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Driving question

19 replies

Carnewb · 01/01/2025 18:53

Fairly new to driving as the name suggests, would appreciate some input on this situation -

Car A is reversing from a side road onto a main road, car B is travelling on the opposite side to the side road, at or around the speed limit.
Car A pauses in their reverse manoeuvre as car B approaches, car B continues. Car A then continues their reverse manoeuvre crossing the white lines into the path of car B. Car B needs to brake heavily and swerve as car A continues to reverse. There is no traffic on the side of the side road except car A, there are several other cars behind car B.
There wasn't a collision, but who would have been at fault if there was?

OP posts:
Bluevelvetsofa · 01/01/2025 18:56

Why is a car reversing on to a main road from a side road?

MaryGreenhill · 01/01/2025 18:57

My DH tells me it was car Bs fault because you have to drive with due care and attention even though Dh said you aren't allowed to reverse out of a side road onto a main road .

LittleRedRidingHoody · 01/01/2025 19:04

Car A surely. A car shouldn't be reversing onto a main road anyway, let alone coming out so far without checking that you hit the other side of the road!

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Carnewb · 01/01/2025 19:08

@Bluevelvetsofa for the sake of this could you assume that they have a reason, even if you don't know what it was?

@MaryGreenhill fair enough, however car A crossed the white lines into the opposite carriageway effectively, by some way, with oncoming traffic in that lane, which I thought meant it would be at least 50/50 as car A is also not paying due care and attention.

OP posts:
MadridMadridMadrid · 01/01/2025 19:23

Had an accident resulted, it would clearly have been Car A's fault. I think the Highway Code advises against reversing from a side road on to a main road. But if a driver is going to do that manoeuvre, it's incumbent on the driver to make sure the main road is clear before reversing on to it.

watchuswreckthemic · 01/01/2025 19:25

Car A but some drivers in car Bs situation would be patient and wait.

NewNameNoelle · 01/01/2025 19:29

Car A. I can’t imagine why you’d ever reverse onto a main road (don’t know if it’s even allowed).

When you’re reversing you need to check that your path is clear, it wasn’t.

If you’re reversing and you hit something you’re automatically at fault.

Car B could have waited but if I was driving down a road and someone reversed out of a side road and into my path I’d be pretty furious about it.

DeliciousApples · 01/01/2025 19:36

Car A totally wrong as against Highway Code.

Car B should have been driving with due care and attention and be able to stop in time when car A was observed driving erratically. Especially if A crossed into the other side of the road.
I wonder if it was drunk driving??

SkyGrant · 01/01/2025 19:38

Car A driver has to wait until it is safe to reverse onto the road. I think that you will find that is what a driving test examiner would say and also the Highway Code

pizzaHeart · 01/01/2025 19:38

@NewNameNoelle You would be non stop furious around here - a lot of side roads and due to parked cars people often reverse into main roads.
By the way I know it’s wrong and yes it is a bit annoying.

slightlydistrac · 01/01/2025 19:39

The driver of Car A should not have done that. You do not drive (either forwards or backwards) into the path of an oncoming vehicle.

Vehicles already on a main road have right of way over vehicles coming onto the main road.

Arlanymor · 01/01/2025 19:39

SkyGrant · 01/01/2025 19:38

Car A driver has to wait until it is safe to reverse onto the road. I think that you will find that is what a driving test examiner would say and also the Highway Code

Yep agree.

HappyDartsmas · 01/01/2025 19:44

It's a must not In the Highway Code I think, therefore shouldn't be done.

If they still did though, reversing car should wait if there's any traffic approaching.

How did they cross the white line on a main road? Are they just shit at driving reversing?

The car on the main road has right of way.

I can't see any other option than A being at fault.

FrannyScraps · 01/01/2025 19:52

MaryGreenhill · 01/01/2025 18:57

My DH tells me it was car Bs fault because you have to drive with due care and attention even though Dh said you aren't allowed to reverse out of a side road onto a main road .

What do you think?

DogInATent · 01/01/2025 19:58

Were you driving Car B, by any chance?

And can you also please avoid saying Car A when you mean the Driver of Car A. The car is a passive object here. Cars don't cause accidents, drivers cause accidents.

The Driver of Car A is creating a situation by reversing out onto a main road. If the Driver of Car B has to brake heavily and swerve to take avoiding action they they are contributory for not paying attention to their surroundings and failing to identify the hazard and take precautionary action, for example slowing down and anticipating the need to brake.

Carnewb · 01/01/2025 20:34

I am the driver of car B. It's just words, kept as simple as possible. Everyone is aware that the cars are passive and wouldn't be doing anything without the input of the driver. That comment is a little pedantic tbh.
But anyway, yes I was driving car B, I saw him reversing out, as I approached, I slowed in anticipation, he then paused the manoeuvre, being stationary on his side of the road, all being it a bit askew, but with enough room to pull forward onto his side of the road and drive away. As I got closer to the spot he then reversed back straight across the white line, still at an angle , into my carriageway, at fair speed for reverse and continued to do so as I braked, moving further into my carriageway, towards me, meaning I also had to start to swerve to avoid him had I not stopped in time, which I did, but it was close.

I was doing less than 15 at this point, from 20 (the limit) when I first saw him. There was enough room for him to have got onto his side of the road from the position he paused in, without crossing the white line at all. The road is wide enough and he had enough space to do so.
Had I not been aware, slowed down or paying attention then I would have hit him, had he not paused in the manoeuvre I would have stopped completely earlier however it appeared that as he paused and had enough room to drive straight off on his side of the road he'd finished reversing, and I couldn't see his reversing lights from the angle.
I clearly misread his intention, although I can't think why he would have paused, waited for me to get closer, then reversed quite fast straight into my path when he had enough space to pull straight off onto his side of the road. He wheel spun off onto his side of the road when I'd stopped, and continued at speed along the road.

Maybe I should have stopped completely, even though he did, but until he actually shot back there was no reason to as he wasn't in my path at that point, I slowed in anticipation but didn't stop as he did, and was mindful of the traffic behind me.

OP posts:
Shmee1988 · 01/01/2025 20:37

Any car that is reversing onto a carriageway is automatically at fault. Car A is in the wrong here.

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 10/01/2025 11:28

It sounds like he intended to drive forwards after he paused and didn't change gear from reverse to first.

He absolutely shouldn't have been reversing onto a main road in the first place, never mind the rest of it.

You did everything you should have, and you avoided the collision.

Do you have a dash cam? If not, I'd get one.

GoFaster83 · 10/01/2025 11:50

This reminds me of the hazard perception part of the theory test! A shouldn't be performing a manoeuvre when they don't have clearance. And a fast manoeuvre is particularly dangerous. They knew there were cars coming they should be doing the "peek and creep" and only fully reversing when it's clear. I'm with you OP. Well done for avoiding an accident with your quick reactions. (I'm possibly entirely wrong. I'm an excellent cyclist but a terrible driver! - Don't worry, I don't drive our car!)

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