Time to set aside our reluctance to ‘squeal’ on bullies on our roads

He thought that we drive our cars, and behave, better than those around London, where he lives.

Yes, some of our roads are comparable in surface quality with many across Europe.

And better routes are constantly being upgraded with a key focus of removing black spots.

For a moment that assessment, and some lovely sweet cake, made me feel a bit cheerful.

Then he went and spoilt it all when he was reminded by his son of the “incident” in Waterford.

A Mercedes driver basically tailgated him for several kilometres and then overtook when unsafe to do so and pulled in sharply in front of him, forcing him to brake.

The dangerous driver then gave my friend the two-finger gesture out the window. My friend felt obliged to ring the gardaí.But the bird had flown and they didn’t get to jot down the registration number. And therein lies a cultural difference, I think.

I’ve been subjected to appalling road rage over the years but I would rarely have even thought of ringing the gardaí.

In England, that guy in the Merc would have been lucky to have escaped as lightly, I think.

We just don’t think of contacting the authorities to the same extent as our neighbours across the Irish Sea.

It is a cultural matter: we don’t like squealing on others – even if that extends to aggressive driving.

Also, unless you have a front-seat passenger with you, it is dangerous to try to take down a reg number and call the gardaí.

But if you have someone who can, then that call could be a lifesaver.

Think of that the next time someone tries to bully you and how much of a service you are doing to prevent an incident.