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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Who has right of way?! (Diagram)

32 replies

Coolcoolcool · 30/04/2021 15:19

Turning right out of my street is a bloody nightmare. It’s onto a main road, and diagonally opposite to the right there is a turning out of a supermarket car park. The cars coming out of there who are also turning right assume they have right of way and I often get stuck for ages trying to get out of my road. I am stumped as to who has right of way. Any time I have pulled out because I’ve been waiting longer I get a dirty look from the supermarket driver.

Both are minor roads turning into a major road, the only difference is that they are a little further uphill. My reading of the Highway Code is that neither of us have right of way? Does a residential street trump a car park? Does the hill have anything to do with it? So I just need to be more assertive?!

Thoughts welcome! Terrible diagram attached.

Who has right of way?! (Diagram)
OP posts:
Brogues · 30/04/2021 15:22

I’d say neither and what a poor design.

Plumedenom · 30/04/2021 15:26

No one has priority and it will therefore be the more aggressive driver (or the one that is more convinced that they have the right of way!). When you are on the other side of the road does it feel like you'd have the right of way versus your road? Maybe because more traffic comes out of that road? This is perhaps why you end up waiting a long time.

Original poster
Coolcoolcool · 30/04/2021 15:26

Yeah terrible design, supermarket only built 3 years ago but before we moved in otherwise we probs would have objected to the access.

OP posts:
DissociativeBitch · 30/04/2021 15:27

Whoever pulls out first 🤦🏼‍♀️ there's a few like that near me; it needs traffic lights!

Plumedenom · 30/04/2021 15:28

Also to add, delivery drivers are super aggressive drivers, as they need to get places fast and drive for a living so are a bit over confident. Honestly, given they are not in their own vehicle and will happily dent the side of your car, I would wait one minute longer.

Original poster
Coolcoolcool · 30/04/2021 15:29

@plumedenom yes, more traffic coming out of that road, plus I think them being uphill maybe does make them feel like they have right of way. I think I do just need to be more assertive, have had a couple of times though when traffic queued behind haven't looked properly and pulled out and have almost driven in to me.

OP posts:
CuriousaboutSamphire · 30/04/2021 15:29

No one. It's always going to be a judgement call - whoever flinches loses.

Really bad road design!

BarbaraofSeville · 30/04/2021 15:31

Normally a junction like that would contribute to so many accidents it would qualify for traffic lights or a mini roundabout at least.

Can you leave the street by the other end and go a different way to avoid that junction?

MagnoliaBeige · 30/04/2021 15:33

There’s a similar road near me, I prefer to turn left then do a three point turn in a neighbouring road and rejoin the road in the direction I actually want to go. Takes a bit longer but gets rid of any drama or uncertainty!

5adayincludeswine · 30/04/2021 15:41

Where I amin the north of England people just take it in turns - although due to us all being so nice sometimes you spend ages motioning “after you” and the other car goes “after you” and then neither of you know if you should go! Upshot is - move north it’s nicer!!

SonnyWinds · 30/04/2021 15:42

Whoever pulls out first has right of way. A collision wouldn't happen unless one of you pulled out and THEN the other pulled out afterwards. If you both pulled out at exactly the same time you wouldn't hit each other.

JillsFlapjacks · 30/04/2021 15:43

Yep, neither has priority. In the next town down there's a PITA bit of road like this, but people are generally good at taking their turn when they see someone waiting before them.

ClarkeGriffin · 30/04/2021 15:45

If you drive correctly and don't drive right too sharply, technically you could both exit at the same time without hitting each other, as you've shown.

Neither has right of way though. They are just grumpy you are holding them up from going home. Grin

Pootles34 · 30/04/2021 15:50

Ha I remember my driving instructor saying that Clarkegriffin that the proper thing to do is sort of twirl round each other! I remember thinking 'yeah right' at the time.

ClarkeGriffin · 30/04/2021 15:58

@Pootles34

Ha I remember my driving instructor saying that Clarkegriffin that the proper thing to do is sort of twirl round each other! I remember thinking 'yeah right' at the time.
It is the right thing to do, but sadly the other drivers on the road don't see it that way. I almost got hit by an idiot the other morning in her massive suv because she took a right turn so sharply she was on my side of the road! I just drove closer to the middle line, she moved bloody quickly then. Stupid woman.
Justamemory · 30/04/2021 16:00

There's a junction similar to this on my morning commute, except there's another side road in the mix. I tend to go by whoever got there first goes first. If there is someone already at the junction I'd let them go first, then go myself (the person behind them obviously needs time to assess the road before pulling away). If I'm there at the same time as someone else I'd gesture to let them go then make a move myself.

Generally it works absolutely fine...generally...there's always one.

LakieLady · 30/04/2021 16:08

Both can go simultaneously if they both go at the same speed and provided they pass nearside to nearside (as they should).

They won't both be on the same side of the same road at the same time, so no collision would ensue.

SeaTurtles92 · 30/04/2021 16:09

No one does.
You'll have to fight for the right of way, fight I tell you, fight! 🤺🤺

Opal93 · 30/04/2021 16:11

The road at my sons school is like this and it’s an absolute free for all! It seems no one is exactly sure what the rules are meant to be and it’s a nightmare! Everyone just seems to wing it.

Montsti · 30/04/2021 16:11

I would say whichever driver gets there first...a bit like STOP streets...

It looks like an accident waiting to happen though!

BonnyEm · 30/04/2021 16:16

Can you email your local Councillor about a resolution to this? You won't be the only one experiencing this problem

UtterlyUnimaginativeUsername · 30/04/2021 16:21

You don't need to care if they give you a dirty look.

altlife · 30/04/2021 16:33

No one has right of way but it sounds like a roundabout might do the trick

GreenWillow · 30/04/2021 16:57

The people pulling out of the car park have priority as they are already on the major road when you are attempting to join it.

TheSandman · 30/04/2021 16:59

I would have thought both had an equal right.