HI
We haven't been on the road as yet but will be going very soon.
My question is this, What sort of abuse do you get from other drives and how do you respond?
I've been told to expect a lot of abuse, I'm a big boy now and am not afraid to respond in the same manner but how do you handle it?
I don't find you get abuse very often. If you do, the best way of dealing with it is to ignore it - it never deserves a response! It is easy to make a mistake on the road and all the ranting and responding is going to make no difference at all, other than to distract you from the main job in hand: driving a car with a caravan on the back.
Hi. As long as you're driving reasonably for the road you're on and the conditions at the time, ignore it. If you respond, it'll only make things worse. If you do make a mistake as a new tow-er, acknowledge it with an apologetic wave. Just remember that if you do see a queue building up behind, pull over into a suitable lay-by (preferably going downhill) and just let them past.
I've been towing for a year and just travel along and am totally oblivious to any abuse, however I always acknowedge my mistakes with a wave or a sorry. That seems to diffuse the situation quickly, if there was going to be one.
I'm encouraged by your replies, I was thinking that I would get a lot of abuse from other motorists, it would have seemed that way as you tend to hear of aggressive drivers on the roads nowadays.
We've never had anyone give us abuse. We do pull over to let people past, quite a lot of them thank us, which is nice. I for one HATE being stuck in a queue of traffic behind a caravan for miles on end. No wonder we get a bad name!
Nicky
We have never had abuse from other drivers. You should be prepared to drive at a reasonable speed given conditions & limit and be considerate as always. No-one can expect more of you.
Anyone suffering abuse often clearly isn't doing this.
No one can keep up in an effort to abbuse.... Never experienced anything of the sorts.... I have encountered every kind on inconsiderate numpty on the roads that have bought a reaction from myself though
I can't recall any abuse in quite a lot of years. On main roads, I always keep up with the traffic flow, subject to the speed limit, and on country roads, I pull over at quite short intervals if there's a queue forming.
The only thing I can remember is a couple of disputes as to who would reverse (quite a long way). I usually volunteer anyway - it's quicker than arguing, although it's worth bearing in mind that, for example, a school bus or coach isn't legally allowed to reverse, so if you meet one of those, don't even bother arguing.
It's not really a problem. If you get abuse, you're probably doing something wrong.
the only abuse i got was towing our caravan to a campsite in wales.narrow road taking it steady, mondeo man draws alongside paps his hooter,shakes his tic tacs along with the evil eye.then pulls into the same campsite as us.wont tell you what i called him when we pulled up.
Quote: Originally posted by N1ckyC on 30/5/2011
We've never had anyone give us abuse. We do pull over to let people past, quite a lot of them thank us, which is nice. I for one HATE being stuck in a queue of traffic behind a caravan for miles on end. No wonder we get a bad name!
Nicky
Same here. And it is nice when the ppl you pulled over for say thanks!
once got followed by someone beeping their horn and waving madly at us, on a motorway, telling us to get off the road. Turned out he was trying to warn us that our indicators were linked up wrong and every time we signalled left, the folding camper would signal right and vice versa! The other driver was a caravaner too and had realised that the wiring was wrong (spotting that the car did not match the camper) rather than assuming that it was an idiot who could not signal right!
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