Should I complain?

[placidfemme]

Yesterday I finished work early for a change (4pm) and on my way home I had 3 lots of bad drivers to deal with all at once...

Heading up towards the bridge (just before you go under the Shelley Beach Overpass and onto the bridge). And I noticed that the cage behind me was right up my ass, to the point where I thought "shit if I brake he's gonna rear-end me" so I was keeping an eye on him in my mirrors (I could see him clearly in both... and he was an ugly fuck too), on my right was a red car (lol yeah the colour is all you need to know) and on my left a white Van (Galbraith Plumbing & Drainage Ltd, Member of Master Plumbers, Gasfitters & Drainlayers,
30 Barrys Point Rd Takapuna Auckland 0-9-489 8002 Plumbers).

Now my luck turned to shit, not only did I have the car right up my ass, but both the red car and the wanker van driver started to pull into my lane (both without indicating) and for a split second I thought "Ok I'm gonna get squashed between these assholes then hit from behind by the twat following too close".

For the first time EVER I used my horn and held it down and thought "well I'm gonna get hit anyway" and jammed on both brakes (nice feeling when your back wheel looses traction and slides to the side when your front wheel doesn't wanna move at all). For a split second I closed my eyes and waited for the impact from behind and possibly both sides (not the smarted thing to do I know). I opened my eyes again and ther red car had pulled back into his lane and I saw her give me a wave as if to say "sorry". The car behind me had pulled back, but the fucking van driver was still moving into my lane, his indicator still not on, and my horn still blaring away, I had my sunnies on so I don't think he could see my eyes but it looked like he was looking right into my face. HE KNEW I WAS THERE. And he still kept moving into my lane... which at this time, wasn't too bad because I had reduced my speed greatly (which wasn't that fast to start off with), when he had finally moved infront of me, I was absolutley fumming, and my heart was somewhere between my stomach and throat, and if I hadn't of been gripping onto the handlebars with no doubt super white knuckles my hands would have been shaking badly.

As you all know my temper string is only about <--> so long. I split lanes until I was next to the van, then pulled into the lane next to him and tried to keep calm and lifted both hands and shrugs my shoulders as if to say "what the fuck where you doing?" and both the driver (a young guy) and his passanger threw me the finger and were swearing at me..

GRRRRR fucking assholes.

So I know the company name (plastered all over the side of the van) and the company is:Galbraith Plumbing & Drainage Ltd 09-489 8002

Should I call them up and complain about their asshole driver?

[Lucyloo]

Absolutely!
Talk to the manager, and explain what happened.
He needs to know that he has people driving his vans that are giving the company a bad name!

[placidfemme]

Absolutely!
Talk to the manager, and explain what happened.
He needs to know that he has people driving his vans that are giving the company a bad name!

Should I call up or write an e-mail?

[Sniper]

Yep, give them a fucken good rev up and go to the cops

[Lucyloo]

Should I call up or write an e-mail?

Definately call....but keep calm when you are telling the story.

[placidfemme]

Yep, give them a fucken good rev up and go to the cops

I didn't get the Van's rego... took all my energy saying the company name over and over all the way home so I didn't forget to write it down...

Yeah I'll give them a call....

Will let you know how it goes

[Sniper]

Do that, do you want me to give them a call too?

[Keystone19]

Have a think about Frosty's "count to ten" thread before you do anything...

[Str8 Jacket]

Should I call up or write an e-mail?

You should definately call them! I think the "strong but subtle" approach should go down a charm!

[Lucyloo]

They should be able to tell who it was driving as they would have been on their way back to the office after completing a job.

Keep us posted!

[James Deuce]

Next time that happens, change down two gears and nail it. DO NOT STAY IN THE ZONE OF STUPIDITY.

Acceleration is just as valid as an avoidance technique as braking. Visualise that scenario in your head and practice avoiding it (mentally) by accelrating.

[ManDownUnder]

What would you advise me to do if I'd just gone through it?

I'd complain personally - but yes... count to ten so the complaint is rational and complete. Jot down notes so if anything more comes to mind you have it to make all the facts and details more complete

Good luck!
MDU

[Postie]

defiantly call, its bad enough that they are arrogant enough to cut up a bike, but to start flipping you the fingers is bullshit, make you wish it was acceptable to carry shot guns on yer bike, like Terminator and Mad Max..............

[James Deuce]

THere is little point complaining. Without eyewitnesses the story will be very different when related by the pillocks in the van.

What's the bet you, "came out of nowhere"?

[placidfemme]

Next time that happens, change down two gears and nail it. DO NOT STAY IN THE ZONE OF STUPIDITY.

Acceleration is just as valid as an avoidance technique as braking. Visualise that scenario in your head and practice avoiding it (mentally) by accelrating.

I did consider that... and usually I do, but ahead was a car and with the van pulling in from the left I don't think I would have been able to get past without the front of the van clipping the back of the bike... and accelerating towards the right would have been that much harder because of the red car moving in... and if you ride over the bridge you'll know just as you get past the Shelley Beach overpass the road curves to the right...

I know I freaked out, and I should have done a bunch of other things *is making mental notes*

I called up and spoke to the Director (apparantly), told him who I was, explained the situation, and finished with "I just thought this is something that should be brought to your attention as it risked my life, along with other road users, and after all your company name is plastered all over the van, not a good image to put across to the public".

He asked me for exact details (time, location, description of driver), and he said he knew who it was right away as only one of their drivers had a passanger with them and was working on the city side that day...

He said he would deal the issue right away and thanked me for letting him know. He also said he had been considering putting those "How am I driving? Call ***-****" stickers on his vans. And now he will order them.

*feels a lot better now*