Bizzare experience at supermarket

[pundit]

Yesterday I called into my local supermarket while enroute to a friends place.
As I pulled into the carpark a 20+ year old Fairlane 'bling mobile' was stopped in front of me.
There was a teenage girl standing on the passenger side talking to the driver.
I assumed she had just got out of the car and was about to head into the market.

Anyway she looked at me then looked away and continued talking.
I waited (about 10 seconds)
She looked at me again and I raised my eyebrows and shrugged my shoulders in a kind of "Well are we ready to move now?" gesture.
She looked away again and continued talking.
Then another car turned into the carpark and was appraoching me from the rear.
So time to end this social intercourse. I gave a short toot of the horn.
Well the girl gives me a dirty look and after a few more seconds walks off.
The car moves away and disppears toward the rear of the supermarket.

Anyway I get out of the car and go inside.
Five minutes later I'm back at my car and drive off.
As I turn out onto the road I see the same Fairlane appear from the next exit up and you guessed it,
he's right behind me. So I think maybe this is just a coincidence.
Very slightly I begin to increase my speed and so does he.
About 2kms down the road I decide to see whether he is really tailing me or I'm just getting paranoid.
So I indicate to turn left at a 'T' junction and so does he, then at the last second I don't turn but continue straight on.
Guess what? He too changes his mind too and begins to speed up.
So I decided it was time to just leave him behind. Which I did and about another KM up the I turned off into my friends street.
Well he had obviously stepped on the gas because he went sailing past the turnoff at high speed not realising I had turned.

The Fairlane was pimped out and he was young (Probationary) will the mandatory baseball cap (worn backwards of course)
I figured he must have had a hissy fit because I dared to interrupt his carpark discussion.

Go figure?

[BigKriss]

wow, tough day. I've never had that stuff happen before.

[pundit]

Well the thing is, if something as trivial as that is enough to make someone engage in a pursuit, then what do they do next?
Pull out a baseball bat, iron bar, knife, gun that they just happened to have under their seat?
Some people have got major problems! :(

[SharkmanBMW]

that shite happens to me all the time... people follow me cuz I passed them wrong!
Some of us are magnets for idiots on the road.
I have had people chase me for highbeaming to pass (a polite flash)
I had many fools do dumb things, one idiot bumped me at 70 mph because I tapped my brakes because he was right on my ass, instead of braking, he accelerated!
I find them all.

If he was probationary, advise the popos if you get his plate # if you see him again!

BTW, I love the way the Australian system works, the P for beginners that must be seen in the window, here they give full driving rights to any idiot that can go straight and park that is over 16,. SCARY

[BigKriss]

maybe just leave a clublock in the back seat for times like these.

[SharkmanBMW]

hey Aussie guys, what are the steps for you getting a driving permit... how long do you have the P, then...? aI forget the details, but I would like a refresher.... everyone will find it interesting I'm sure!

[pundit]

that shite happens to me all the time... people follow me cuz I passed them wrong!
Some of us are magnets for idiots on the road.
I have had people chase me for highbeaming to pass (a polite flash)
I had many fools do dumb things, one idiot bumped me at 70 mph because I tapped my brakes because he was right on my ass, instead of braking, he accelerated!
I find them all.

If he was probationary, advise the popos if you get his plate # if you see him again!

BTW, I love the way the Australian system works, the P for beginners that must be seen in the window, here they give full driving rights to any idiot that can go straight and park that is over 16,. SCARY
Is it normal to flash your highbeams to indicate you wish to pass in the U.S.?
In Europe it's common, especially when there are slow cars driving in the fast lane on the autobahns (very dangerous).

In Australia it's not the norm and many drivers would regard it as a sign of aggression.
I spent quite some time in Europe in the late 90's and generally they are much better drivers than over here.
While they can be assertive, that shouldn't be confused with being aggressive.

In Victoria a learners permit can be obtained at 17 and requires a fully licenced driver to be seated next to the learner driver at all times. One must be 18 years old to obtain their Probationary licence. In other states this can be 17 years and 16 for learners.

'P' plates must be displayed for the first two years and probationary drivers cannot drink at all. Anything above a zero blood alcohol reading will result in loss of licence. There are supposed to be limits on the kind of vehicle (engine size etc) that 'P' plate drivers can drive but somehow plenty still manage to wind up with turbo'ed rice burners.

Here the quality of the driving is getting worse. Especially young inexperienced drivers with over inflated egos who think their **** don't stink.
Many believe they can outdrive anyone, anywhere anytime... and on public roads usually with three or four of their friends in the same car.

You see them on the news every week with their WRX Suburus and Nissan Skylines wrapped around telegraph poles.
While they regulary don't live up to the belief they have in their own invincibility, it's the innocent lives they usually take with them that really pisses me off! :(

[pundit]

Refer to my other post.

[SharkmanBMW]

I would think that having a P in your window would make you a "safer" or more careful driver.... just knowing you can lose it easily, and everyone knows you are a beginner, it is kind of demeaning!
Here we have 15 demerit points, and you lose them in increments depending on what you do... stop sign is 3, and about $150
speeding can make you lose them fast...

The 540 is dangerous for setting tickets, you just don't feel the speed!
My new 330 is different, I drive slower because you feel the speed so much more than the 540, more nervous and much higher revs.

But again, there are those crazy people everywhere... I had one guy drifteing in my lane and his on a 2 lane road... I honked to wake him and he moved back into his lane, but his passenger (ugly wife) started flipping me off wildly and the guy starts getting behind me and following.
I puilled into a gas station where my big friend was waiting to meet me, the guy pulled up beside us and quickly realised I was not alone and split.
He was a poor driver endangering my space, i honked at him, so he wants to kick my ass, what a dipshit!

[pundit]

I just realised you're in Canada!
It's a bit like confusing a Kiwi with an Aussie... how to piss someone off!
I would think flashing your highbeams while overtaking would be in the European style... with the French connection?

As far as a having a 'P' plate in the window or not...
18 years old, testosterone, doof, bling, ego etc. still = IDIOT! ;)
When one is trying to impress or vent off a little plastic 'P' in the window doesn't register in their minds.
The habitual serial offenders don't even display 'P' plates, probably don't even have licences.

[SharkmanBMW]

[QUOTE=pundit]Is it normal to flash your highbeams to indicate you wish to pass in the U.S.?
In Europe it's common, especially when there are slow cars driving in the fast lane on the autobahns (very dangerous).

In Australia it's not the norm and many drivers would regard it as a sign of aggression.
I spent quite some time in Europe in the late 90's and generally they are much better drivers than over here.
While they can be assertive, that shouldn't be confused with being aggressive.
QUOTE]


In Canada, it is the norm to flash people when approaching them in the passing lane.
People from the province of Ontario have a reputation for NEVER moving over, (inside joke that they will get!) but here in Quebec, it is VERY commonly done.

Some people also put the left flasher on when behind a slower car, but flasing is much more effective.
There are some who hit the brakes when they get flashed (ignorant, dangerous and immature) because they feel they own the road, so you insult them by flashing. There are unfortunately many like that, but they (like the clown that followed Pundit) probably have bigger "problems" than just their driving.

However, all the rational people do move over, I take no offence from a flash... and i regularly flash people... when all the drivers work together, we all get there faster, smoother and safer.

[Javier]

kidnap attempt, I would have probably leaded them into a police station.

Javier

[pundit]

kidnap attempt, I would have probably leaded them into a police station.

Javier
I think he was just a young pissed off kid who thought he was going to get even by harassing me.

[Qube]

You got lucky (so did he). What say you come back and your car was keyed to hell and he's nowhere around? :|

[mattyb]

too much play station is the problem for these invincibles. they need to do the traffic offenders program and visit a morgue for a few hours, then a jail and then maybe get the learners permit, whats with 5 people in a car driven by a learner? all of that restriction legislation for probationers was a load of ****,it did nothing to solve the problem. these pricks are driving about talking on phones etc and as soon as they kill someone its always some one elses fault. whatever happened to going to ****ing jail for killing someone? sorry guys it gets me wound up a bit.

[Randell]

argh, young bogans in old fords, it doesn't get much worse on these roads..

they think they're some sort of mafia gangstas as soon as they get those P plates and a smoky old ford/holden/mitusbishi.. put on the dark tint mate and get that subwoofer cranking mate

be glad they didn't key your car though, that's what i'd expect!

[wingman]

mmmm, You guys are way off the mark. You obviously don't understand the legislation. Once you get your (NSW) Red P1 licence, you are entitled, by law, to drive at whatever speed you wish in any condition at any given time. It clearly states on the Red P1 licence that as you are 17 you are a far better driver than anyone else on the road and you don't need many years of experience because you have the correct attitude. Anybody not on a provisional licence is too old and doesn't know s&^t about anything and should just stay the f%$k out of your way. Impressing the bi%$^es by: revving the crap out of the car that your daddy paid for, giving attitude to your elders, putting every ugly accessory on your heap and generally being anti-social is all that's important...
Yes I'm venting but I've scraped these kids off the road many a time. What is worse is I've interviewed them after scraping mum, dad and the kids off the road after these imbeciles have done something stupid and they still don't see the point.

[angrypancake]

[QUOTE=pundit]Is it normal to flash your highbeams to indicate you wish to pass in the U.S.?
In Europe it's common, especially when there are slow cars driving in the fast lane on the autobahns (very dangerous).



2 summers ago some douche-nozzle cut me off on the highway, no big deal, I didn't freak out, I gave him a quick toot of the horn to let him know that after you cut someone off, hitting the brakes isn't a good idea, esp. in the left lane of the highway. so this dude flips the absolute **** out, starts screaming and flailing and ****, punches his rear view mirror off, starts telling me to pull over into this upcoming rest area, and then pulls what looked like a beretta out. he was driving this piece of **** like 93 caravan rustbucket. so stupid ass me instead of ignoring him blasted the finger at him, hit the far right lane and peaced out. you never know what you might get into with the crazies of the world.

[pundit]

mmmm, You guys are way off the mark. You obviously don't understand the legislation. Once you get your (NSW) Red P1 licence, you are entitled, by law, to drive at whatever speed you wish in any condition at any given time. It clearly states on the Red P1 licence that as you are 17 you are a far better driver than anyone else on the road and you don't need many years of experience because you have the correct attitude. Anybody not on a provisional licence is too old and doesn't know s&^t about anything and should just stay the f%$k out of your way. Impressing the bi%$^es by: revving the crap out of the car that your daddy paid for, giving attitude to your elders, putting every ugly accessory on your heap and generally being anti-social is all that's important...
Yes I'm venting but I've scraped these kids off the road many a time. What is worse is I've interviewed them after scraping mum, dad and the kids off the road after these imbeciles have done something stupid and they still don't see the point.
There's quite a bit of evidence to show that the problem is caused by the brain which doesn't fully develop in many people until around 25 years.
We've all heard of 'grey matter' but there is also something called 'White Matter' (http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/s1424747.htm).
'White matter' is the stuff which aids in making us 'responsible' humans and making us more aware of what our actions can cause.

In most teenagers and young adults this 'white matter' hasn't fully developed which is claimed is one of the reasons behind teenagers impulsive behaviour.

[wingman]

As the 'recipient' of this behaviour you are benevolent Pundit. I respect that.

[R1daveg]

Ah, we old farts forget what it was like to be young and reckless?
I seem to remember the bottom of my licence saying "tear along dotted line"..

Carpark/roadrage is a real problem now. The passive-aggresives that wont get out of the fast lane just baffles me. Whats even more disturbing is kids with major anger issues, wonder how they go later when married and mid-life with a huge mortgage???
P seems to be a badge of "young and cool" for most of em, i know my brother in-law left them up for while on full licence..

BTW. i have seen P's in the windows of many E34's.. and a lot drive cars more expensive than that.
I cant fathom the idea of letting your kid buy a hi-po car to learn in. What are the lessons there? In the end its (so-called) parents that need to be responsible for their kids

[mikell]

Testosterone poisoning. From your story, it's clear the guy really, really needed some time with the woman.

[biondani]

Reminds me of an incident I had a few years ago. On a dual carriageway with a 40mph limit. Some old guy (late 60s-early 70s at a guess) in front of me just about hitting 20mph so I overtake. As I overtake he starts to accellerate forcing me into oncoming traffic. I hit the accelerator to pull in in front of him and get the obligatory flash of lights.

A few minutes later I stop at red traffic lights and this old guy who could hardly walk, god knows how he could drive the state he was in, started to try and smash my window to get in the car. I waited for light to go green and got the hell out of there.

Ian

[Jay 535i]

You did exactly the right thing, IMHO. Don't confront guys like that.

Might have been funny, though, if you'd called 911 and reported being followed, and they'd actually caught the guy while he was still glued to you. :D

[Incantation]

i would have pulled over + tire iron to the head

[dacoyote]

i would have pulled over + tire iron to the head

I like a SAWPS more....

[emw525E34]

Its just a lousy Fairlane!. Just down-shift and they are history. Thats what I did to blinkers and loud-mouth tin-can muffler cars wih all show and no go.