Cowardly Road Ragers
Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2019 5:57 pm
I recieved an email yesterday about my driving. I'll copy it in here, then paint a picture of what happened.
'13:38 pm - Longwick to Thame towards Kingsey 10th September 2019
It's a really really bad idea to tailgate drivers when your vehicle is plastered with your business name, details, logo, and contact phone numbers all clearly and publicly visible.
PR is at an all time low when you conduct yourselves in this utterly pathetic and frankly shameful manner.
The whole premise behind signwriting anything, never mind your own vehicles, is to promote a professional image.
In this case it's worked in the polar opposite fashion.
Steele Signs has exposed itself for being immature and unprofessional.
I cannot recall the entire registration mark of the van but 'GAZ' formed part of it.
So, GAZ, if it's you, then sort out your own act. If not, then have a word with your staff and with your drivers.'
I replied thus:
'Hi Paul.
That would have been myself & I cannot recall tailgating anyone yesterday. I had my Wife with me on that journey & let me assure you, she would have been the first person to pull me up on my driving, so I can only assume you are either being overly sensitive, or I've annoyed you some other way & this is your way of retaliation. I suspect this is the case, & I'm pretty certain I recall what car you were in along that road, as I'd needed to have overtaken you for you to collect the details on the rear, so I'm going with my gut on this one.
Rest assured, it will go no further.
I hope you have the day you deserve.
Regards.'
What actually happened was I was in a long line of cars waiting patiently to overtake a tractor. I was about 4 or 5 cars aways when I noticed some dick in a blue Mazda estate car blast past everyone, overtaking us all at speed over chevrons at a junction. He almost collided with a Golf that was performing an overtake of the tractor, as it was next in line. When it was my turn, I passed the tractor & very quickly caught the said Mazda who had slowed to about 45mph, so I zipped round him straight away. I was never behind him so to speak, as I caught him so fast, I just drove around him. I was in the Transit btw, so had probably mustered close to 60mph by this point. Then I got this reply:
'OK Gareth, just out of curiosity, which car do you think I was in?
I'll apologise for my email. Yesterday was a particularly bad one for me, which is, of course, not of your creation.
I over reacted and I'm sorry for having done so.
Best wishes,'
To which I responded:
'No problem. To satisfy your curiosity, my gut says you were in a dark blue Mazda & the incident that incurred your wrath happened shortly after we overtook the tractor.
If this is not the case & you genuinely thought I was driving too closely at some stage, then it is my turn to apologise. I always aim to drive with a healthy dose of politeness as I'm all too aware that my name is on the side - I put it there after all!
Kind regards'
Then he sent:
'Yes, Mazda 6 Estate. Bang on correct. I'd actually taken off from the back of the convoy and passed you along with about four others in one hit, the tractor being at the front.
You followed subsequently (that was the only point at which I considered you too close, but in fairness it wasn't for long at all) and then passed me as we drove towards Kingsey.
Did you spot the black 12 plate Golf edge out ominously whilst I was passing the tractor? Clearly her mirrors weren't working too well.
Glad we've got things sorted out. You're clearly an observant driver like myself. I find far too many people drive 'inside' the car, if that makes any sense?
Anyway, you have a great evening, it's been nice to have this discussion, albeit starting off with a needless rant by me.
Thanks for your understanding.
Cheers,'
All well & good, situation calmed, however it irks me on a few points & I know I should leave it, but I'm not sure I can resist responding by pointing out his errors.
1, Overtaking on the chevrons like an impatient asshole, nearly colliding with the Golf.
2, Overtaking several other cars in an attempt to catch back up to me & nearly colliding with a bus coming the other way.
3, Tailgating me afterwards all the way to Witney.
The worst part of it all for me, is the cowardly act in that he emailed in an attempt to get the then unknown driver into hot water, claiming something had happened when it clearly had not, voiced by his own admission later on. Had that been an employee on their last warning or something, the outcome could have been very different. The second worst part, is that he considers himself to be an observant driver, and everyone else is the problem. Get fucked are you.
The only thing stopping me ripping him a new asshole is the fact he backed down immediately & put his hands up. Whether that was genuine, or that fact I called him out early will remain forever a mystery!
'13:38 pm - Longwick to Thame towards Kingsey 10th September 2019
It's a really really bad idea to tailgate drivers when your vehicle is plastered with your business name, details, logo, and contact phone numbers all clearly and publicly visible.
PR is at an all time low when you conduct yourselves in this utterly pathetic and frankly shameful manner.
The whole premise behind signwriting anything, never mind your own vehicles, is to promote a professional image.
In this case it's worked in the polar opposite fashion.
Steele Signs has exposed itself for being immature and unprofessional.
I cannot recall the entire registration mark of the van but 'GAZ' formed part of it.
So, GAZ, if it's you, then sort out your own act. If not, then have a word with your staff and with your drivers.'
I replied thus:
'Hi Paul.
That would have been myself & I cannot recall tailgating anyone yesterday. I had my Wife with me on that journey & let me assure you, she would have been the first person to pull me up on my driving, so I can only assume you are either being overly sensitive, or I've annoyed you some other way & this is your way of retaliation. I suspect this is the case, & I'm pretty certain I recall what car you were in along that road, as I'd needed to have overtaken you for you to collect the details on the rear, so I'm going with my gut on this one.
Rest assured, it will go no further.
I hope you have the day you deserve.
Regards.'
What actually happened was I was in a long line of cars waiting patiently to overtake a tractor. I was about 4 or 5 cars aways when I noticed some dick in a blue Mazda estate car blast past everyone, overtaking us all at speed over chevrons at a junction. He almost collided with a Golf that was performing an overtake of the tractor, as it was next in line. When it was my turn, I passed the tractor & very quickly caught the said Mazda who had slowed to about 45mph, so I zipped round him straight away. I was never behind him so to speak, as I caught him so fast, I just drove around him. I was in the Transit btw, so had probably mustered close to 60mph by this point. Then I got this reply:
'OK Gareth, just out of curiosity, which car do you think I was in?
I'll apologise for my email. Yesterday was a particularly bad one for me, which is, of course, not of your creation.
I over reacted and I'm sorry for having done so.
Best wishes,'
To which I responded:
'No problem. To satisfy your curiosity, my gut says you were in a dark blue Mazda & the incident that incurred your wrath happened shortly after we overtook the tractor.
If this is not the case & you genuinely thought I was driving too closely at some stage, then it is my turn to apologise. I always aim to drive with a healthy dose of politeness as I'm all too aware that my name is on the side - I put it there after all!
Kind regards'
Then he sent:
'Yes, Mazda 6 Estate. Bang on correct. I'd actually taken off from the back of the convoy and passed you along with about four others in one hit, the tractor being at the front.
You followed subsequently (that was the only point at which I considered you too close, but in fairness it wasn't for long at all) and then passed me as we drove towards Kingsey.
Did you spot the black 12 plate Golf edge out ominously whilst I was passing the tractor? Clearly her mirrors weren't working too well.
Glad we've got things sorted out. You're clearly an observant driver like myself. I find far too many people drive 'inside' the car, if that makes any sense?
Anyway, you have a great evening, it's been nice to have this discussion, albeit starting off with a needless rant by me.
Thanks for your understanding.
Cheers,'
All well & good, situation calmed, however it irks me on a few points & I know I should leave it, but I'm not sure I can resist responding by pointing out his errors.
1, Overtaking on the chevrons like an impatient asshole, nearly colliding with the Golf.
2, Overtaking several other cars in an attempt to catch back up to me & nearly colliding with a bus coming the other way.
3, Tailgating me afterwards all the way to Witney.
The worst part of it all for me, is the cowardly act in that he emailed in an attempt to get the then unknown driver into hot water, claiming something had happened when it clearly had not, voiced by his own admission later on. Had that been an employee on their last warning or something, the outcome could have been very different. The second worst part, is that he considers himself to be an observant driver, and everyone else is the problem. Get fucked are you.
The only thing stopping me ripping him a new asshole is the fact he backed down immediately & put his hands up. Whether that was genuine, or that fact I called him out early will remain forever a mystery!