What’s up with that? What happened to the classy, calm genteel UK that we all know and love? The land of chipper “Cheerio’s!” and whatnot.
I think it’s the lack of classic UK attire, myself. The UK should go back to bowlers, pocket watches and pre-War suits. And mustaches. Those should come back into fashion, too. Watch as road rage decreases exponentially with these changes. No one can be anything but calm and classy while wearing a bowler and pocketwatch. Especially not the British.
Now, it is just a matter of degree. No one in USA, Metropoliton France, or Italy would even consider rude gestures being road rage.
If they were considered, then here in California I would be on the receiving end of road rage at least twice a week, and be giving it out almost as often. I think in USA the middle finger signal is used more often than the turning signals by most drivers.
lieu it’s the masticaters, trying to drive with their big buns in their hand, or holding a sloppy mouthfull. How can they possibly control a vehicle when they are doing that? It just makes you want to give them the finger.
Ah, I’m beginning to understand now, Bippy. I take it that it’s considered very rude to indicate your automotive superiority by motioning that you are #1 while in the middle of a pleasant country drive in the UK?
I still doubt that even this level of incivility would be greatly reduced by the use of bowler caps and pocketwatches. I mean, when was the last time you heard of a British gentlemen in proper attire giving anyone the finger? Unheard of. The UK must get back to basics.
it’s all about awareness/levels of offense as has been previously mentioned.
Over here we consider one or two fingered salutes to be acts of “road rage”, as is honking the horn.
So not every “road rage” case is as serious as someone getting attacked or having their cup of tea spilled - often they are those mionor acts of incivility that in the US would be considered normal behaviour amongst you barbarians.
Some years ago I was waiting for a bus, when on the opposite side of the road a bus going in the other direction pulled up. Some small car went zooming past and the bus driver gave him the finger. The guy in the small car came to a screeching halt and got out. He was BIG. he jogged back to the bus, punched the bus driver through the window, (which was rolled down) jogged back to his car and drove off. Needless to say he had forgotten to wear his bowler hat that day
The moral is - be carefull who you give the finger to.
