Discussions

Hey guys. I'm relatively new to this community but something happened to me on my way home from work at lunch that I thought I had to let everyone in Brandon know about.  
 
I was turning out of Boston Pizza, a left turn trying to get back to 18th Street. I looked all around and thought it was safe to go- I could see no other cars coming down the road that would cause a safety hazard.  
 
So I made my turn, and unexpectly I accidentally cut someone off. I'm not sure how I missed them, but let's face it, we've all cut people off before, and we've all had people cut us off. I certainly did not do it on purpose and I felt bad but kept driving hoping the person would understand that I didn't see them. This had happened to me before, and since no damage was done, I thought all was ok.  
 
I got to the red light at 13th Street and the person in the truck who I had accidentally cut off got out of his vehicle, walked straight to my car door, opened it and started yelling at me. This was definitely frightening for me. I had just cut him off- I know it's rude, but I certainly didn't do it on purpose and it certainly doesn't warrant him getting out of his car and coming to berate me at a red light. I felt threatened by his behaviour- he was a large, middle-aged man and I'm a 20 year-old young woman. Needless to say, feeling threatened, I attempted to close my car door, but he wouldn't let me. Finally when he knew the light would soon turn green he let go of my car door and walked back to his own truck.  
 
I looked through my rear-view mirror and tried to remember his licence plate number, but since I couldn't, I just took note that the truck was dark blue and might have been some city or school division vehicle, since the truck had an emblem or crest on both sides.  
 
First of all, let me say this. I've been living in Brandon for two years and have found the people here wonderful. But I know I have been cut off before, in worse circumstances than I cut this obviously irate- at the best of terms- man. And did I ever get out of my car, open someone else's car door and threateningly yell at them for everyone to see? Certainly not. I respect people's dignity more than that, and I understand that sometimes people do get cut off, and it's not on purpose.  
 
If this man can be set off my that, what would happen if I accidentally DID hit him- even if the damage was just to his car? I shudder to think what this ego-tistical, barbaric man would have done. I called the police and they said that although it did sound like he had harassed me, since I didn't get his licence plate number, they couldn't really do anything.  
 
As a self-respecting and community-respecting citizen of Brandon, it shames me to know that there are drivers like this on our streets- drivers who at the lightest offence think it appropriate to threaten someone and keep their car door oepn against there will. Brandon deserves better than idiotic drivers like these. If I ever see that car again, I'll definitely charge this uncouth individual for harassment.