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A parking thread...who is in the wrong..

7 replies

AlphaNovemberAlpha · 09/01/2025 20:20

We live on quite a busy, albeit slow, main road which has two mini-roundabouts at either end. The drive is quite narrow and there is public parking on the road so there are often cars at either side of the entrance (I have attached a diagram).

We generally go around the roundabout so we are on the right side of the road and then reverse onto the drive. In order to do this, I slow right down before the drive, indicate and then pull forward slightly to allow room for me to reverse. This means that I swing out slightly into the other side. The roundabout behind me is quite close to the entrance of the driveway which means that is someone comes off it at speed then they have caught up to my car before I have finished my manoeuvre. If a car is coming in the opposite direction I have to wait until they have passed so that I can swing in safely but I also have to be cognisant of gaps in the traffic so I'm not blocking the road.

Today a car overtook just as I was about to swing into the drive meaning they narrowly missed the front of my car. They had come off the roundabout and weren't paying attention to what my car was doing. They honked at me and shouted through the window. In my mind, I have begun my manoeuvre and therefore they should wait until I have finished.

Who was in the wrong?

A parking thread...who is in the wrong..
OP posts:
Jetplanesmeetingintheairtoberefuelled · 09/01/2025 20:31

When you say 'the right side of the road' do you mean the correct side of the road for your house or do you mean the wrong side of the road for driving on? I'm assuming you mean that you approached your home from the right side of your diagram moving towards the left side of your diagram, which would be the correct side of the road for your house?

AlphaNovemberAlpha · 09/01/2025 20:33

Jetplanesmeetingintheairtoberefuelled

We are on the same side as the house so facing the same direction as the traffic on that side of the road.

OP posts:
Spirallingdownwards · 09/01/2025 20:35

You are carrying out the procedure in accordance with the Highway Code. Unfortunately (as someone who lives on a main road with a side road nearby) others aren't always aware of what you are doing and are caught out themselves and then blame you in their surprise.

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BourbonsAreOverated · 09/01/2025 20:37

They are if you were already manoeuvring. Some people are just impatient twats.
I have a similar set up and wait for a gap before reversing in, I’ve still had grief from people speeding or inappropriately over taking. in my head I follow them home and do the same to them.

puffylovett1 · 09/01/2025 20:39

You are in the right, they should have been paying more attention.
I have the same issue, albeit slightly different. We are on a fairly busy main road with a big stretch behind us that people tend to speed up on, I get beeped so much despite sitting indicating and with my reverse lights on. I don’t have to swing around parked cars though, as double yellows.
the amount of people that pull up right on my bumper and then have to fight to get around me is unreal!
frustrating.

RickiRaccoon · 09/01/2025 20:46

You're in the right and people should have patience.

I would add that it could depend how close to the roundabout it is. If people are focused on safely navigating it, they might not be very able to look ahead to what's happening just beyond it. Sometimes you're technically in the right but putting yourself in a position where even decent drivers might be surprised by what you're doing.

theeyeofdoe · 09/01/2025 20:52

I would stick you hazard warning lights o when reversing.

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