Drivers - was I in the right??

[Amch]

Asking because this situation has risen a few times now, probably because I drive in small towns where roads are small and narrow.

The situation was…

I was driving down the road, a few cars were coming up but a van had partially blocked their lane. There wasn’t enough room for 2 of us so I slowed up and let a couple of cars pass the van but the third car hesitated and I went to proceed as the obstruction was on their side. After hesitating slightly, the driver proceeded (which I didn’t think he would) and we were then head to head in my lane. We both had nowhere to go, one of us had to reverse. He was gesturing to me to move back (reverse back past the van) but why would I go out of my way to do that when the obstruction was on his side? Am I right in saying that he should have held back until he saw a clear lane in which he could use in order to get past the van which was blocking his lane??!

We had a slightly awkward stand off and after me pointing at the van (as if to say, obstruction is on your side) he did back up.

Like I say, it’s a regular occurrence due to the roads round here and recently I’ve been less willing to sit there waiting whilst all these pushy drivers fly round the obstruction without waiting to see if the lane is clear. They just assume if they push through that I will wait.

Do I just need to chill and be kinder… or am I right in my stand off approach?!

Is it on a hill at all?

In any case these things just tend to work on politeness.

Must add - this probably sounds a little dramatic but a few weeks ago it was a similar situ but a bus had stopped (nowhere to pull in as such) in the middle of the opposite lane and all these cars came flying down my lane and I was forced to wait as they just kept coming without holding back. Eventually (after a good 5-6 cars) I pushed forward, blocking any other cars from getting past the bus and was called a bastard by the driver. Again though, obstruction on their side?! I try to be patient and kind but when they start to take the piss it really does get me going…

@Sookafatwan nope no hill. He could very clearly see that I was ready to proceed

Which ever side of the road the obstruction is on the traffic on that side should stop and give way .

You had the right of way. People forget how to drive and the rules of the road all the time!

Its your right of way. Don't worry about it. They're just chancers.

You had the right of way.

I saw a very similar stand-off the other day, between an Audi and a double-decker bus. The bus won.😂

Bigger vehicle trumps smaller!

You have priority if the obstruction is on their side - unless they have already started their manoeuvre past the obstruction. Some drivers seem to think that means ‘if I speed up and start passing the obstruction then I have right of way’. It doesn’t.

You were in the right.

You had right of way, regardless of letting some through already. That was their good luck and his bad luck.

You were in the right (and you’re not alone - I also find these situations annoying and a tad stressful, even though they’re common).

The only time that doesn’t apply, I believe, is if the driver on the obstructed side has already started to overtake the parked vehicle.

You have priority unless they've already started their manoeuvre.

However, IME it tends to work that someone will let a set amount of cars through one way, then a few will go the other way (and so on). Otherwise you tend to just end up with a massive traffic jam.

You shouldn't have slowed down in the first place and let any cars pass - you had right of way if the van was on the other side.

Thank you! I had to get it out, it was bugging me 🤣 like many of you say, it seems the mentality of ‘if I speed up they will have to let me pass’ is a bit if a classic on the roads.

The driver in the lane with no obstruction has right of way. The other vehicle must wait until its clear to proceed

There are certainly a few people out there who think they have priority because they have a big expensive car...

If the obstruction is your side, you stop and wait.

And if it's on the opposite side you get past quickly and don't dawdle when someone is kindly waiting for you!

You had right of way, and they are rude for not thanking you for giving way to them.

You do have right of way, but you are also more likely to experience road rage and accidents if you keep getting into stand offs.

Hard to avoid with entitled, impatient idiots on the road - if she hangs back too long she'll get (slightly more justified) grief from the queue behind her.