Thread by @Sarah_Haar_

I changed lanes today. This really upset a man that didn't want to let me in despite there being ample space. His #RoadRage escalated & he pursued me aggressively for 25 minutes around Brunswick, swerving & trying to run me off the road.
It gets more unhinged 1/9

I was on my way to pick up my 4y.o from school, but I didn't feel safe to stop given this man was pounding his steering wheel, pointing at me, making threatening gestures & tailgating. I hit a red light, another motorist observed the behaviour & tried to block his car.

Unfortunately I couldn't get far & at the next set of lights the man did something that made my blood run cold. Anxiously looking in my rearview, he pulled out a set of latex gloves & put them on his hands & the did the creepiest, psychopathic wave with his fingers.

He then continued to point at me aggressively, followed by gesturing with his gloved hands a violent choking action - implying that he would choke me. Repeatedly. He continued to stroke his gloved hands.
I dialled 000 and gave a description of the vehicle and driver.

I began driving to the Police station with this man following dangerously close behind & next to me for another 15 or so minutes. He was driving a large SUV & could likely see from my dash unit that I was on the phone to 000. Thankfully I managed to lose him.

I made a report to police, but as expected they said no crime had occurred & the man couldn't be charged with anything as I hadn't been physically harmed. Victoria's road safety legislation has been silent on #RoadRage behaviours for too long.

In Victoria parking for too long or inappropriately results in an infringement or towing, going through a red light results in a fine of $462 & 3 demerits. So why don't we have a penalty for driving in an unsafe/threatening manner?

Members of the public can report a driver for throwing a cigarette butt resulting in a fine of $370 or $740 if still lit. Yet we don't even have a register of #RoadRage offenders that the Police can reliably use to track & penalise or charge offenders with.

I believe that I was targeted because I was a single female occupant & because there is nothing in place that deters this threatening behaviour. Nothing will convince me that this was the first time this man has behaved this way on the road.

And here’s the update from the Police, as expected they can’t or won’t do anything about it despite having rego. Incredibly disappointing but not surprising. We need laws that appropriately deal with #RoadRage