Road rage rules are tougher than ever as legislation clamps down on rude hand gestures and swear words
Many drivers experience road rage, where someone cuts you off or pulls out in front of you and you just have to give them a piece of your mind. You might enjoy shouting a less than complimentary term at them, or locking eyes with them in the mirror and slowly jerking your hand back and forth. Hey, you do you. But those things actually fall under The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and they're punishable with a fine of up to three quarters of your weekly salary. The penalty applies for pretty much every small act of aggression, including sticking a middle finger up which I'm sure none of us have ever done... Aggressive behaviour comes under 'disorderly conduct' and the police really don't like it, but even more shocking is their attitude towards ‘not being in full control of a vehicle’ which is legally the case if your hand leaves the wheel for even a second. Wow.
A high profile case of a road rage conviction occurred just last year when radio and TV presenter Jeremy Vine was hit by a supremely angry driver called Shanique Syrena Pearson. The two met in Kensington, West London when Vine was riding his bike in front of Shanique's car and slowed to a halt when he thought she'd gotten too close to his bike. Shanique quickly popped out and let him know exactly what she thought of him, threatening to "knock him out". She kicked out at the presenter, ordering him to "get the f*** off the road" as Vine pleaded "Don't assault me, you've already assaulted me". The furious motorist was found guilty at Hammersmith Magistrates' Court of driving without reasonable consideration for other road users and using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour. Shanique got a total of nine months imprisonment for her threatening language, so take that as a lesson angry drivers. It ain't worth a criminal record
