MY girlfriend's mother recently went to buy petrol at Tesco on Tadcaster Road, York, ready for her long journey to catch the ferry home to Ireland.

Her husband, who usually fills up the car, didn't travel over so she wasn't confident with the procedures. At her own petrol station, customers usually drive forward to let others use the pump while they pay. She did this and parked in front of the forecourt to let her friend get out.

It wasn't the smartest of manoeuvres given that she blocked in other drivers waiting to exit. However, even in these busy times a couple of minutes' delay resulting from an innocent mistake didn't merit the scale of foul mouthed personal verbal abuse she endured from several drivers as they passed.

She's a sensitive soul and arrived home in tears and was still shaken up the next morning.

What gives some men and women the feeling it is acceptable when they get behind the wheel of their car to be so cruel, bullying and vicious to others because of an innocent mistake? If you were one of those magnificent people on Thursday, June 23, at around 9.15pm, congratulations, I hope you feel big.

To those others who showed a bit of dignity and maintained a sense of perspective and humour, thanks - it's appreciated.

Name and address supplied.

Updated: 11:12 Tuesday, June 28, 2005