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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

user1492520381 · 05/03/2020 20:20

It's an accident waiting to happen.

jellybean85 · 05/03/2020 20:25

it’s a good idea to actually check if something is true before posting.
**
...and there goes 80% of the internet ...

Actually spat out my g and t laughing at this @serendipityjane so accurate

user1497207191 · 05/03/2020 20:27

You should always reverse onto your driveway. It is illegal to reverse out onto a main road. Surprising how many people don't know that.

Not surprising at all - it's not true.

BuggerOffAndGoodDayToYou · 05/03/2020 20:33

It is illegal to reverse out onto a main road.

No. It. Is. Not.

www.askthe.police.uk/content/Q390.htm

HomerSimpsonSmilingPolitely · 05/03/2020 20:33

It's illegal to get angry at someone for reversing out of a driveway.

It's also illegal to call someone ignorant for getting angry at someone for reversing out of a driveway.

Vivianebrookskoviak · 05/03/2020 20:42

It's not actually illegal to reverse out onto a main road. Only advisory.
www.highwaycodeuk.co.uk/using-the-road-reversing.html
I grew up on a dual carriageway so I've been told it's illegal when it's not.

winniestone37 · 05/03/2020 22:26

It’s not illegal to reverse into a main road whoever said that above. We lived on a 4 lane A road for years, not a hope in hell of reverse parking in however go for it, but don’t be too jaded above angry drivers, I live in London everyone is angry, who cares.

Veterinari · 05/03/2020 22:33

It's not illegal but it is against the Highway Code, so you'll almost certainly be found at fault in the event if a collision/insurance claim

amazedmummy · 05/03/2020 23:05

I much prefer reversing onto my drive now that I'm confident enough to do it. I gave PITA gates that I want rid of but for now I have to stop my car on the road, open the gates drive down the road and turn to be able to swing round properly to reverse in. I'll be happy to see the end of the gates. Leaving also involves parking up to go back and close the bloody gates. Hate the things.

Throughthegate · 05/03/2020 23:16

It's not even "against" the Highway Code though, the HC says to reverse in and drive out of a driveway if you can which implies they accept that this isn't always going to be possible.
So in an insurance case I suppose the issue would be had you done the safest things. Time of day and weather conditions might come into your decision (I'd rather reverse on a road in daylight, that was either really quiet or really busy with very slow moving traffic).

jenkel · 05/03/2020 23:17

You sound just like me, and I have to be on the opposite side of the road to reverse, it’s a narrow road. I don’t put hazards on, but indicate however its impossible to Indicate the right way have to go on to the other side of the road slightly and then reverse. It’sshould be a slow road, has speed bumps and lots of parked cars but the problem is people drive way to fast and right up your bumper. I normally wave a acknowledgement if the let me do the manoeuvre but some people are way to aggressive.

pigsDOfly · 05/03/2020 23:25

It is illegal to reverse out onto a main road.
Surprising how many people don't know that.

Not surprising at all that many people don't know that it's illegal to reverse out onto a main road, because it's isn't.

tulippa · 05/03/2020 23:40

I live on a main road and reverse into my driveway. I do it with hazards on because of the amount of people who cannot interpret that a left signal with reverse lights outside a driveway means I want to reverse into it and will just sit behind me blocking my way. At least with the hazards most people twig that they need to go past me. It's easy to do so as well as there are two lanes but it's amazing how many drivers leave it til the very last second which causes problems for the people behind them as they can't see me waiting.

Original poster

Sparkly212 · 06/03/2020 15:37

I don’t think I’ve explained this too well.

Basically, coming from the direction of A, my house is on the right hand side of the road so I need to drive over onto the right hand side of the road to be able to reverse into my drive as I can’t do it from the left if as if im facing the direction of B

OP posts:

Throughthegate · 06/03/2020 15:41

I think it's time for a diagram OP

adaline · 06/03/2020 15:42

It is illegal to reverse out onto a main road. Surprising how many people don't know that

They don't know it because it's bollocks! It's advisable to reverse onto a drive and drive off, but it's not always possible or practical, which is why the Highway Code only advises that you do it where possible.

Why do people spout stuff like this?!

adaline · 06/03/2020 15:43

You've explained it fine OP, but you shouldn't be using your hazards - that's what's confusing people. Just indicate and use your reversing lights.

Confusednewmum1 · 06/03/2020 15:57

I totally get you OP I’m also I. A similar situation but my road is quiet. I can stand people who are really pushy so I tend to reverse really slowly while triple checking all my mirrors. If they get too close I lean on my horn and blast it long and hard, I mean they are going to cause an accident..........

Recently I was having A really really bad day and had just done the nursery run and my LG had been so upset. As I was reversing into my drive, someone in their fancy car who thought he was king of the road drove right up and slammed his brakes on just as he was about to go into the side of me. I was on hands free to my sister and called him for everything then reversed at 2 miles per hour whilst giving the finger ect. My neighbour came out and advised as I’d been in hands free this had meant my expletive rant had been broadcast to the entire street

SisyphusHadItEasy · 06/03/2020 16:19

You are absolutely doing the right thing, OP.

So much safer to reverse into an empty driveway than an active road.

Those who get angry with you can get stuffed.

GinDaddy · 06/03/2020 17:21

Why are so many people confidently spouting completely unfactual stuff on here that isn't in the Highway Code or the law?

It's really concerning that folk believe a thing should be so (in terms of what irritates them) so they confidently declare "it's illegal to do that".

If a man was to do that, he would be flamed.

Throughthegate · 06/03/2020 17:24

I would strongly advise anyone conducting a difficult manoeuvre to not do it while having a conversation on their phone

user1497207191 · 06/03/2020 17:28

Why are so many people confidently spouting completely unfactual stuff on here

Not just here - all social media. People see something on Twatter and repeat it as gospel without engaging their brains or googling to check. Never has so much information been available at our finger tips, yet so many people can't be arsed to check it out and just believe some random stranger. Fake news is a massive problem.

SerendipityJane · 06/03/2020 17:28

They don't know it because it's bollocks! It's advisable to reverse onto a drive and drive off, but it's not always possible or practical, which is why the Highway Code only advises that you do it where possible. [] Why do people spout stuff like this?!

Because they are idiots. Only we aren't allowed to say that. Apparently. (Although I just did).

Wait until you get a "opening someone elses post" thread, or "I got a private parking notice" thread, where the idioteligensia are really out in force.

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