What would you have done ??

@weemam (13372)
March 23, 2007 11:09am CST
I am sitting here shaking frozen and feeling a bit sick , I also feel a bit ashamed of myself , I did something todat that I never thought I would do ,I had just take my parents home from a shopping trip , When we leave My parents house we have to go down quite a steep hill to reach a junction coming from the main road ,I was traveling down hill and as I got half way down and had past 4 out of the 5 cars , A young woman came from the main road , she had about 4 car lengths between her and the first car on the other side of the road , the first car on her right was the 4th one I would have to pass coming down the hill , now I know I was the side with the obstructions and she had the right of way but anyone I know and any polite person stops at the junction ( a straight road) and lets the one passing all the other cars past , I stopped smiled politely and motioned if she could go back a little , she shook her head and said NO , I motioned I would have to go back uphill 5 cars and she still went NO with a shake of her head , My hubby has heart problems so I just politely revered back up the hill and passed the 4 cars , as she passed she mouthed ( I have the Fu***n right of way here , I was just so upset I did something I have never done before and gave her the 2 fingers , I have never done this before and I felt I had contributed to road rage , I love my driving and I am very relaxed behind the wheel normally , what would you have done , if you were her would you not have waited 1 car lengths back and let the person coming down the hill already past 4 cars pass the 5th , ? was I being unreasonable ? I did smile and gesture I would have to reverse all the way back uphill . I am always very courteous to other drivers .
20 people like this
40 responses
@whyaskq (7523)
• Singapore
23 Mar 07
Sorry that the event ended up in a lose-lose situation. It's all right. Get over it. What happen has alreay happened. Not that I am condoning your act, if I am the lady, I would have waited for you even though I have the right of way. Road courtesy does not mean not giving way even when you have the right of way. It all depends on the situation. Just be careful next time round.
4 people like this
@weemam (13372)
23 Mar 07
I am always careful whyaskq , I was passing the parked cars when she came into the road , I was half way past the 5 of them , they were parked close together on the hill ,
2 people like this
@weemam (13372)
28 Mar 07
Thanks for the support pal , xx
28 Mar 07
My mum has always been a very careful and considerate driver
1 person likes this
@acquaria (719)
• Italy
23 Mar 07
I'm too a relaxed person,but in your vice I would have done the same thing.I meet every day impolite people and now I have learned to ingore them because the indifference is the best arm against these kind of people.But there are some days in wich I'm not so patient and if I would been found in your same situation I would have done the same thing.
3 people like this
@weemam (13372)
23 Mar 07
Thank you for that acquaria xx
1 person likes this
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
23 Mar 07
Two fingers my friend? My that was controlled! I would have got out of my car and given her a mouthful, I am a very calm and polite driver but after reading this my patience would have been tested to the limit. Good for you! Don't feel bad, you have absolutely NO reason to feel the slightest bit bad. You did the right thing and I'm proud of you my friend! Now stop worrying and she's got a problem. She would have tested the patience of a saint. 100% of people reading this will back you all the way x
2 people like this
@weemam (13372)
23 Mar 07
Thanks for that pal , I personally would never let someone reverse up a hill passing 4 parked cars , she only had to reverse 6 ft , in fact she didn't need to have come forward at all. I am always courteous to other drivers and maybe I am wrong to expect others to be the same , its not always he rules but being polite to others xxxxxx
@greengal (4286)
• United States
23 Mar 07
OH wee, please don't feel bad, it happens..not all drivers on the road are as courteous and polite as some of us. It is a pity inspite of letting her go she yelled at you, wasn't nice of her..but again God knows what she was thinking...let it go hon and cheer up. I guess I would have done the same you did. Happens, the world has mean people too.
2 people like this
@weemam (13372)
23 Mar 07
You are a sweetheart greengal thanks xxx
1 person likes this
@greengal (4286)
• United States
1 Apr 07
Oh wee thanks for the BR, totally unexpected! And hope you've let go of this incident..cheers!:)
@superbren (856)
24 Mar 07
i think you were right to give her 2 fingers. when i'm driving i try to be as courteous as i can but occasionally people annoy me by being selfish. i have been known to wave my fist whilst keeping my fingers crossed that they wont come after me. i'm a big coward. i wouldnt worry about it. she was just a mean woman to make you reverse.
2 people like this
@weemam (13372)
26 Mar 07
Thanks bren , I am not used to mean people , I am glad to say xxx
@judyt00 (3497)
• Canada
23 Mar 07
You were not only being unreasonable, you were beingillegal. Why should you think that you would have the right ofway at a stop sign simply because you weregoing down a hill. And you say you passed 4 cars, which meant that youhad already broken the law. Next time, think before you start being so acusitive. you should have waited your turn just likeeveryone else.
2 people like this
@weemam (13372)
23 Mar 07
sorry but you misunderstood there was no stop sign and I wasn't near the junction , after I would have passed the 5th car there was about 4 car lengths before the next road
2 people like this
@judyt00 (3497)
• Canada
23 Mar 07
still, if the other person bhad the right of way, you must yield, and you must expect to yield. And if you passed these cars, were you not already in the wrong lane on a hill and breaking the law??
1 person likes this
@weemam (13372)
23 Mar 07
The 4 cars I passed were parked on the hill I was passing them as she came in from the junction
3 people like this
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
26 Mar 07
Weemam honestly do not worry about it she provoked you and believe me I have done this before to so stop worrying. You have not done anything that is not a normal reaction. She was being one awkard Person so she deserved it. I hope you have calmed down by now and enjoyed a nice Coffee Yes I know this was 3 Days ago so I hope you have had more then one Coffee like and you should be over it by now lol. You havenot done anything wrong Love and a big Hug to you xxxxx
1 person likes this
@weemam (13372)
26 Mar 07
Thanks pal I am fine now , It shocked me because it is so unlike me , I am not used to people like her , xx
@kathy77 (7486)
• Australia
23 Mar 07
If this was me and I needed to cross the road I would of step back as you had suggested, some people do not worry about the person that is driving the car and think that they have the right of way all the time, but in this case I would of let you go passed I have done this quite a few times, and also on other occasions due to doing this that the drivers next time they have seen me have actually given me the right of way due to me being polite to them.
2 people like this
@weemam (13372)
26 Mar 07
we were both in cars kathy I was coming down hill passing a row of cars and she was coming up and made me reverse back up hill passed the 4 cars I had passed xx
@KrisNY (7590)
• United States
24 Mar 07
I was completly lost at first but after reading your responses to other people - I think I understand now. You were passing cars that were parked on the sides of the road.. Not passing cars that were driving. Sure if I came upon you I would have let you go-- Its called common courtesy- Had the person told me NO--- I would have flipped them off prior to backing up the hill--- Talk about people and causing road rage- and then to swear at you-- She should have just passed and looked forward-- Don't feel bad-- Some people are just in so much of a hurry they don't care or think!
@weemam (13372)
24 Mar 07
Thank you for the kind response xx
@bkfuels (1603)
• Canada
25 Mar 07
I know where you are coming from but do not let this get you down. I probably am the wrong person to give advice to you on this because I always let things like this bother me and loose sleep over them to. I have come to know what kind of person you are from your responses and discussions and it is because of the good in you that you are letting this bother you. Less of a person would not care. Do not fret it will pass.
1 person likes this
@weemam (13372)
26 Mar 07
Thank you so very much my friend xx
@mummymo (23706)
23 Mar 07
Sweetheart there is nothing wrong with your driving - I've experienced it and survived! lol just joking! You are always, friendly, couteous and polite but there are plenty of others who ar not - espescially here ! I have been in the same situation many times and the majority of people - including me - would have smiled, waited and waved you on, but there are a few who just have no manners or patience! I cannot imagine you doing this but the thought of it has had me in stitches babes! lol What did hubby say?
2 people like this
@weemam (13372)
23 Mar 07
thanks for the support pal and you have described it much better than I did , hubby was really annoyed because I am usually the one who lets thew others passed and I would have done here too if I had been in her place xx
2 people like this
@raydene (9871)
• United States
1 Apr 07
No Hon she was having a bad day and taking it out on you or maybe she's just a nasty-spirited little bugger!Sorry you had a bad day...PS..I would have used my hand signs also!oxox
1 person likes this
@weemam (13372)
2 Apr 07
Thanks pal I needed that xxx
@hookfan (447)
23 Mar 07
I think I'd have waited and let you go past the fifth car, I mean it really wouldn't have been any skin off her nose would it to have reverse back a bit? To me it would seem to be common courtesy even though she may have had the right of way. Then again, I've not driven in a few years, but just seems like common sense/courtesy to me.
@weemam (13372)
23 Mar 07
Thanks pal , it is in a built up area always a lot of parked cars and everyone there is good at letting the ones coming down hill go first . I have done it hundreds of times when in her position . I was already passed 4 of the 5 when she came round the corner. xx
1 person likes this
• India
28 Mar 07
Weemam, you don't think much about it. I am with you. Reading your topic made me feel angry towards the other woman. I don't know the traffic laws there in US, but even if, as the first gentleman was saying, were you breaking any law, its a part of social courtesy that you give way to any elderly lady. And you were smiling and politely requesting her to do so. It was arrogance and impoliteness to just say "NO". If I had been in your place, I would have yelled at her, "You f***ing b!tch get off the way". Its true that we good people shouldn't use swear words or shouldn't be rough while behaving with others. But some people don't understand the language of politeness. They need to be talked with in their language.
@weemam (13372)
29 Mar 07
thank you so much for the kind words someincome , here in Scotland the roads can be quite narrow and it is awkward some times to pass cars parked in a row as we have to pass them on the same side as the oncoming traffic is on xx
@coolcatzz (1587)
• Canada
23 Mar 07
LOL I was so curious to read this discussion to see what upset you so much. I have been driving 25 years and I have given plenty of people the finger. Mainly cause my last car the horn didn't work. I don't know I guess it makes you feel a bit better getting rid of the stress or having the last say. I try to be courteous to other drivers but honestly there are so many stupid drivers out there that it drives me crazy. I guess I don't have the most patience.
1 person likes this
@weemam (13372)
23 Mar 07
Thanks pal much appreciated xx
@Melizzy (1381)
• United States
24 Mar 07
Road Rage - Road Rage!
Why are you asking us? It's clear and obvious she was wrong. Technically, yes, she had the right of way, but as you said, you were further down than she was up. Why are you shaking? It wasn't road rage. Road rage would have been turning around, following her and confronting her.
@weemam (13372)
24 Mar 07
To be perfectly honest melizzy . it helped me to write it down , and I really wondered what my friends would think and what they would have done in my place , this was honestly a very unusual situation for me , i thought it would make a good discussion xx
@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
24 Mar 07
I think I'm still a bit confused even after reading the explanations but I think under the circumstances you were justified. Even if she legally had the right of way I think there has to be a certain amount of common courtesy on the road. From the sound of it it would have been much more convenient for her to wait rather than back up the hill. This reminded me of a time when I was forced to do something similar. I was coming down a narrow dirt road. I was within sight of the end when a pick up truck coming up the road edged over and stopped in front of me refusing to let me by. He yelled that I had to back up. I shook my head no and tried to ease around him but he pulled farther forward blocking me again. Finally I threw my car in reverse and spun my tires as I backed up the hill around the corner and into the first driveway I could find. It was probably several hundred yards. After I sat there for a minute ( the truck had followed me and was parked in the road in front of me) I finally discovered the reason for all this. A large tractor trailer was using this road as a short cut to a stone quarry. The pick up truck was sent ahead to clear the road. I can understand that somewhat but the problem was there had been more than enough time for me to have continued on to the main road before the stone truck arrived. Once the large truck got near the driveway, the pick up pulled in next to me. After the stone truck passed I pulled out as fast as I could and I know I sprayed the pick up with gravel but I just didn't care. I'm not usually like that either but I was just so infuriated. I know two wrongs don't make a right but when other drivers can't be courteous I don't think they deserve courtesy back.
1 person likes this
@weemam (13372)
24 Mar 07
well it was the same idea really she was just being akward , I am always courteous and to be honest it shook me up . I am so glad I DON'T come across a lot of people like that , and I think you were justified in what you did he deserved to be sprayed with gravel xx
@mel_87 (856)
24 Mar 07
awww dont worry i would have done the same thing, it is hard reversing up a hill she should of let u go.
1 person likes this
@weemam (13372)
24 Mar 07
Thank Mel . xx
1 person likes this
• Canada
24 Mar 07
Quite honestly, I think you did absolutely the right thing. This other lady needs to get her head out of her a** and stop thinking she's so damn important! What kind of person makes someone reverse UPHILL past 5 parked cars just because they have right of way. If she'd mouthed that back to me, you can bet she'd have gotten more than just 2 fingers. I'm not a nasty person, nor do I have road rage issues. But people like her that don't show common courtesy that others would have shown make me angry. They're no better than everyone else.
@weemam (13372)
24 Mar 07
Thanks pal much appreciated xx
@tess1960 (2385)
• United States
24 Mar 07
weemam, i forgive you! take this as a lesson and remember that you never want to be like that again. i am so thankful that you are alright and were able to back up safely. be careful and if you ever see her again be as nice and cheerful and smiling as you can. It will drive her nuts!! TEE HEE!
1 person likes this
@weemam (13372)
24 Mar 07
lol I don't want to see her again, she has caused me enough problems lol , I probably never will xxx