@parlovero - so you may not be aware, not that that is any defence, that any of the things you mentioned carried in a car are classed as offensive weapons because they are clearly not being used for the purposes for which they were designed. Carrying a baseball bat but not showing any other signs of going to play baseball, for example, is illegal. In fact, this applies to *anything* that *could* be used as a weapon unless you have a very good reason for carrying that article with you. "Self-defence" is not a valid excuse, and just strengthens that you were to use it as a weapon given the chance to do so. It can carry up to 4 years in jail for more serious offenses.

   #Mavdo

Never seen road wars sorry. Seen Star Wars but i couldn't but a light sabre, even on EBay.

What's Baseball?

   @parlovero - because that would be classed as carrying an offensive weapon - a criminal offence. ave you never seen Road Wars :) You don't need any of them when going to Asda, and you only need the bat when playing baseball, something very few of us actually do.

   I will agree that maybe i am a bit thick at times but if this person involved in this incident can remember what height, build, haircut, age and general demeanour of his assailant was. Not to mention that he allowed his car to roll back into him so was presumably in front. He then had another encounter with said well described nutter at his home but didn't get his full registration number. The mind boggles. Anyway why doesn't he carry a gardening machette, baseball bat and brick cleaning spray with him like i do when i'm tootling off toAsda through Lower Early's leafy lanes.

   I suspect there are two sides to this story. There are many dodgy drivers in areas like Lower Earley who never indicate, cut people up, etc, and are not above playing the victim when it all goes wrong as a result, particularly if they have good reason to believe that the police will give them preferential treatment through political correctness. Certain people do lie through their teeth about this sort of thing (c.f. "crash for cash"-type incidents...I wonder if a whiplash claim will follow in this instance? Isn't that the only reason to bother buying insurance for some people?)

Obviously I don't know what happened here, but nor do any other posters. The "victim" could really be a victim, and be telling the whole truth, of course. But it could also be a load of rubbish. We don't know.

And yes, I am "getting at" something which I'm not allowed to actually say. The fact that I and others are not allowed to say such things is deeply disturbing and a worrying assault on all of our freedoms. In a democracy, people should be allowed to say what they think; if a point of view is wrong then allow it to be expressed and show why it's wrong (if you can), instead of censoring it.

   @NTrpohy - Chuckle, like it. Doesn't need to cause panic though. You can access the A329 from ANY lane lanes according to the road markings at all points.

I thought that this was the only possibility too, but you don't *need* to be in the outside lane to turn right at this roundabout until alongside the slip road that takes you past the roundabout. The speed limit is 50mph and you are coming up to a junction at this point, so there is no reason to be up someone's backside flashing and honking, especially if you too are turning right (and if you're not, then you can pass on the left without issue). But conversely, if you are doing 45mph or less in the outside lane before the Coppid Beech on ramp, then that's not right.

   mavdo, Wokingham, I'm guessing the A329 with no 'M' heading towards Bracknell at the new roundabout by the new ticky-tacky boxes estate.

I don't go that way much, and that roundabout always causes a momentary panic as I wonder where I am and who put that there.

   @Tenacious - a bit of a generalisation I fear, being one of those Audi drivers myself, yet generally very considerate (although middle lane drivers are a pet hate, but I don't get all agressive with them, but middle lane hogging blocks motorways and is against the law). I find many are BMW drivers myself, especially of the larger 4x4 style ones. It's just a case of what you notice.

I accept there are drivers who are very impatient, and one (a Golf driver) nearly caused a huge pile up coming on to the M4 at J5 last night when he zoomed up the slip road and overtook cars at the very top when the motorway was very busy. Conversely I know there are many drivers with poor lane discipline, sometimes to the point of danger (eg cutting across all lanes on a roundabout). The way you describe it, you are close to your turn off in the correct lane on a motorway, so unless you are on the M8 in Glasgow, you MUST be in left hand lane. They can't expect you to move out of the way and you must be in the right. But if they can't get past, you would be in the outer lane of two, which is incorrect for a turn-off. I can't think of an instance where you would be in the outside lane close to a turn off. Where does this happen? I'm not passing judgement, I'm just unfamiliar with the scenario you describe. Why would someone do this if they can go past you anyway?

   I keep getting tailgated on the A329M by aggressive drivers. They sound their horns and flash their lights for me to get out of the way but I am in the right lane and getting close to my turn off. They want me to get out of their way so they can go faster, not realising that they are now in the wrong lane. One driver went round me and almost collided with the car in front.

Dare I say that most of them are Audi drivers.

   @It's Q’ble - I had someone pull right across me at a roundabout once. He was taking the 3rd and last exit, starting from the left hand lane of three on to the roundabout. This exit was the route back on to the motorway he’d just left. I used my horn and he stopped his van on the roundabout, blocking my path, got out and started threatening me. I didn't get out, I didn’t swear, and all I said was "I'm not in the wrong; get in your van and go". He walked back to his van and pulled out a metal wrench. At this point, I reversed and drove off at speed to the nearest police station. It was later shown that his van was not registered to anyone. He could not be traced and there was no CCTV.

So was this "two grown men who should both know better having a spat", or was I about to be assaulted, or have my car criminally damaged, by someone who drove dangerously and illegally? Why should I put up with this just because someone like you doesn't believe me? The police MUST believe me until an investigation is concluded. It is their job and to do anything else is prejudgemental. If I could have had people trying to spot that unregistered van, so much the better for me. Witnesses would *really* have helped, but none came forward.

You should consider all the facts in a case and allow it to be investigated before dismissing it as if it didn't happen. Its comments like yours that allow cases to remain uninvestigated until it is way too late. Comments similar to "it's just a few insane people at a mental hospital complaining about him, just ignore it and get on with life" allowed a certain person to carry on without investigation even until his death.

There was criminal damage to these cars, and an alleged assault. Both are criminal cases with serious punishments, even if you believe both parties were to blame in part. So let it be investigated, THEN pass judgement

   The opposite of a "tighter" of course ;-)

   What's a "looser" ? Anyone?

   The victim wasn't a milkman by any chance?

   Heston Blumental?

   I was under the impression that the police forces computers were linked to the DVLA so they could check out vehicles when they stop them.

If they aren't why aren't they???