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Original poster

Turning left in my car at a junction cyclist comes up on inside in my blind spot!..

102 replies

Jessie1995 · 06/09/2023 11:14

Hi everyone.
anxious overthinker here when it comes to driving!
i just want to know if this was the right way to approach this and if I’ve done anything wrong!

I was sat at a junction turning left indicator on and waiting for a gap in traffic to go!
( I hadn’t overtaken these cyclists previously they must have just come from a side road) but I go to turn left when there’s a gap, I check my left mirror as I always do and I notice in my blind spot ish 2 cyclists in a line. They weren’t behind my car they were to the side of my car ( front one was inline with my back door handle I would say) she looks like she starts moving as I’m about to turn left so I brake and make eye contact with her to almost see what she’s doing! She’s busy charging to the person I assume her friend on the bike behind so I continue with my left turning keeping an eye on my left mirror.

did I do this right? I get quite anxious in situations like this as I’m a cautious driver but felt like I was :
a. Too close to them? But where could I go if I’m turning left and I was there first?
b. Worried they’d keep going when I turn left and
c. Worried I should give way to them and let them go first even if they are behind me not infront of me?

any advice would be amazing thank you so much

from an anxious driver! ☺️

OP posts:
Cheeesus · 06/09/2023 11:17

I would turn my head to check when turning left actually. And then if there is a cyclist there, if you don’t have time to get across in front of them you have to wait for them.

Having reread, as they were that close and presumably not signalling to turn left then you have to wait. You don’t just pull in front of a cyclist.

Original poster
Jessie1995 · 06/09/2023 11:19

They were going left too not straight on! But they were in my blind spot! However I did wait and make eye contact with them but they were chatting and not moving anywhere

I wasn’t sure as we are all stationary and they’ve come up on my left but are sat behind my car ( in line with my door handle)

OP posts:
Cheeesus · 06/09/2023 11:20

Oh well thats different then, you just go round with them, giving them enough space. Go behind if it’s tight.

Original poster
Jessie1995 · 06/09/2023 11:24

So sorry I probably made no sense haha!

so to sum it up I’m sat waiting to turn left at a junction they are also going left but they position their bike in line with my back door door handle so not to the side of me more to the side of the back of my car! I always check my mirrors turning left so when I did I noticed them right at the back of my car! I then hesitate as I’m not sure if they are going too but I make eye contact and they are chatting to one another with the one who’s inline with the back of my car fully turned around chatting so I then proceed to go when there’s a gap!

I was just worried that it’s so close? But it’s not like I’m overtaking I guess

OP posts:
Cheeesus · 06/09/2023 11:26

If you feel it’s too close, then you either go wide, or if you can’t you let them go first.

FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 06/09/2023 11:26

Obviously, you would always try to eliminate the chance of an accident as a result of somebody else's poor road skills if you are able to; but you were in the right and they were in the wrong.

They took a big risk, that the small size of their vehicles physically allowed them to do, but they were acting dangerously and against the Highway Code. If there had been another traffic/cycle lane to your left that they were occupying, that would have been completely different; but any idiot knows that it's dangerous if you see somebody on the left side of the road, indicating to turn left, and then put yourself in the way of their planned, positioned, indicated manoeuvre.

Random789 · 06/09/2023 11:27

They weren't in your blind spot if you saw them! You did the right thing by checking your left mirror before turing left; and as a result you were able to assess whether it was safe to proceed.

You made an informed decision that it was safe and now your anxiety is causing you to doubt your decision. It isn't really possible for posters to say whether yourdoubt is reasonable, as we don't have all of the visual info that you acted on. But given that there was no accident, it seems you acted ok?

I think what is making you upset is the 'what ifs' associated with cyclists suddenly appearing in a location that makes them potentially vulnerable. The takeaway from that should be always to make the same checks that you made on this occasion, and to make them very carefully. I think you did fine.

Chemenger · 06/09/2023 11:27

I’m not sure of the right and wrong as per the Highway Code, but I prefer to have cyclists where I can see them until I can definitely safely pass, so I would have waited for them to go ahead. Not being a cyclist (I’ve tried but I have balance problems, before anyone starts with the “all drivers should be forced to cycle through central London to learn how horrible they are) I find it tricky to predict what they are doing most of the time so try to literally give them a wide berth.

Lonelycrab · 06/09/2023 11:27

Well perhaps they were going to let you move off and turn left, then follow behind? Either way, they were in the wrong to be there, if you’re indicating then they should not be in that position.
Well done for being aware of them though, I think personally in that situation I’d have waited a moment to see if they were going to try and get ahead of me around the corner, obviously a foolish thing to do on their part, but sometimes it’s better to assume drivers or cyclists are going to be idiots and give them a wide berth.

Ohthatsabitshit · 06/09/2023 11:28

Cyclists shouldn’t be undertaking but don’t kill the feckless twits.

Original poster
Jessie1995 · 06/09/2023 11:32

That’s why I braked when I saw them didn’t continue my turn! Made eye contact with them to the side of my car but they were chatting to each other with the bike at the front ( inline with back of my car) fully turned around so not looking forward at all. I then decided to continue turning left. They were turning left too but were behind my car

OP posts:
Original poster
Jessie1995 · 06/09/2023 11:32

Ohthatsabitshit · 06/09/2023 11:28

Cyclists shouldn’t be undertaking but don’t kill the feckless twits.

That’s why I braked when I saw them didn’t continue my turn! Made eye contact with them to the side of my car but they were chatting to each other with the bike at the front ( inline with back of my car) fully turned around so not looking forward at all. I then decided to continue turning left. They were turning left too but were behind my car

OP posts:
Original poster
Jessie1995 · 06/09/2023 11:34

Lonelycrab · 06/09/2023 11:27

Well perhaps they were going to let you move off and turn left, then follow behind? Either way, they were in the wrong to be there, if you’re indicating then they should not be in that position.
Well done for being aware of them though, I think personally in that situation I’d have waited a moment to see if they were going to try and get ahead of me around the corner, obviously a foolish thing to do on their part, but sometimes it’s better to assume drivers or cyclists are going to be idiots and give them a wide berth.

Yeah that’s what I did! I was about to take my left turn saw them at the side of the back of my car and then braked made eye contact with them. The person at the front had her head turned chatting to the cyclist behind her so she wasn’t looking forward or at me! So when it was safe again for me to go I checked again they hadn’t moved any more forward and proceeded!
they were also going left but I was worried afterwards that I had to let them go infront even if they were behind me?

or did I do the best thing and stop make eye contact before going then go?

OP posts:
Sugarcoatt · 06/09/2023 11:37

You should always check your left mirror and blind spot when turning left. Cyclists and bikers should not be filtering up on your left, but as you now know, some idiots do. This is how a lot of accidents happen.

I am always super careful around cyclists, because if you injure or kill one, you get the blame even if it’s their fault. My friend killed a cyclist who rode out straight in front of her oncoming car on a 60mph road, and she got taken to court for death by dangerous driving. She had two years of hell and they dropped the case on the morning it was due to go to court.

Original poster
Jessie1995 · 06/09/2023 11:37

Chemenger · 06/09/2023 11:27

I’m not sure of the right and wrong as per the Highway Code, but I prefer to have cyclists where I can see them until I can definitely safely pass, so I would have waited for them to go ahead. Not being a cyclist (I’ve tried but I have balance problems, before anyone starts with the “all drivers should be forced to cycle through central London to learn how horrible they are) I find it tricky to predict what they are doing most of the time so try to literally give them a wide berth.

Yes same but if I’m at the junction first ( haven’t overtaken them previously so had no idea they were there until checking my mirrors of course) and they come up to the side of my car but not enough for them to be right next to my car? If they were right next to my car I would always let them go first! However they were at the back of my car and I hesitated made eye contact but the one who was in line with the back of my car was chatting to the one behind her and had her head fully turned around chatting not looking forward so I just wasn’t sure what was best when I’m at the front?

OP posts:
MelodiousThunk · 06/09/2023 11:37

Were they in a bike lane?

Original poster
Jessie1995 · 06/09/2023 11:39

Sugarcoatt · 06/09/2023 11:37

You should always check your left mirror and blind spot when turning left. Cyclists and bikers should not be filtering up on your left, but as you now know, some idiots do. This is how a lot of accidents happen.

I am always super careful around cyclists, because if you injure or kill one, you get the blame even if it’s their fault. My friend killed a cyclist who rode out straight in front of her oncoming car on a 60mph road, and she got taken to court for death by dangerous driving. She had two years of hell and they dropped the case on the morning it was due to go to court.

I did check my mirror and blind spot that’s why I saw them hovering at the back of my car! I’m just wondering whether I needed to let them go infront even if they are behind me?
i braked when I saw them tried to make eye contact to see what they were doing but they were chatting and not looking forward so I assessed they weren’t moving forward anymore than the back of my car and proceeed to turn left ( they are also going left there is no straight on)

OP posts:
Original poster
Jessie1995 · 06/09/2023 11:41

MelodiousThunk · 06/09/2023 11:37

Were they in a bike lane?

No bike lane normal junction with two lanes to sit in one to turn left one to turn right! Can’t go straight on! I was going left and I sssume they were too. But they had positioned themselves and stopped at the back of my car! I saw them when checking mirrors so braked made eye contact but they were chatting to each other and not looking ahead or at me so I checked mirrors carefully and went left

OP posts:
Createanotherusername · 06/09/2023 11:42

It doesn’t matter who is there first. It’s up to you as the driver to know what is around your car at all times. Personally I would have let them make their left turn and then gone. If they’re in front of you, they’re a lot easier for you to see and avoid. It’s not rocket science. Just common sense really. Always expect the unexpected and be anticipating what other road users might do.

Original poster
Jessie1995 · 06/09/2023 11:44

Createanotherusername · 06/09/2023 11:42

It doesn’t matter who is there first. It’s up to you as the driver to know what is around your car at all times. Personally I would have let them make their left turn and then gone. If they’re in front of you, they’re a lot easier for you to see and avoid. It’s not rocket science. Just common sense really. Always expect the unexpected and be anticipating what other road users might do.

I’m not sure what I wrote made sense!
they were behind my car, not infront of next to me. I also did stop when I saw them in the mirror I made eye contact with them and they were chatting assuminglywaiting for me to go ahead. So I then checked mirrors again and proceeded to turn left! They were also going left, there was no straight on etc

OP posts:
Sugarcoatt · 06/09/2023 11:44

Yes I would also have waited and let them go first. If you squish a cyclist you get the blame and your life gets destroyed, even if it was their fault. Be very very paranoid around cyclists. Slow right down, give them a wide berth and always give way even when you don’t have to.

VegetablesFightingToReclaimTheAubergieneEmoji · 06/09/2023 11:47

Don’t they have right of way on the new Highway Code. So in theory you wait for them to go past or turn and then make your left turn.

Original poster
Jessie1995 · 06/09/2023 11:47

Sugarcoatt · 06/09/2023 11:44

Yes I would also have waited and let them go first. If you squish a cyclist you get the blame and your life gets destroyed, even if it was their fault. Be very very paranoid around cyclists. Slow right down, give them a wide berth and always give way even when you don’t have to.

I don’t think I made complete sense!
they were behind my car! ( 2 of them) Not directly next to me or infront of me! I saw them at the back of my car I brake make eye contact with them and they are chatting to each other head turned around not looking forward or at me

OP posts:
minipie · 06/09/2023 11:48

In an ideal world you’d leave space to your left for any cyclists to come ahead of you into the bike box, that way they are first off at the lights and you can see what they are doing better. I’m guessing these cyclists didn’t have space to get past you to the bike box? But to be fair I don’t think that’s an actual requirement more just best practice where there is space.

Original poster
Jessie1995 · 06/09/2023 11:48

VegetablesFightingToReclaimTheAubergieneEmoji · 06/09/2023 11:47

Don’t they have right of way on the new Highway Code. So in theory you wait for them to go past or turn and then make your left turn.

yes I agree I’d they are next to you or infront but they were behind me? Behind my car? In line with the back of my car? I noticed because I always check my mirrors carefully before turning so I saw them when looking back left but they were behind my car?

OP posts:
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