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AIBU?

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Original poster

To not give way on dual carriageway?

113 replies

Cheerstoyoutoo · 30/05/2024 15:24

So I’m driving down the dual carriageway in the left lane and there’s a car waiting to turn into the lane I’m driving on although it’s not a slip road or anything, it’s just a straightforward juction so the car was stationary indicating left and waiting to turn. I continued to drive but I think they expected me to move over for them as I got the finger, flash, etc. I always move over where possible for cars merging via the slip roads but this wasn’t the set up here. The car is question turned after I and the car behind me passed so it’s not like they were even waiting very long. I’m a really nervous driver following a collision some months ago so I tend to avoid changing lanes unnecessarily but it got me wondering should I have moved in this scenario? Thanks.

OP posts:
Casperroonie · 02/06/2024 14:18

Cheerstoyoutoo · 30/05/2024 15:24

So I’m driving down the dual carriageway in the left lane and there’s a car waiting to turn into the lane I’m driving on although it’s not a slip road or anything, it’s just a straightforward juction so the car was stationary indicating left and waiting to turn. I continued to drive but I think they expected me to move over for them as I got the finger, flash, etc. I always move over where possible for cars merging via the slip roads but this wasn’t the set up here. The car is question turned after I and the car behind me passed so it’s not like they were even waiting very long. I’m a really nervous driver following a collision some months ago so I tend to avoid changing lanes unnecessarily but it got me wondering should I have moved in this scenario? Thanks.

He sounds like he was a knob anyway so he got what he deserved.

I'm a nervous driver too, until you're more confident you just have to say "whatever".

Safe driving!

Ifyoucouldreadmymindlove · 01/06/2024 23:40

Driving threads on Mumsnet make me despair.

marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 01/06/2024 23:34

The only time to overtake, even a tractor, is if the road is straight and clear, and you can see for certain that you can do it. I wouldn't dream of doing it otherwise, and I'm very comfortable in all road situations.

bozzabollix · 01/06/2024 18:07

Cheerstoyoutoo · 31/05/2024 11:49

Being reluctant to overtake slow vehicles increases the risk to every body else who nowhave to overtake TWO slow moving vehicles.

@Nottherealslimshady agree I would benefit from more lessons but don’t think it’s urgent. Nobody HAS to overtake. It’s often safer to sit back. Most tractors aren’t going far and will soon turn off. Leave plenty of time for your journey. I was always told by my instructor that overtaking on a single carriageway with a 60 limit is one of the most dangerous things you can do so I avoid.

Your instructor is correct. However we are talking moving over on a dual carriageway which is a very different thing, you have the lane to move over into with no opposing traffic. All you need to do is check to see if the right hand lane has space.

Is it concern that you may miss something? If you’re hyper vigilant you’re unlikely to miss seeing a vehicle, or is it judgement of speed of any cars on that right hand lane?

It’s plainly routed in anxiety and certainly worth trying to get over as driving should be pleasant, not anxiety inducing!

Original poster
Cheerstoyoutoo · 31/05/2024 16:52

TabithaTimeTurn3r · 31/05/2024 13:43

Omg, you don’t even overtake tractors? 🤣😂😆

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I think part of the problem is because I live very near the A1 (single carriageway in parts and rural so lots of tractors) and I see people doing stupid overtakes all the time. I had somebody crash into me because they were overtaking a HGV on a bend! The worst part is they were a couple of miles away from the dual carriageway so they could have killed us, snd themselves through their impatience. Better to just get somewhere five minutes later than take a risk.

OP posts:
Auntieobem · 31/05/2024 14:00

I would ha e moved into the outside lane. Usually the car behind the takes that as a cue to move out too - but I have no control over that and would assume the driver waiting to join would wait until both cars had moved over.

I regularly use a junction which joins a dual carriageway and it's bloody annoying when there's a clear outside lane and folk don't move over to let me out.

kitteninabasket · 31/05/2024 13:59

Babyboomtastic · 31/05/2024 13:36

Exactly! There is a reasonable change the car would have pulled out into the path of the second car. If much safer surely to wait until there is a visibly safe gap.

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By that logic no one should ever move over.

TabithaTimeTurn3r · 31/05/2024 13:43

Cheerstoyoutoo · 31/05/2024 11:49

Being reluctant to overtake slow vehicles increases the risk to every body else who nowhave to overtake TWO slow moving vehicles.

@Nottherealslimshady agree I would benefit from more lessons but don’t think it’s urgent. Nobody HAS to overtake. It’s often safer to sit back. Most tractors aren’t going far and will soon turn off. Leave plenty of time for your journey. I was always told by my instructor that overtaking on a single carriageway with a 60 limit is one of the most dangerous things you can do so I avoid.

Omg, you don’t even overtake tractors? 🤣😂😆

Babyboomtastic · 31/05/2024 13:36

OneTC · 31/05/2024 13:29

And I don't understand the logic of inviting someone to do a manoeuvre in front of you at 60mph with a car behind you.

Exactly! There is a reasonable change the car would have pulled out into the path of the second car. If much safer surely to wait until there is a visibly safe gap.

OneTC · 31/05/2024 13:29

And I don't understand the logic of inviting someone to do a manoeuvre in front of you at 60mph with a car behind you.

kitteninabasket · 31/05/2024 12:45

OneTC · 31/05/2024 12:10

What do you do in that situation? Just drive into them?

Well, if you’re driving on one side of the road and a car is turning into the opposite side of the road then it’s not any different to a car turning into a dual carriageway when you’ve moved into another lane..? And if you moved over you’d be well out of the way of them before they even made the turn. I don’t understand the logic.

littlegrebe · 31/05/2024 12:22

Cheerstoyoutoo · 31/05/2024 11:49

Being reluctant to overtake slow vehicles increases the risk to every body else who nowhave to overtake TWO slow moving vehicles.

@Nottherealslimshady agree I would benefit from more lessons but don’t think it’s urgent. Nobody HAS to overtake. It’s often safer to sit back. Most tractors aren’t going far and will soon turn off. Leave plenty of time for your journey. I was always told by my instructor that overtaking on a single carriageway with a 60 limit is one of the most dangerous things you can do so I avoid.

It really depends on the road. Near me there is a long, straight, wide 60mph single carriageway road where you can see a good mile ahead most of the time, so overtaking is very safe. There are also a lot of roads near me where it's not safe because you can't see what's coming, not that that stops some people from trying. Doing that assessment on your own is part of safe driving. Also guessing when someone else is going to do something stupid so you can react accordingly!

Pass Plus is great for this sort of thing if you're considering it, normal driving lessons will get you through the test but it's almost like you then have to start learning to drive in the real world and there's no shame in seeking help with that.

Duckinglunacy · 31/05/2024 12:12

Cheerstoyoutoo · 30/05/2024 15:32

Yeah, it’s a weird feeling. I just feel like I’m in a constant state of hypervigilance whilst driving especially when DD is in the car with me. I have thought about trying to do the pass plus as only passed two year ago. I will change lanes when I really have to, I just tend to avoid it. Also hate overtaking too.

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This makes me feel like you might have a problem. I get anxiety whilst driving, I had an aversion to right turns onto major roads for a long time following a collision in my early 20s, but this mindset of ‘avoiding changing lanes’ will not be helping you to be a safer driver. Driving is complex and you have to be prepared to react, which will include changing lanes. Perhaps some further tuition is needed.

OneTC · 31/05/2024 12:10

What do you do in that situation? Just drive into them?

OneTC · 31/05/2024 12:08

kitteninabasket · 31/05/2024 12:01

Do you also worry about the turning circle of cars joining from a normal junction onto a single carriageway?

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Obviously🤔

Original poster
Cheerstoyoutoo · 31/05/2024 12:05

Onda · 31/05/2024 12:00

You didn't have to move over, but you weren't very courteous.
I also think that if you're too nervous to switch lanes, you shouldn't be driving.

I can and do switch lanes, I just don’t like it. Slightly different from being too nervous to do it.

OP posts:
kitteninabasket · 31/05/2024 12:01

OneTC · 31/05/2024 11:57

I would have stayed in lane, I wouldn't want to chance the turning circle of the car joining. Slip roads are the normal design for a reason

Do you also worry about the turning circle of cars joining from a normal junction onto a single carriageway?

Onda · 31/05/2024 12:00

You didn't have to move over, but you weren't very courteous.
I also think that if you're too nervous to switch lanes, you shouldn't be driving.

OneTC · 31/05/2024 11:57

I would have stayed in lane, I wouldn't want to chance the turning circle of the car joining. Slip roads are the normal design for a reason

Original poster
Cheerstoyoutoo · 31/05/2024 11:53

Most accidents are caused my people driving too close together and trying to anticipate other driver’s actions. Something at least most nervous drivers don’t do.

OP posts:
Original poster
Cheerstoyoutoo · 31/05/2024 11:49

Being reluctant to overtake slow vehicles increases the risk to every body else who nowhave to overtake TWO slow moving vehicles.

@Nottherealslimshady agree I would benefit from more lessons but don’t think it’s urgent. Nobody HAS to overtake. It’s often safer to sit back. Most tractors aren’t going far and will soon turn off. Leave plenty of time for your journey. I was always told by my instructor that overtaking on a single carriageway with a 60 limit is one of the most dangerous things you can do so I avoid.

OP posts:
Coconutter24 · 31/05/2024 07:34

Cheerstoyoutoo · 30/05/2024 18:28

That was my thinking. I just didn’t know people expected it… abit entitled really. I care more about being safe than being nice.

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It also keeps the flow of traffic moving if people move over to allow cars to join. Only when safe to do so which in this case it sounds like you had a clear lane and could have moved over. The person on the main carriage way does have right of way so you were not legally wrong. It’s just common courtesy to move if it is safe to do so. The driver flipping you off was wrong for that it doesn’t achieve anything really. What doesn’t sound safe though is being such a nervous driver on busy roads, so nervous your hesitant to change lanes

Ifyoucouldreadmymindlove · 31/05/2024 07:24

You absolutely should have moved into the outside lane if it was free.

hairtonup · 31/05/2024 07:22

sanogo · 30/05/2024 15:32

He?

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Someone got aggressive over having to wait more than 10 seconds while driving ? It's a He ...

Scintella · 31/05/2024 04:49

The answer is never look at the other driver - then they could be a two headed wildebeest and you’ll never know -simples.