There's nothing quite like the relief of getting an all-clear from your doctor, especially when it comes to something as serious as skin cancer.
For one Canberra bloke, what should have been a perfect day of celebration took an unpleasant turn thanks to a fellow motorist with a serious attitude problem.
The man had just received wonderful news from his skin cancer check-up and decided to toast his good health with a well-deserved beer at the Erindale Vikings club. In his excitement—and who could blame him—he accidentally drove into the car park through the exit instead of the entrance.
In this article
When good news meets bad behaviour
What happened next perfectly illustrates why so many Australians are fed up with aggressive drivers on our roads. Despite the car park being three-quarters empty and the mistake causing no inconvenience to anyone, the driver behind him made his displeasure known with an aggressive blast of his horn.
But that wasn't the end of it. After enjoying his celebratory drink, the man returned to find a charming little note tucked under his windscreen wiper: 'EXIT. Can't you read, s*****?'
'Now I know I'm just a dumb tradie but I don't think I'm s*****,' the recipient shared on the Canberra Notice Board Group. 'Again not a single other driver was inconvenienced by my simple error of driving into an exit.'
'Some people are just so pathetic and miserable'
The community response was swift and supportive, with commenters calling the note-writer 'miserable' and 'unpleasant.' One person joked: 'You may have encountered the only person on the planet who has NEVER gone the wrong way in a car park. You don't get that every day.'
The unfortunate rise of road rage
This incident reflects a troubling trend across Australia. According to the NRMA's 2024 Courteous Driving and Distraction Survey, 44 per cent of drivers in NSW and the ACT have been victims of some form of road rage in the past year. Other research suggests that three in four Australians have experienced road rage while driving.
As our roads become increasingly congested and stressful, incidents of road rage are on the rise, posing significant risks to drivers, passengers and pedestrians alike.
Here's what you need to know about car park rules
Before you worry about accidentally driving the wrong way in a car park yourself, here's something that might surprise you: the directional arrows and signs painted on private car park surfaces are primarily designed to manage traffic flow during busy periods, not to create legal obligations for drivers. While businesses prefer customers to follow these guidelines for efficiency and safety, they don't carry the same legal weight as official traffic signs on public roads.
This is quite different from parking mistakes on public roads, where fines can now soar up to $789, with New South Wales drivers alone facing a staggering $200 million in parking fines in 2024
Car park facts that might surprise you
Private car park directional signs are guidelines, not legally enforceable rules
The most common car park accident happens during reversing
Parking mistakes on public roads can cost up to $789 in fines
[infoboxcontent5
Most experienced drivers admit to occasional car park navigation errors[/infoboxcontent]
Why this celebration mattered more than the critic realised
Let's put this incident in perspective. The man was celebrating something genuinely worth toasting—an all-clear skin cancer screening. This is no small matter for Australians, particularly those over 60.
In 2024, it's estimated that the age-standardised incidence rate for melanoma will be 70 cases per 100,000 persons, with approximately 18,964 new cases of melanoma diagnosed in Australia. The incidence rises sharply with age, peaking in the 85-89 year age group.
At least two in three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer in their lifetime, making regular check-ups absolutely crucial, especially for older Australians who may have spent decades in the sun before we fully understood the risks.
Getting that all-clear is genuinely cause for celebration—and certainly doesn't deserve a nasty note for a harmless parking mistake.
How to handle aggressive drivers
Unfortunately, encounters with unpleasant people behind the wheel are becoming more common. Here's how to handle them:
Dealing with aggressive drivers
- Stay calm and don't take it personally
- Avoid eye contact or confrontational gestures
- Never get out of your car to confront someone
- If you feel threatened, drive to a police station or busy public area
- Remember that their behaviour reflects on them, not you
- Document incidents if they involve threats or property damage
We are humans, we all make mistakes [11], and most reasonable people understand this. The vast majority of drivers have accidentally taken a wrong turn in a car park at some point.
Did you know?
Did you know?
Research shows that writing anonymous angry notes is often a way for people to release frustration without direct confrontation. However, it typically says more about the writer's emotional state than the recipient's driving skills.
Community support in the digital age
One positive aspect of this story is how quickly the online community rallied around the victim. Multiple commenters shared their own similar experiences, with one person noting: 'It happened to me last evening. Same club, same exit. I was about to go out, they were coming in (wrongly). I just waited, we both waved at each other and laughed.'
This kind of understanding and good humour is exactly what we need more of on our roads. Minor mistakes happen to everyone, and a bit of patience and kindness goes much further than horn-blasting and nasty notes.
The bigger picture
This incident serves as a reminder that life's too short to let miserable people dampen our celebrations. Whether you're toasting good health news, marking a milestone birthday, or simply enjoying a day out, don't let the occasional grouch spoil your mood.
As one commenter wisely put it: 'You can't do anything about all the unhappy and unpleasant people around the place. They are always upset about something. Go and enjoy your life.'
Remember, celebrating good news—whether it's a clean bill of health, a family milestone, or any other positive moment—is something to be cherished. Don't let the occasional car park vigilante steal your joy.
Have you ever had a similar encounter with an overzealous car park critic, or do you have your own story of community support when someone made a mountain out of a molehill? We'd love to hear about your experiences in the comments below.
Primary Source
https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/r...e/news-story/0f7fd96adfbf2fbfe4d6c06c7cf14afd
What's driving road rage? | Advice and How-to | Open Road | The NRMA
Cited text: The NRMA's 2024 Courteous Driving and Distraction Survey, which included 1464 members, found 44 per cent of drivers in NSW and the ACT had been the vi...
Excerpt: According to the NRMA's 2024 Courteous Driving and Distraction Survey, 44 per cent of drivers in NSW and the ACT have been victims of some form of road rage in the past year
https://www.mynrma.com.au/cars-and-...nd-licences/resources/whats-driving-road-rage
NRMA releases worrying road rage data
Cited text: New research conducted by the NRMA found almost half of people surveyed have been victim of some form of road rage over the last 12 months.
Excerpt: According to the NRMA's 2024 Courteous Driving and Distraction Survey, 44 per cent of drivers in NSW and the ACT have been victims of some form of road rage in the past year
https://www.mynrma.com.au/about/media/press-releases/2024/nrma-releases-worrying-road-rage-data
What is road rage and how to deal with it?
Cited text: While there are no official statistics on road rage incidents, a 2024 survey conducted by comparison site Finder suggests that three in four Australia...
Excerpt: Other research suggests that three in four Australians have experienced road rage while driving
https://www.sbs.com.au/language/eng...s-road-rage-and-how-to-deal-with-it/0hujhf0he
Road Rage Statistics Australia—Savvy
Cited text: As our roads become increasingly congested and stressful, incidents of road rage are on the rise, posing significant risks to drivers, passengers and ...
Excerpt: As our roads become increasingly congested and stressful, incidents of road rage are on the rise, posing significant risks to drivers, passengers and pedestrians alike
https://savvy.com.au/car-insurance/road-rage-statistics/
‘Miserable’ note sparks online outrage after innocent driving mistake | YourLifeChoices
Cited text: The directional arrows and signs painted on private car park surfaces are primarily designed to manage traffic flow during busy periods, not to create...
Excerpt: the directional arrows and signs painted on private car park surfaces are primarily designed to manage traffic flow during busy periods, not to create legal obligations for drivers.
https://www.yourlifechoices.com.au/...nline-outrage-after-innocent-driving-mistake/
‘Miserable’ note sparks online outrage after innocent driving mistake | YourLifeChoices
Cited text: This distinction is especially significant given that parking fines for common mistakes on public roads can now soar up to $789, with New South Wales ...
Excerpt: fines can now soar up to $789, with New South Wales drivers alone facing a staggering $200 million in parking fines in 2024
https://www.yourlifechoices.com.au/...nline-outrage-after-innocent-driving-mistake/
Melanoma of the skin statistics | Cancer Australia
Cited text: In 2024, it is estimated that the age-standardised incidence rate will be 70 cases per 100,000 persons (86 for males and 56 for females).
Excerpt: In 2024, it's estimated that the age-standardised incidence rate for melanoma will be 70 cases per 100,000 persons, with approximately 18,964 new cases of melanoma diagnosed in Australia
https://www.canceraustralia.gov.au/cancer-types/melanoma/statistics
Melanoma of the skin statistics | Cancer Australia
Cited text: In 2024, it is estimated that 18,964 new cases of melanoma of the skin will be diagnosed in Australia (11,034 males and 7,930 females).
Excerpt: In 2024, it's estimated that the age-standardised incidence rate for melanoma will be 70 cases per 100,000 persons, with approximately 18,964 new cases of melanoma diagnosed in Australia
https://www.canceraustralia.gov.au/cancer-types/melanoma/statistics
Skin Cancer Statistics
Cited text: Incidence rises sharply with age—peaking in the 85—89 year age group; age‑standardised incidence rate for 2024 is estimated at 70 per 100,000overall (...
Excerpt: The incidence rises sharply with age, peaking in the 85-89 year age group
https://www.australianskincancerfoundation.org/skin-cancer-australia-statistics
Incidence and mortality | National Cancer Prevention Policy Skin Cancer Statistics and Issues | Cancer Council
Cited text: At least 2 in 3 Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer in their lifetime,[4] and the risk is higher in men than in women.
Excerpt: At least two in three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer in their lifetime
https://www.cancer.org.au/about-us/...resources/skin-cancer-incidence-and-mortality
How to Avoid Accidents in the Car Park
Cited text: We are humans, we all make mistakes.
Excerpt: We are humans, we all make mistakes
https://www.carify.com.au/resources/how-to-avoid-accidents-in-the-car-park
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