Road Rage!

[Andrew_Smith]

http://www.capetalk.co.za/articles/304171/we-re-not-just-cyclists-ct-man-turns-punch-up-with-driver-into-safety-message

[porqui]

If he actually punched you in the face it means that he HAS issues which need attention.

(Punching someone in the face is totally unacceptable behaviour)

 

On radio you said you had a beer with him but did not talk about the incident.

You just got to know each other better.

 

I think I am missing something.

He still has anger issues.

And you feel good.

 

Till next time.

 

Don't worry I know what it feels like at the time - I had a similar incident but no photo's or number plates.

 

But honestly kudo's to you.

(I mean it - you did what you think is right in the situation)

[King_Crispy]

At a Discovery event this morning, a statistic popped up that I thought relevant to this thread.

 

In SA, 30% of the road fatalities that occur, are as a result of of aggressive behaviour, this is second only to Impaired driving at 31%.

 

We need to chill the hell out.

Who's stats are those?

[porqui]

Who's stats are those?

 

I think that the stats are from the insurance companies

[The expat cyclist]

Well done and thanks for setting a good example. I agree with other comments, this is the most likely thing to change his behaviour and probably took more courage than the "I just would have klapped him" approach, which is actually a fear/fight or flight response.

 

I have a dog that used to get really aggressive with other dogs. He acted the toughest when he was most scared. And if I tried to correct his behaviour with further aggressive action (eg: pull leash, reprimand), it just made him worse the next time. He only got better when I changed my approach, which was to patiently ignore aggression and instead reward good behaviour, to the extent that he can now play nicely with other dogs. True story.

 

We are not that different from dogs.

 

Believe it or not, but studies have proven you right. Reward the good and ignore the bad.

I just wrote an exam about that crap. It really was a hard one to come to grips with.

[Slowbee]

There's a Bully doing the rounds and my son's school. His parents have been called in, his teachers have addressed it with him and he still carries on beating other kid.

 

He got stuck into my son some time back and punched him a couple of times. My son was the first kid to fight back. He had Mr Bully in tears. Now he is **** scared of my son. He was causing *** again last week with another kod, my son just pointed at him and shook his head. Mr Bully apologized and walked off.

 

There are times when people who like to resort to violence cannot be treated with kid gloves, they need to be taught a lesson. Whether it's by the cops or someone who gives them a lekker snot clap.

When I was being thumped around in primary school and often came home with the odd few bruises my 'ol Man said to me, next time it happens. Smack him, and smack him with everything you have. All you have to do is get one solid shot in, that's it. And so I did. And every other time thereafter. Being thumped around by the bully felt that much better knowing his lip or nose or groin or toe or whatever it was that I could get to was really hurting as well.

 

I learnt the hard way. If some bloke is walking up to you and and says "common take a shot" you hit first, you hit hard and you make it count. Cause a guy wanting to get into fisticuff fight with me, can only end with him on the floor or me. But these guys dont scare me. Its the guy that says nothing when he walks up to with fists and jaw clenched that you know its going to be a tough one. 

[mazambaan]

Slowbee; I hear you but pick your fight very carefully. Remember the guy in CT beaten to death with a hockey stick. I have a friend who, if it wasn't for other motorists would have been beaten to death by a bank manger with a jack handle. He was lucky to end up in intensive care; pulped. I also knew (not well) a karate umpteenth dan who ran a knife and gunshop but took a bad beating in a road rage incident - two guys got to him as he was getting out of his car and slammed the door on his leg; repeatedly; amongst other comprehensive donnering. He took a bit of flak for that.

 

Always be ready to try defuse and retreat; rapidly. Disclaimer; I have landed a few first punches but also ended up being well dented.

[Slowbee]

Slowbee; I hear you but pick your fight very carefully. Remember the guy in CT beaten to death with a hockey stick. I have a friend who, if it wasn't for other motorists would have been beaten to death by a bank manger with a jack handle. He was lucky to end up in intensive care; pulped. I also knew (not well) a karate umpteenth dan who ran a knife and gunshop but took a bad beating in a road rage incident - two guys got to him as he was getting out of his car and slammed the door on his leg; repeatedly; amongst other comprehensive donnering. He took a bit of flak for that.

 

Always be ready to try defuse and retreat; rapidly. Disclaimer; I have landed a few first punches but also ended up being well dented.

agree pacifist first, every time all the time, but situational awareness means that sometimes (thankfully avoided plenty) means that you know it is going to happen no matter what you do.

 

EDIT:

This is in response to a fight, but generally there is to much rage and been attacked . Road rage (alcohol rage?), roadie rage, e-bike rage there is just to much rage. As has been said, the planet needs to chill the heck out.

[Andreas_187]

Good advice, in this day and age, it's better to run before you fight.

I remember being on a motorbike in London and a guy cut me up, 3 guys got out of the car to fight. Unluckily for them I was being followed by 8 friends in the two cars behind.

They were lucky that we weren't complete nutcases. You just never know

[HelloRyanFowler]

Thanks to everyone who joined in on Saturday's ride.

Thanks for the support received here.

I like to think that this has made a positive contribution to cycling in Cape Town.

Over and out.