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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:
Jellybeansincognito · 04/03/2020 16:30

I agree though. I’m too anxious to get into my car and drive and alone because people have no respect or patience for other road users and I hate it!

Lweji · 04/03/2020 16:32

Can't you turn the car around, so that you're on the right side of the road, and then reverse?
Just inconvenience one lane instead of two.

Or are you one of those drivers who has to use both lanes to reverse into a parking spot/drive?

Lweji · 04/03/2020 16:33

And
with my hazard lights flashing of course.

Of course? Shouldn't it be indicators, of course?

CharityDingle · 04/03/2020 16:33

I even had one delivery driver gesturing for me to move off my own tarmac so he could drive on it when I was watering plants last summer.

I hope you gestured right back. And didn't move!

1forAll74 · 04/03/2020 16:35

Lots of people haven't got a second to wait if they are hindered in their vehicles for any reason, it is they who have a neurotic attitude to driving, so just ignore them all,and smile and carry on reversing at leisure.

BoomBoomsCousin · 04/03/2020 16:36

Agree that you probably shouldn't be using your hazard lights. But other than that reversing in is much preferable.

Best way to deal with the scowls and pushy behaviour is to ignore it. It's one of the skills they really ought to teach as part of learning to drive - other people get angry and annoyed on the road for no good reason. You need to find a way to let all slide off you.

To be fair they may not be particularly scowly because you are choosing to reverse in and drive out, they may be just as scowly if you drive in and reverse out, you just won't be able to see them so well. People don't like being made to wait or go slower when they are driving, it doesn't matter how reasonable the cause is. They may not even be scowling at you, just at the wait in general and possibly at the fact they really should have left 5 minutes earlier and they know it. The only good way to handle it is to ignore it.

user1471517900 · 04/03/2020 16:40

That's two people on the thread here who seem to believe that reversing a car means you can hit pedestrians or dogs.

Original poster
Sparkly212 · 04/03/2020 16:40

So basically when I’m driving from the direction of A, I have to move onto the side of the road which takes you in the direction of B as my house is on the right hand side of the road.

I do put my right hand indicator on and if there is oncoming traffic, I stop and wait until it’s clear and then I move over to the other side of the road and put my hazards on and then I reverse once it is clear.

There is no other way for me to reverse in. It would be too difficult to turn around and do it from the left hand side and be on the correct side of the road

OP posts:
itswinetime · 04/03/2020 16:40

Reversing into a drive no problem....
Someone on the wrong side of the road with hazards on who then starts reversing I'm probably going to give you a look.

I would suggest using indicators only and you shouldn't need to be on the wrong side of the road unless you have a particularly odd shaped drive way?

Original poster
Sparkly212 · 04/03/2020 16:41

And I use my hazards just to alert people that I am stopped really

OP posts:
Jellybeansincognito · 04/03/2020 16:43

Wrong use of hazards really op.

There’s nothing wrong with reversing in but your hazards will be causing a lot of confusion.

Jellybeansincognito · 04/03/2020 16:44

If you were stopping on a road like a motorway where you cannot usually stop- hazard away.

A 30 street... nooo don’t do it.

Lweji · 04/03/2020 16:44

It would be too difficult to turn around and do it from the left hand side and be on the correct side of the road

Why?

Can you drive a bit further ahead and reverse elsewhere where it's safe and less inconvenient for the traffic?
Or is it just other drivers who must be considerate of you?

Lweji · 04/03/2020 16:45

Also, are you saying that you end up stopped on the wrong side of the road with hazzard lights on? Hmm

Twerking9to5 · 04/03/2020 16:46

It’s so annoying. My parents live on a 40mph road, but ppl often go much faster. Their drive has to be reversed into as it’s just a small patch at the front of the house and awkward to get in front ways. Just after their house is a left hand turn-I’ve always found if I indicate, ppl don’t slow down enough as assume I’m turning so have used hazards to make it clear I’m stopping if that makes sense? Either way we always get angry glares and hoots

MiniMum97 · 04/03/2020 16:46

I know it really annoys me. What annoys me even more are the drivers who see me indicating, slowing down and then putting my hazards on to indicate that I am about to do a something and they need to watch and be aware ie I am about to pull to the right slightly and then the left to get in a position to reverse in. Most people see this and stop and wait. But some idiots try to zoom past me!! I am still half in.the left lane, I don't pull over enough for a car to get past safely! I almost had an accident once due to someone doing this.

I am religious about reversing into my drive after having an accident trying to reverse out one morning so will never do this again without someone guiding/watching.

But even getting ready to reverse in makes me nervous as you don't know what the person behind you is going to do!

TheBlueStocking · 04/03/2020 16:46

Personally, I'd drive in forwards, then go out and change the direction of the vehicle at bedtime when the road is quiet. Mucking around on the road to this extent during rush hour is dangerous for you and other drivers.

pigsDOfly · 04/03/2020 16:47

Wrong use of hazards really op.

Yes, stop using your hazards.

fiorentina · 04/03/2020 16:47

We have to do this, and due to the width of the road, have to go over both lanes. I just do an over enthusiastic thank you wave, especially if they are being miserable about it.

Jellybeansincognito · 04/03/2020 16:48

But op may need to go out again @ TheBlueStocking

MadamePewter · 04/03/2020 16:48

YADNBU. I hate it when people reverse out onto the road as it’s so dangerous: does my head in.

Just flash them a superior smile and know that you are better than them 😃

PawPawNoodle · 04/03/2020 16:50

@Sparkly212 And I use my hazards just to alert people that I am stopped really

I think they'd understand that on account of the fact that the car isn't moving..

I too think it's just the hazards that's confusing matters.

Chelseabagnall · 04/03/2020 16:52

You are complying with the highway code which states never reverse from a minor into a major road

201
Do not reverse from a side road into a main road. When using a driveway, reverse in and drive out if you can.

forrestgreen · 04/03/2020 16:54

Just pull-up and revere in when there's a gap in traffic surely

isabellerossignol · 04/03/2020 16:58

When I reverse into the driveway at my mother's house, if I am coming from the direction where the house is on my right, I have to pull over to the wrong side of the road to do it. I can't do it from the side of the road that I'm driving on because there is no room for the nose of the car to swing round once I start reversing (no footpath on that side, and a steep bank right beside the road) . Maybe that is what the OP means by right and wrong side of the road? Wouldn't be using my hazard lights though, I'd just pull over onto that side of the road and indicate right and sit there until there is a big enough gap in the traffic to do it safely. It's not ideal but it's not inconveniencing anyone anymore than approaching it from the other direction, because I'd still have to sit in the same place, waiting for a gap. The only difference to other road users is that I'm facing in the opposite direction.

It only happens once in a blue moon, if I'm taken by surprise and there is already another car park at the house which means I can't drive in and turn around away from the road.