Sorry misunderstood what you meant by "brake VERY hard and VERY late".

I believe hitting someone from behind is one of the few accidents where the insurance firms don't bother contesting it. If you go into the back of someone you were either a) driving too close or b) not paying attention. Either way that person is in the wrong.

Just saying it's a whole load of hassle anyone could do without

 

Yes, making it their fault. It doesn't matter what the person in front is braking for, if they weren't driving like a dick, leaving a rizla paper's distance between bumpers then "someone's kids" wouldn't have died.

 

It's always the most aggressive ones who don't actually drive that fast when given the opportunity.

I was tailgated for a while on the M1 on Saturday by some bloke in a Toyota Dullard in quite heavy traffic in all three lanes.
He decided to shoot up the inside and cut into a gap that was too small and getting smaller as I went to close it (too late)

Needless to say a short time later he got blocked in and tried it again unsuccessfully. All of this around 60mph.

When the traffic freed up and I accelerated he was soon a spec in the rear view mirror. Potentially one of those people who drives at 60 whatever the conditions and / or limit.

 

written word and all that - easy to send or receive less than clearly

I'm sure you're right about the liability and it's hard to argue with their logic

 

That is so true.

Weirdo's.

 

definite increase in aggression, why do people see a reasonable space between two cars and pull into it - usually without indicating, usually on a motorway?

Having followed a prat in a VERY new car who not only did no indicate but seemed to leave every junction with the intention of getting to 60 (in a 30 limit) faster than an F1 car I had to stop and ask if indicators were an optional extra on his model and what a shame he could not afford them. He looked slightly non-plussed then swore and me, by which time I was pootling up the road in search of my favorite parking space, and woman on the pavement was laughing so much I though she would cry.

Made me smile.

 

Indicating is a sign of a lack of hardness, these days.

Probably in both meanings...

 

There is something to be had by not indicating. Often, when indicating to move lanes, people will close the space so you cannot move over. I was an observer to a very good case of this recently.

Game theory at work I think.

 

Not always...increased prevalence of criminals going out deliberately to cause a rear end shunt (including disconnecting brake lights ) so they can claim compensation for imagined injuries caused by the "accident".

I saw a trailer the other day for a TV documentary highlighting this new trend. Showed a car cut in front of of an artic' on a slip road at the last minute then slam on the brakes!

I've learned over the years not to get too wound up by other road users and let tailgater's past. I do find the middle lane owners and the drive everywhere at 40mph club members a bit frustrating at times.


As to the impatient woman in the car park she probably hadn't thought through the potential actions of the pedestrian as you had or maybe thought you were waiting for her to go past and was trying to indicate it was OK for you to pull out? Its not always easy to guess the intentions of other road users and allowances have to be made.

I was day dreaming a bit in the supermarket car park when I pulled up behind a MPV that was half way across the junction and half turned right with their brake lights on. Their reversing light then came on and I thought they'd changed their mind and wanted to turn left instead. I thought I shouldn't have to back up and they should go continue on their original course rather than cause me the inconvenience of having to back up because they could decide which way they were going.
It was only after a few seconds that I realised that there was a space to my left and the MPV wanted to reverse into it!

 

True; it's easy to become infuriated behind a dawdler waiting for god type. One thinks "WTF have they stopped for NOW??" when it actually is for a perfectly legitimate reason!

Unless it's a M-B, in which case, they will have stopped without indicating for an illegitimate reason - they are a self-important bastard!