By Lyndsey Wetton, Fremantle-Cockburn Gazette
MOST of us can admit to occasionally being unsafe or absent-minded while on the road – forgetting to indicate at a roundabout or changing lanes without checking the blind spot.
But what happens when small incidents between drivers – real or perceived, turn into full blown confrontations?
Local police believe road rage is fast becoming a major issue in Cockburn and judging by the recent frightening experiences of some, they may be right.
Atwell resident Nelita, who did not want her surname published, was recently followed for 40 minutes by a female driver whose passenger filmed and photographed her car.
“I was returning from seeing a friend and slowed down to wait behind a car that was turning right off Carrington Street,” she said.
“I could see a car coming up behind me speeding.
“After this they were pulling the finger at me, yelling abuse… the person in the passenger seat was taking pictures of me and of my car number plate.
“It was busy on the roads, so for them to keep cutting across traffic to follow me was just ridiculous.
“I decided to turn and go to my cousin’s house because I was concerned.
“There are times you beep the horn, but to follow someone for 30-40 minutes is very concerning.
“I was wondering what their intention was.”
Fortunately, when Nelita stopped the car, the other car disappeared. She reported the incident to police.
Yangebup couple Shane and Chontelle Sands experienced a similar situation one Sunday last month on Beeliar Drive.
As road works signs dictated, Mr Sands, driving with his pregnant wife in the passenger seat, started to merge into one lane, when a following driver became irate in the slowing traffic.
“This guy in a four wheel drive tried to speed past me, but he was either going to push me into the kerb or I was going to have to slam on my brakes.
“If that happened someone was going to hit my rear end with my pregnant wife in the car.
“He proceeded to give me the finger and decided to sit close to my rear end, flashing his lights and beeping the horn.
“He cut traffic off to follow me to my house and as soon as I got out of the car, he was already out of his car, at my door and shirt-fronted me in my driveway.
“It was pretty scary because he was literally pushing me up the hill.
“And then he told me he was going to come back and burn my house down.”
A quick-thinking Mrs Sands had taken down the car registration number and police were later able to deal with the man.