Evasive action - Hitting mirrors etc

[G]

Do you do it? Have you done it? would you do it?

As above, scenario is normally someone not moving over or deliberately pulling across into your path.

Not you accidently clipping a mirror while commuting.

POLL :smt003

[Alpinestarhero]

Ah, you mean "Ill teach you to get in my way!!!"

Well, I generally avoid mirrors, but sometimes when people pull into my path (dosnt happen that often) I do think "if you loose that mirror, its your own fault". And to cover my back, I always sound my horn to alert drivers to my presence :)

I've been close to clipping them with no remorse, regret, or guilt, but never done it. Yet.

Matt

[G]

The reason I ask is mainly because I see alot of people mentioning they do it on forums, and up until yesterday I thought blimey theres no way I would do that.

So heres my personal scenario....

Commuting home yesterday. On the ring road, two lane dual carriageway type road, filtering between cars traveling in the same direction.

Traffic is doing roughly 15 mph (40mph limit), I'm therefore filtering. I came up behind a silver fiesta with and old man behind the wheel and his wife in the passenger seat.

He starts to move over when I get close, so I gave him the benefit of doubt and assumed he was all over the place because he was old, I therefore hung back and didnt pass.

He then moved back over so I see the oppurtunity to make progress.

However, as I start to pass he moves over quickly and obviously deliberately this time to the white line to the point my leg touched the side of his car (not deliberate I may add, purely because of lack of space).

At this point I was furious and desperately trying to avoid seeing the red mist for my own safety. I didnt know whether to brake or accelerate, I quickly opted for accelerate whilst he was pipping his horn.

I was beyond angry at this point and for the first time ever, opted to show my anger and I deliberatly hit his mirror. Not in the direction so it came off but in the direction so that it folded around.

I was tempted to do worse and when he pulled into me I was tempted me put my boot into the side of his car but resisted.

Its the first time anyone has deliberately and so aggresively tried to block my path whilst filtering, I couldnt quite believe it.

Part of me feels guilty for doing it and thinking I wouldnt do that again, and part of me thinks he deliberatly blocked my path to the point he drove into me next time i will do worse.

In summary if someone aggresviely block my path like that again, I would do it again....

[MiniMac]

If someone deliberately moves over to block me, or drives like a twunt, I'll normally tap on the window / have the mirror off :)

But if someone hasn't seen me and there isn't enough space to filter, I'll give a quick beep, then hope they move. If not, I'll wait, or squeeze through.

[Alpinestarhero]

With that scenario, I would have stopped him and asked if he really wants the crime of "murder" associated with him; that behaviour is disgusting and you have every right to do such actions. Personally, if i suspect someone is not being observant, I used my horn. I'll wait if they dont move over until there is somewhere safe to pass.

But I dont blame you; I would have done the same thing if someone was moving into my path and deliberatly endangering my life.

Matt

[the_lone_wolf]

stop in front of him, pull him out of the car, effecting a citizens arrest for attempted murder, call the police whilst digging your knee into the base of his neck...

[Wayluya]

Do you do it? Have you done it? would you do it?

As above, scenario is normally someone not moving over or deliberately pulling across into your path.

Not you accidently clipping a mirror while commuting.

POLL :smt003

I do it on me Scooter - and use me good old fashioned rusty steel mirror!

No experiances yet on the SV.

[markmoto]

If it was a deliberate act that caused me to feel in danger then i would absolutely either have there wing mirror off or a nice boot on there door, ive had one wing mirror off when some one cut me up on a roundabout, just give it a good smack with my hand and next minute it was dangling by its threads, that made me feel a whole lot better, the last one i did a few years back was again someone overtaking me and cutting my up trying to get into the space between me and the car in front just a deliberate bullying act by a car driver using his weight, this guy got a swift kick into his drivers door which definately left a mark :D. Wish i had had a couple of metal studs on my toesliders or a nice length of chain to wrap around his bonnet mad max style.
I would do it all again if someone drives like a tosser and puts me in danger through no fault of my own they need teaching a lesson.

Another thing i do quite often is have you noticed how many people drive around with there wing mirrors folded in? i often pull up next to them at lights or while filtering and pull it out :D

[Alpinestarhero]

Another thing i do quite often is have you noticed how many people drive around with there wing mirrors folded in? i often pull up next to them at lights or while filtering and pull it out :D

Yup! I do that too, with the addition of having a word and telling them to use their mirrors more often. They probably don't, but for that moment, they are a little more aware

Matt

[markmoto]

Best one was a few years ago i was out riding with a mate who was a fearsome fella used to do that mixed martial arts stuff! this guy totaly cut him up on a roundabout and how he kept on i have no idea, at this point i thought oops your about to have a bad day mr cage driver. My mate overtook him and just parked his bike in front of him so he had to stop walked over to the car and chinned this guy through the window with an alpinestar gloved hand :-), walked back over to his bike and rode off, i was sat behind watching this nearly ****ing myself!

[yorkie_chris]

I've seen it where an annoying cager has had their keys nicked through the window and lobbed into a hedge :-D

Not quite the same affect as a crack on the jaw, but just as funny.

I vote yes, but they've got to be doing something deliberately awkward/dangerous

[Bear]

Problem with retaliatory action (and I've done it myself a few times) is that it puts you in danger of being side-swiped by someone who has already proved that they have no respect for your personal safety.

[yorkie_chris]

Problem with retaliatory action (and I've done it myself a few times) is that it puts you in danger of being side-swiped by someone who has already proved that they have no respect for your personal safety.

Yes there is that, much safer in very slow traffic.

[plowsie]

I hit a mirror the other day, then another, luckily the lights changed so i got away quickly!

[markmoto]

I've seen it where an annoying cager has had their keys nicked through the window and lobbed into a hedge :-D


:winner: so far never thought of that :D only problem with that is if it was in a line of traffic would cause problems for people behind who might have moved out the way for you :rolleyes:, so it would have to be used selectively but will definately remember that one ;).

A paint ball gun on a swing pivot on the tank would be good in circumstances like this :D:smt067

[yorkie_chris]

Then all the other bikers would know to watch out for the car splattered in paint, as they're definately fkin stupid and after being "marked" pretty annoyed too!

[Lozzo]

I've seen it where an annoying cager has had their keys nicked through the window and lobbed into a hedge :-D

Not quite the same affect as a crack on the jaw, but just as funny.


I've done that at the traffic lights just before a very busy M1 junction. Totally takes the car driver by surprise - I didn't half hurl them too.

When someone's cut me up in London, or is squeezing me over I have been known to give the mirror a major smack downwards, not front or back so it folds, but a proper downwards smack so it's left dangling on the cables. BMW and Audi mirrors are quite easily removed like this, but Range Rover ones can hurt your hand. Pulling across in front of the vehicle and going back to tell the guy he'll soon be the recipient of a new anal passage is a good way of getting them to back off too.

[markmoto]

. Pulling across in front of the vehicle and going back to tell the guy he'll soon be the recipient of a new anal passage is a good way of getting them to back off too.

This needs to be used with caution i,e quickly asses if you think you can take the dude :D i mean if he looks like a steroid head i,e is a heavy weight and you are a Fly weight your not going to come off well :smt046, also there could be a car full of em so unless you have a gang of mates behind you as back up or are prity handy with your fists this one is best avoided :eye:

[Wayluya]

but Range Rover ones can hurt your hand.

Reminds me of a group of drunks walking accross an urban dual carriageway many years ago.......late at night empty roads.......they saw me ahead stopped up the road at traffic lights (on me old Gpz750 Turbo) and decided to play Chicken accross the lanes.....and standing with their arms stretched out.......

Only doing around 30/40mph as I came down the road - most of them were not serious, but always one person tries to push things too far......I think the idea was to move out of the way at the absolute last second......I suspect he did not expect me to have started to accelerate hard when I reached him.....caught his hand with the wing mirror (I can still feel the crack now!).....if he never broke his hand it would be a minor miracle!

[yorkie_chris]

Had some local chavs try that one on me late one night, bang it off the limiter in first, into second and hoik the front up. They moved pretty quick. :D

[mister c]

Done it in the past, but now I just swear under my helmet, or pull past them and show my disgust by giving them "The Look"

[Camel]

You did the right thing.

[Bear]

Might have done it this morning actually...

Note to all: it is possible to be done for criminal damage for this. Hopefully the guy didn't get my plate this morning...

Theoretically of course. I'm in no way saying this DID happen, merely that it MIGHT have happened.

Officer.

[Baph]

A paint ball gun on a swing pivot on the tank would be good in circumstances like this :D:smt067
That idea has been mentionned in previous threads about this subject. Only last time it was mentionned, eye-ball targetting systems and paint stripper/brake fluid was mentionned.

As for the OP, in the situation experienced, I would personally favour hitting the brakes. Tuck back in behind them and make a mental note of the registration and time.

Next, ride to your local police station, walk over to the desk and open the batting with "SOME FSCKING OLD C-NUT JUST TRIED TO KILL ME" and continue screaming & shouting until you're taking into the back & explain properly to an officer.

Make an official complaint, and the police are obliged to do something about it. Should prevent the old fart doing it again if plod comes knocking on his door & asking about dangerous driving. ;)