To not give way on dual carriageway?

I would have moved over & made room for the driver to pull out of the junction. Your driving was poor because you showed a lack of situational awareness & consideration for other road users. The other driver’s reaction was understandable, but unnecessarily rude.

Joining from a normal junction onto a dual carriageway, where the speed can be 70mph, can be very dangerous as there is no slip road to gain speed. At 70mph type speeds, a gap to join the dual carriageway does not always appear. So the majority of other drivers will use common sense and move to the right hand lane, allowing the driver from the junction to join more safely.

If people indicate I generally let them in if it’s safe to do so. They may not be local and have got in the wrong lane by mistake, something which I’ve done several times. I get annoyed with the ones who barge in front of me without indicating causing me to brake sharply

It's a normal junction, not a slip road. The traffic already on the road had the right of way and is under no obligation to move lanes, slow down or otherwise let him out. Like at any other junction, he should wait until it's clear unless someone chooses to let him out. Its not obligatory.

I always start checking my right mirror when I know I’m coming up to a slip road / junction that joins the DC. That way I know the likelihood of being able to move over should I need to. In the event it looks unlikely I will be able to move, then I know a few seconds in advance to slow down slightly if somebody is trying to join. If I can move, obviously I do further quick checks then make the manoeuvre. Anticipating and preparing, thinking several steps ahead, can help you to feel more on control. In your shoes I’d book advanced driving lessons to help you to feel more confident.

Harsh but I agree although would have worded it a bit kinder I do think courtesy to other road users is important provided you aren't holding anyone else up or making them slow down/change their course.

Confidence with driving comes by doing it - if you minimise the amount of times you move into the right lane on a dual carriageway then it will always be daunting.

As to should you have moved over - yes. Look at the situation if it was you trying to join the dual carriageway, which is always more difficult if there is not a slip lane, you would want someone to move over to allow you to easily join the road.

No the other driver should not have been rude, but moving over is the acceptable behaviour and most drivers would do it if it is clear to.

You are not a safe driver. You should have moved over into the right hand lane, and the fact you didn't, instantly, without even thinking about it, shows how unsafe you are. Please take some extra lessons.

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

But staying in lane isn't necessarily safer - sometimes people will just pull out and 'though they're in the wrong, being right isn't much comfort if you get hit.

The same with chugging along behind a tractor for miles - people behind you may get frustrated and attempt to pass both you and the tractor, making it a longer riskier manoeuvre. Again, that's their fault for impatience if it goes wrong, but it's still poor driving on your part due to feeling unable to drive decisively and take safe opportunities to pass.

I don't think you should beat yourself up. It took me ages to feel confident driving, especially on fast roads and with the dch in the car. I still only overtake if I've got loads of room. So an advanced course might give you confidence, but you're not doing anything wrong and people on MN can be a bit harsh on inexperienced drivers, IMO.

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

@Cheerstoyoutoo with all due respect, if you feel that you are unsafe changing lanes on a dual carriageway then you need more lessons. It's really as simple as mirror, signal, manoeuvre and go. I always check mirrors, signal, have a quick peek over shoulder and go. If you do that it can't be unsafe as you'll know if there's something there.

I always move over where possible. It worries me that people are on the road who feel uncomfortable to simply move over in a lane.

I hate it ( in the different scenario to yours) when driver don't get over on the motorway to let you in off the slip roads, they really shouldn't be driving on a motorway if they can't change lanes, they are a hazard.

Driving instructor here. This worries me somewhat. Yes if you’re on a dual carriageway with a junction where somebody has to stop before joining you don’t need to move over. But a slip road joining does depend on people moving over to let others on, if one of my students couldn’t change lane then they certainly wouldn’t be competent enough to face a driving test. Being reluctant to change lane when it’s safe is dangerous.

If you only passed two years ago seek out your old instructor and pay for a lesson. It’ll take just the one and could save you from an accident. There’s no shame in going back for some help, I’d be happy to do that with any of my ex students, especially if they found themselves anxious about something. These things are easily fixed.

I think you need to improve your confidence with lane-changes and over-taking.

You're not in the wrong, but you should feel confident enough in your judgement to be able to overtake a tractor where it's safe to do so.

You were entirely in the right. People thinking they have to shift over is why motorways start slowing down around every junction point because people start losing the confidence to merge into traffic seamlessly. Giving way or moving over to people joining traffic is a peculiar UK habit I haven’t seen when driving on the continent or Australia/New Zealand/US/Canada.

You did the right thing OP.

There was no reason why he couldn’t have waited until the road was clear and therefore safe, before joining the carriageway. He was just another impatient arsehole, so don’t give it a second thought.

I got this the other day, I’d moved over to merge off onto the next motorway and a stupid young lad with his friend in a white Audi started glaring at me etc there was no indication to suggest they wanted over to my lane. I think sometimes we are meant to be mind readers, I mean you’d think no one had added blinking indicators to vehicles to let others know their intentions.

i think some drivers are very entitled and think they can just drive how they like

Yes, it may have been "nice" to have done so but by not doing so you were in no way in the wrong and should definitely not feel bad about it.
I lived in Germany for a long time and driving there is so different. There is no guilt on people to drive nicely. There is however the onus to drive properly.
Sometimes, moving to be nice can cause an accident. Slowing to let someone out might be nice but it can cause an accident!

You don't have to move over but it would be polite to do so, and would show consideration and awareness of other road users.

The polite thing to do is to move over, but his response was unwarranted.

That said; it doesn’t sound like you’re a safe driver at the moment if you’re afraid of changing lanes and overtaking. Those are necessary manoeuvres.

Don't think twice about it. He was wrong to expect you to change lanes.