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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To find people who get angry at you for reversing into driveway ignorant

173 replies

Sparkly212 · 04/03/2020 15:16

I live on a main road and I reverse my car into my driveway when i am coming back home as it’s safer and easier to reverse in and drive out rather than drive in and have to reverse out onto a main road.

Nearly every time I am reversing in, I always get dirty looks and scowls from other drivers as I am stopped momentarily on the other side of the road, with my hazard lights flashing of course.

I am just about sick of it. I try not to react but I’m getting so fed up, I just feel like blasting the horn at one of them.

What’s the best way to deal with it? Surely it’s not too much to ask people to just wait for two seconds whilst I reverse into my own driveway.

OP posts:
UnexpectedItemInTheShaggingAre · 04/03/2020 15:38

It’s probably your hazards tbh. Also is there any way you can turn round at the next junction and be on the right side of the road?

Nicknacky · 04/03/2020 15:39

Why are you using hazard lights? I reverse into a drive frequently, I indicate before it, then pull into position before I start to reverse. Some folk are up my arse but that’s their problem for not leaving space.

Veterinari · 04/03/2020 15:44

It's the right thing to do but you shouldn't be occupying the wrong side of the road or using hazard lights Confused

Just indicate and pull up alongside the driveway. Put your reversing lights on and when the traffic is clear, reverse into drive

DGRossetti · 04/03/2020 15:45

It’s illegal to reverse out of a driveway into a main road

Not sure it is. (It should be, but it would be difficult to enforce given how pisspoor some drives and roads are).

However it's strongly discouraged HC201 - Do not reverse from a side road into a main road. When using a driveway, reverse in and drive out if you can.

Nothing more stomach churning than seeing an iced/fogged up car reversing onto the road oblivious to pushchairs, toddlers and pedestrians generally.

mencken · 04/03/2020 15:47

yes, don't use the hazards.

I used to live in a house like this. Obviously you have to drive across the pavement, which is one of many reasons why you reverse in and then come out forwards. There is a small child who didn't die because I did this - his halfwitted mother let him scoot on the pavement out of control and I only saw him because I was driving out forwards. Had I been reversing I would probably have flattened him.

silly cow did nothing, hopefully he grew up safely.

TrickyD · 04/03/2020 15:54

I disagree with reversing in.

When I enter our drive via a righthand turn, I always go in head first,. I may have to wait a few moments until the lane with oncoming traffic is clear so I do not impede them, but not enough to annoy anyone behind, who can see I am waiting for a gap.

This means I have to reverse out. No inconvenience to anyone as I do it cautiously and wait for a suitable gap in the traffic.

I can see why drivers reversing in and holding up traffic in both directions unnecessarily is often annoying.

pigsDOfly · 04/03/2020 15:55

Okay, so you're actually on the correct side of the road when you start reversing? Didn't understand that.

I imagine that it's your hazzard lights that are causing people's confusion.

If you're reversing into a drive then you shouldn't have your hazzard lights on, just indicate where you're going, your reversing lights will show that you're reversing.

It's possible people see your hazzard lights and assume you're stopping where you are - a lot of people seem to use them as a sort of 'I'm stopping here for a bit' signal - so it probably puzzles them when you start moving backwards.

LizzieMacQueen · 04/03/2020 15:57

So, are you reversing into a drive on the opposite side to the one you have driven up in? If the oncomjng traffic cannot see your reverse lights that will be the problem. Can you approach your drive from the 'correct' side of the road?

StillbreathingStillhere · 04/03/2020 15:58

Turn your bloody hazards off....I nearly collided into an idiot who was stopped on the road with hazards on who as I then went to go past started reversing and nearly hit me

DontCallMeShitley · 04/03/2020 16:00

People have no patience any more, or manners. Reverse into your driveway, it is your driveway and you pay to use the road.

However, I have no patience with the ones that reverse or turn round at the end of mine after driving over the dropped kerb and pavement to do so and am looking at getting bollards so they don't hit the car on the drive. Have heard a couple of them hit walls opposite and then watched them get out and throw their hands up, get back in and drive off so am always at the window when I hear a scraping sound or a thump.

JustInCaseCakeHappens · 04/03/2020 16:01

Ignore the idiots, best way to deal with them.

I am puzzled that someone up thread can think it's safer and less inconvenient to reverse out? Confused Should you be driving? (not for doing it, but not understanding the logic of things)

sonypony · 04/03/2020 16:03

I guess either learn to ignore it or get a car turntable fitted to your drive.

cliodh · 04/03/2020 16:04

Pretty sure you aren't supposed to use hazard lights when moving

Highway Code is very clear that hazards should only be used when you are stationary

You can (and should) use hazard lights when driving on a motorway to warn drivers behind you of a hazard ahead.

Saracen · 04/03/2020 16:05

@mencken "his halfwitted mother let him scoot on the pavement out of control and I only saw him because I was driving out forwards"

Yesss... so you are saying that the child was using the pavement in a normal way as pedestrians do, and you "only" failed to hit him because you were driving correctly rather than dangerously. It sounds as if you think this is somehow his mother's fault. If you had been reversing blind out of your drive and hit a pedestrian, it would have been 100% your fault.

I too have to reverse into my drive in order to be able to drive out forwards, and have to drive out at the slowest speed I can get the car to creep. I don't get impatient with pedestrians who assume they can use the pavement slowly, quickly, cautiously or inattentively. It is the pavement after all, and it's down to me as the driver to make sure I don't hit them when I drive across it.

emmaluggs · 04/03/2020 16:09

I encountered someone doing this today, they had pulled up onto the other side of the road behind a parked car and put hazards on and stopped. I was pretty perplexed when they then started to reverse with hazards on I had no idea where they intended to go and what they were planning to do 🤷🏼‍♀️ So if I was me I was perplexed rather than scowling

DGRossetti · 04/03/2020 16:09

I am puzzled that someone up thread can think it's safer and less inconvenient to reverse out?

There are some drives where you can't get out of the car if you reverse in because you are too close to a wall. Which is why it's not illegal.

BuggerOffAndGoodDayToYou · 04/03/2020 16:11

Reversing ONTO your drive is correct and safest BUT you shouldn’t be using your hazard lights for that manoeuvre. Maybe that is confusing the other drivers..... I’ve never had anyone get impatient with me for reversing onto my drive....

amusedbush · 04/03/2020 16:12

If you stopped with your hazards on, I would probably try to go around you. I certainly wouldn't expect you to reverse into a drive.

PotholeParadise · 04/03/2020 16:13

I used to live in a house like this. Obviously you have to drive across the pavement, which is one of many reasons why you reverse in and then come out forwards. There is a small child who didn't die because I did this - his halfwitted mother let him scoot on the pavement out of control and I only saw him because I was driving out forwards. Had I been reversing I would probably have flattened him.
Well done you for driving like you are supposed to. Hmm

Bibidy · 04/03/2020 16:20

You should of course reverse in, but why are you on the wrong side of the road?

I'd guess OP's house is on the other side of the road so she starts reversing on one side then crosses to the other to enter her driveway.

Veterinari · 04/03/2020 16:26

@TrickyD

You can disagree with the Highway Code all you like. However in the event of an accident or insurance claim you'll be found at fault

Isthistrueor · 04/03/2020 16:28

We don’t live on a main road but still both reverse into the driveway, anyone waiting can have a little patience. It’s not safe to reverse out of a driveway even in a culdesac plus reverse parking is easier.

Isthistrueor · 04/03/2020 16:29

There is a small child who didn't die because I did this

DH would’ve hit a dog had he reversed out of our driveway once. The dog just shot out of nowhere (stupid owner was miles behind on her phone so totally oblivious) so luckily he slammed the brakes on because he was going forward. Reverse parking is safer.

Jellybeansincognito · 04/03/2020 16:29

You shouldn’t be doing this from the other side of the road or using your hazard lights- it’s confusing.

You need to approach your house from the other direction surely to be able to safely and correctly reverse in ?

AryaStarkWolf · 04/03/2020 16:29

It's irrational annoyance, just ignore it, they must know they're being unreasonable as well