it was all very strange!
did anything like this ever happen to anyone? i think he was just trying to scare me seeing as i was a female driving alone

sorry for long post.

Dudess · 08-04-2012 04:13PM

Jesus Christ... Nothing you can do now, but the guy was obviously just a nut-job. They're out there unfortunately...

I wouldn't say it's anything to do with you being a woman driving alone, or women drivers, or anything like that - you were just unfortunately in the wrong place at the wrong time and caught the attention of a crazed bully. I'd urge people who find themselves in a situation like that to take down the licence plate number - although it's not always easy in those circumstances. Definitely worthy of reporting to the guards IMO - total intimidation.

mrsdewinter · 08-04-2012 05:21PM

+ 1
You were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Gotta feel for the poor daughter. What kind of a nut must he be like to live with??

bbam · 08-04-2012 05:27PM

You did well except I wouldn't recommend getting out of the car with a nut job like that around.
Head for a Garda station if you know the area well enough.

evilmonkee · 08-04-2012 07:03PM

Wow that is completely nuts. I've never met anyone that bad.

Has some old man get out and shout abuse at me because I beeped him (a really short beep, the one which means something is happening, not an angry one) because the traffic light had changed about 30 seconds and he didnt move. The next set of lights he got out and started shouting at me.

The thing is, it took all my self restraint not to get out of the car to him and give as good as I got. I ended up telling him to get the f*ck out of the way and drove around him.

Although I've never met anyone that bad ( lucky I suppose because I wont back down or take abuse from anyone), the best thing you could do is get the reg.

I have rang traffic watch because of practically being run off the road, the garda told me that it would be my word against the other driver. As I was a newly qualified driver and the other was an older man, I got the impression that I wouldn't be believed. But maybe things have changed since then.

LegacyUser · 08-04-2012 07:49PM

evilmonkee wrote: »

I have rang traffic watch because of practically being run off the road, the garda told me that it would be my word against the other driver. As I was a newly qualified driver and the other was an older man, I got the impression that I wouldn't be believed. But maybe things have changed since then.

I had an incident with a road rager recently, driving at the speed limit wasnt good enough for him.
So he saw fit to intimidate me on the road, then overtake only to slam on the brakes almost causing an accident. Then he got out of the car to threaten me.

I took down the details, and happened on a patrol car a few miles down the road.
One of the guards keep coming up with ridiculously lazy suppositions to condone the guys behavior.
Maybe he was a doctor or some other important person, and I was holding him up on his way to something very important.
Maybe his speedo was off and he genuinely thought I was driving a few km under the limit.
You know they would have to get the scientist in to sort that one out!
Maybe I said something to him after the fact, when he was threatening me.
He even told me to ask my boyfriend to "explain how these things work to me".
All they were looking for was an excuse to not make work for themselves.
After half an hour of repeatedly explaining myself on the side of the road, I was told they would follow it up. They never did.

I think this is one situation where is worthwhile backing down from a bully.
In future, I'll pull over at the first sign of trouble, and leave them go on their way.
It is not worth putting your life in the hands of an obviously unstable person.
If I hadn,t been able to stop that day, legally I would have been responsible for that accident. As he was ahead of me on the road.

cdaly_ · 08-04-2012 09:38PM

Fee6 wrote: »

One of the guards keep coming up with ridiculously lazy suppositions to condone the guys behavior.

All they were looking for was an excuse to not make work for themselves.
After half an hour of repeatedly explaining myself on the side of the road, I was told they would follow it up. They never did.

If you ever come across that sort of attitude again, take the garda's number (it's on their shoulder) and follow it up with their superintendent (and possibly the garda ombudsman). Dunno will it help but it could...

Dolbert · 08-04-2012 09:58PM

I had an incident with a psycho driver when driving alone a couple of years ago. I cut him off on a country road, completely by accident but definitely my fault. His response to this was to chase me at high speed through back roads, blaring the horn and flashing lights. It was terrifying. Bearing in mind that it was a rural road so there was no-one around. He was so aggressive that there was no way in hell I was pulling over.

Eventually we came to a town and I managed to lose him by pretending to pull into a petrol station and swiftly pulling back out again, putting a few cars between us. It was one of the only times in my life where I genuinely thought I would be physically attacked, I was completely shaken up after it. I don't put it down to being a target as a lone female driver though, just an unfortunate encounter with a dangerous nut-job.

iCosmopolis · 08-04-2012 10:31PM

Some years back, when I was just first driving by myself (L plates, and back in the day when you could on a provisional) I cut out at a junction as can happen, made worse as I had a manual choke on the car which would flood the engine temporarily :mad: crazy cow behind me started running her car into the back of mine in temper and rammed me into the middle of the junction. A guy had to hop out and start banging on her bonnet to stop her causing further mayhem and I had got out of my car then too, furious, so was probably afraid I'd kick off with her too. So probably not just crazy oul lads out there

, I'd say she might not have bothered if it was a bloke in the car. (as it turned out, she was know locally to be a mentalist behind the wheel, kids and all in tow and heard more fun stories about her)

Lola92 · 08-04-2012 10:34PM

Wow it sounds like there are some real loopers out there! OP I'd say that guy was mentally unstable and just completely sexist against female drivers. I pity the girl he was with! I would be ringing the guards if someone was obviously following me, or as mentioned above driving into a garda station if possible.

WillieFlynn · 09-04-2012 03:32PM

Lola92 wrote: »

Wow it sounds like there are some real loopers out there! OP I'd say that guy was mentally unstable and just completely sexist against female drivers. I pity the girl he was with! I would be ringing the guards if someone was obviously following me, or as mentioned above driving into a garda station if possible.

Those loopers don't care if it is a man or woman. While they shout sexist insults at a woman, they would just have a different set of insults for a fella.

Every now and again, I come across people who start to loose the plot, if I don't break the speed limit or run down pedestrians at junctions like the OP. Normally rather than following, they drive dangerously to get past or bully you to go faster Hopefully when they crash, they won't take anyone else out with themselves.

BTW the one time you are allowed use your mobile phone with out a handsfree kit while driving, is to call 999 in a emergency.

bronte · 09-04-2012 03:44PM

You didn't get his Reg did you?
Would have had a few choice words for him myself.
It's frightening what they'll let behind a wheel sometimes.

messrs · 09-04-2012 04:24PM

bbam wrote: »

You did well except I wouldn't recommend getting out of the car with a nut job like that around.
Head for a Garda station if you know the area well enough.

looking back now i prob shouldnt have got of the car, only reason i did was because the garden centre was so busy and plenty of people around i though i would be safe enough and that he wouldnt try anything in front of people. i was quiet close to home but l didnt drive there as i was afraid he would follow me home and i thought i would be safer where there were lots of people around.

Bubblefett · 09-04-2012 06:38PM

bbam wrote: »

You did well except I wouldn't recommend getting out of the car with a nut job like that around.
Head for a Garda station if you know the area well enough.

Best advice here- I've done this myself when I was in a similar situation. Pull in and watch them exclerate away.

I've experinced a lot of nutjobs on the road- road rage is a dangerous thing sadly. I found it was worse when I was learning- a big L on the car just seems to make you a target for abuse. I wouldn't chalk it up to just being a woman.
That said, anytime I'm out with the OH in the car and I get abuse or someone driving like a d**k, he tends to make an odvious turn around in his seat and a look directly at the driver and they stop acting up fairly sharpish. Don't know if it's the effect of their behavour being noted and not appriciated or if it's the presence of a man, but it always stopped the problem. If it doesn't stop then we're straight to the garda station, even if just to pull in, and he makes sure to write down the reg number.

Lola92 · 09-04-2012 06:44PM

WillieFlynn wrote: »

Those loopers don't care if it is a man or woman. While they shout sexist insults at a woman, they would just have a different set of insults for a fella.

BTW the one time you are allowed use your mobile phone with out a handsfree kit while driving, is to call 999 in a emergency.

That is probably true WillieFlynn, I didn't really consider that but you are right, that guy most likely would have reacted in a similar manner to a man.

Interesting point on the phone use that I was not aware of, thanks.

shar01 · 09-04-2012 06:45PM

The advice I was given (by an ambulance driver) was to head to a fire station.

With all the garda stations that are closed / closing / on reduced hours, he said fire stations are always manned.

Would prefer (obviously) not to put it to the test!

TheChizler · 09-04-2012 06:49PM

bubblefett wrote: »

Best advice here- I've done this myself when I was in a similar situation. Pull in and watch them exclerate away.

I've experinced a lot of nutjobs on the road- road rage is a dangerous thing sadly. I found it was worse when I was learning- a big L on the car just seems to make you a target for abuse. I wouldn't chalk it up to just being a woman.
That said, anytime I'm out with the OH in the car and I get abuse or someone driving like a d**k, he tends to make an odvious turn around in his seat and a look directly at the driver and they stop acting up fairly sharpish. Don't know if it's the effect of their behavour being noted and not appriciated or if it's the presence of a man, but it always stopped the problem. If it doesn't stop then we're straight to the garda station, even if just to pull in, and he makes sure to write down the reg number.

I agree with you about the L-plates making you a target for abuse. My car has them up at the moment cause a brother is learning to drive, I have my full a good few years now. Constantly getting aggressive idiots up my back, getting two fingers as they overtake dangerously on city roads while I'm at the speed limit etc.

leahyl · 09-04-2012 07:13PM

I think a lot of it can be down to make of car as well - I drive a Yaris which is obviously a small car with a small engine and (maybe it's my paranoia now!) but cars are constantly overtaking me every chance they get and I'm always doing the speed limit so it's not like I'm going too slow. Normally it's women that drive these small cars too so that's prob why we are targets for road rage a lot of the time

WillieFlynn · 09-04-2012 07:33PM

shar01 wrote: »

The advice I was given (by an ambulance driver) was to head to a fire station.

A few years ago a woman was attacked in her car near fairview, she ran into the fire station.

The news papers reported that her attackers were "Held" until the Gardaí arrived...... Bet they were sorry.

doctor evil · 10-04-2012 03:04AM

leahyl wrote: »

Normally it's women that drive these small cars too so that's prob why we are targets for road rage a lot of the time

Not necessarily so, plenty of women drive much more powerful cars.

Motorist · 10-04-2012 03:31AM

leahyl wrote: »

I think a lot of it can be down to make of car as well - I drive a Yaris which is obviously a small car with a small engine and (maybe it's my paranoia now!) but cars are constantly overtaking me every chance they get and I'm always doing the speed limit so it's not like I'm going too slow. Normally it's women that drive these small cars too so that's prob why we are targets for road rage a lot of the time

Speedometers often over read by as much as 10%. So if you think you're travelling at 100kmp/h you might in fact only be going at 91kmp/h. Other drivers are aware of this and become frustrated, thus the regular overtaking you are witnessing.

And don't forget that when you're going up a hill, you will slow down further so please put your foot down a bit in these situations. Thank you.

Wibbs · 10-04-2012 07:58AM

Motorist, dial back the condescending tone please.

leahyl · 10-04-2012 09:15AM

doctor evil wrote: »

leahyl wrote: »

Normally it's women that drive these small cars too so that's prob why we are targets for road rage a lot of the time

Not necessarily so, plenty of women drive much more powerful cars.

I never said women don't drive more powerful cars, all I said was that it's mainly women that drive the smaller cars that we see on the roads like micras, yaris etc - from my experience it is anyway. Of course women drive bigger cars also, no need to nitpick my post

LittleBook · 10-04-2012 09:24AM

leahyl wrote: »

I never said women don't drive more powerful cars, all I said was that it's mainly women that drive the smaller cars that we see on the roads like micras, yaris etc - from my experience it is anyway. Of course women drive bigger cars also, no need to nitpick my post

No you're right, the very make of a car can be irritating to nut jobs, as can licence plates.

I was living in France and my friend bought a German reg car. She said that in the time it took her to re-register the car, she never experienced anything like the attitude of other drivers to her being a "tourist" ... tail-gating, dangerous over-taking and just a complete lack of common courtesy on the roads. Happens everywhere.

meg3178 · 10-04-2012 09:31AM

It shouldn't matter what car you drive or who you are, you shouldn't be intimidated like that. If anything like that ever happens again, take his number plate and description of the car and either drive to a fire station or somewhere you know will have a cctv camera. Tesco have cameras on their car park near the doors and petrol stations have them. Then call the guards.
They may not prosecute, but will record the incident and it will teach the agressor a bit of a lesson.

eviltwin · 10-04-2012 11:11AM

I have never had a problem in my own car....an old very small very boring looking Panda

In my husbands car its a different story though. He drives a big, powerful, expensive looking car and its amazing the dirty looks some male drivers give me, its even worse when I'm driving with a man in the passenger seat.

I have had tailgating, horns beeping, over taking, under taking, stares...I don't driver any differently in my car but for some reason go under the radar. I can only guess that some men still have a problem with women driving better cars than they do.

MajorMax · 10-04-2012 11:18AM

I think the state of driving in this country is an absolute disgrace. People drive as they like without any fear of retribution.

I drive a lot and I find in general Female drivers to be more responsible than Male ones

WindSock · 10-04-2012 11:29AM

I have noticed getting treated differently in different cars alright. I have been driving a Peugeot 206 the last ages, but drove a Pajero, a van, and a Civic before that and I do say I get arseholes driving up my hole in the Peugeot more than anything. And I am in no means a careful lady driver much of the time. Just a lot of impatient bullies out there I guess. Never had anyone follow me though. I'd love to see them try :cool:

I think a lot of it boils down to everyone seeing each other as cars and stereotyping the driver of it, than seeing people. It is easy to be confrontational from inside a chunk of metal (or a keyboard for that matter) than having to deal with people face to face.

Solair · 10-04-2012 11:34AM

This happens to lads too!

I've had a few complete psychos driving behind me over the years.

I drive a hybrid and I had this incident where an "awl fella" in a car park started shouting "you stalled the f ing car".... bang on the windows etc saying "you're rolling "

I shouted back its electric! He continued to get in the way, interfere bang on the windows etc etc

I've had a nut job on the motorway who was driving at 100...I passed, he immediately sped up, passed me at about 140... Then pulled back in ahead of me and hit brakes and forced me back to 70!

I passed again...

Got back to 120

He did it again!!! Then I tried to pass and he pulled into the passing lane ahead of me and slammed on brakes causing me to swirve and skid!

I pulled into hard shoulder to wait for heart to stop pounding and for the shakes to subside.

Called Gardai but had no cctv coverage of it nor his reg so got no where.

He was crazy and could have killed me!

WindSock · 10-04-2012 11:43AM

Solair wrote: »

T

I've had a nut job on the motorway who was driving at 100...I passed, he immediately sped up, passed me at about 140... Then pulled back in ahead of me and hit brakes and forced me back to 70!

I passed again...

Got back to 120

He did it again!!! Then I tried to pass and he pulled into the passing lane ahead of me and slammed on brakes causing me to swirve and skid!

I pulled into hard shoulder to wait for heart to stop pounding and for the shakes to subside.

Called Gardai but had no cctv coverage of it nor his reg so got no where.

He was crazy and could have killed me!

Jesus that's scary :eek:

What a mentallist. That's where a gun in the glovebox comes in handy...

I had some chungfella try to do similar...well, not to the same extent when I was an L driver. We were in the petrol station and he was in his shitbox wit al his skanger m8s blaring crap music, you know the usual shite. Anyway, I noticed they were watching me as I was pulling out and thought nothing of it as I must have been looking fine or something....yeah. So I was behind them for a bit, they slowed down to a crawl, I went to overtake (taking the bait I guess) then they shot ahead as I was about to pull back in. Dangerous little shitbags. Felt like a small town rockabilly in 1950's America waiting to be summoned to do a drag race.

Solair · 10-04-2012 04:54PM

Yeah, sadly there are a few people (men and women) out there who see their car as an extention of their ego and drive incrediably agressively for absolutley no reason. Thankfully, they're a very small minority of drivers, but they're common enough to be annoying.

That guy who was passing me seemed to be just be taking being overtaken on a motorway as an attack on his ego or something.

I've witnessed a few other weird incidents like that too over the years. I notice it's not always men though, you get plenty of psycho female drivers too.

Often, I find it's middle aged drivers too, usually in fairly high powered showy cars, or in a people carrier that they seem to feel they need to show off to prove they're not a 'soccer mom/dad.'
The typical 'boy racer' type tends to just be a total muppet on the road, driving too fast / irratically etc.

Woman driving alone

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