To assume that other drivers on the road are reasonably able and confident at driving?

[WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll]

I've noticed this a number of times recently. There will be a road that is plenty wide enough for three cars side by side, with one row of parked cars along one side, thus no need for anybody in either direction of traffic to pull over to give way.

However, the person coming the other way will then (unnecessarily) pull over, in order to allow me to continue on my way, sometimes look frightened and often give me the evils for (as they clearly see it) forcing them to wait whilst I take the priority, even when the row of parked cars is on my side - when nobody actually needed to wait at all. They look shocked at the idea that I may have been intending to 'force them' to pull a little nearer to the kerb, when this is just standard driving - no different from naturally moving over to one side when you're walking down the middle of a corridor and you meet somebody walking in the opposite direction.

I can only think that this reaction must come from a point of low confidence in driving or possibly very poor spatial awareness - or maybe some kind of misunderstanding that makes them think it is the law that you cannot have two lines of traffic on a local (without lanes marked out) road if there are parked cars? I always give the benefit of the doubt if space is limited, but anywhere where two adequate drivers would have more than enough room to pass, I wouldn't pull over and wait unnecessarily - any more than I would routinely stop for a green traffic light.

I know the old (wise) adage is that you should always assume that other drivers are idiots; but surely there comes a point where you have to expect that other drivers (unless maybe displaying an L or P plate) are at least reasonably skilled and confident at basic driving? When this happens, I'm assuming (maybe wrongly) that they are OK drivers, whilst I can only suppose that that they are thinking that I am a terrible, dangerous and/or selfish driver! I'm neither an amazing nor rubbish driver: just kind of averagely competent, I reckon; and very courteous and patient.

AIBU?

There are some very poor drivers out there.

However, if it is happening to you very often then it might be something you're doing wrong. Maybe it's one of those roads where locals have adopted an informal set of rules? We have a number of tiny rural roads like this near us and I have to remind myself in tourist season that other drivers don't know all the passing point locations so may act unpredictably!

Mumsnet seems to overrepresent under confident, phobic drivers, so expect the answers to reflect this.

Yes I also see hesitant, overly cautious drivers about. My friend (who isn’t the most confident either) found an older lady on a single track road who actually couldn’t reverse when a huge tractor/trailer combo was on the opposite side, she had to reverse the car for her. That’s fairly worrying.

I drive on the school run on a road like this. I am often the stopping person for a reason. There is a massive sunken drain, the type to ruin your wheel. The council has tried to fix it but failed. The amount of people driving round the parked cars who seem to have no idea that the drivable space isn’t as wide as it looks is really annoying. Part of life though so I drive cautiously as a local who knows the problem.

Some people live life with a bigger margin for error than others.

Are you sure you're allowing enough room?

Just being able to fit 3 cars side by side isn't really good enough if there's only say a foot or so clearance between each car. You need to be about 2 metres from the parked car (in case some pratt starts opening their door or a child/animal walks into the road between parked cars). Likewise a metre between both moving cars and the car adjacent to the pavement/side of road also needs a metre or so clearance from the side of the road.

Driving within inches of parked cars, the pavement or other traffic really isn't allowing enough clearance for unexpected events.

It's why the advice now is to allow 2 metres when passing cycles.

Just because you can fit 3 cars side by side on a road with barely any clearance doesn't mean it's safe to do it. There is literally no harm in one of you waiting a few seconds to be able to go through separately.

You do know you don't have the priority when the cars are on your side?

I had the situation where I was 80% way down a line of15 cars - a driver then appeared round a bend and drove straight at me. Obviously I stopped. The other driver explained it was his priority… and I should get out of the way as he was in the right

yes it’s the priority of the other side but common sense also needs to be used as to how far the other driver has proceeded before you arrive

I think it is unwise to 'assume' anything when driving.

I work on a base assumption that all
other drivers are daft and could do anything. I can’t control how others drive but I can control how I drive.

The answer to that question is at the beginning of the sentence you cut off the quote.

However, the person coming the other way will then (unnecessarily) pull over, in order to allow me to continue on my way, sometimes look frightened and often give me the evils for (as they clearly see it) forcing them to wait whilst I take the priority, even when the row of parked cars is on my side - when nobody actually needed to wait at all

YABU to care why another driver stops to let you go when they don't 'have' to. YABfurtherU to analyse it and post it on here.

DH is like you. Whizzes along through tight gaps. Aways manoeuvres a bit too quickly.

Unfortunately he has clipped a wing mirror when I was with him and also crunched my rear bumpers twice by reversing too quickly into parking spaces.

God knows what happens when he is alone.

With the wing mirror incident I shouted that he had hit a parked car's mirror. He got cross and asked if I would have preferred him to be nearer the middle and clip the oncoming car instead. He was completely nonplussed when I suggested he could just wait for the oncoming car to go first....

Then again I've been on defensive driving courses through work and he used to drive old bangers.

If you had already committed to overtaking on his approach, he should have given way. This is one of my pet hates, along with people who think they can just career over a roundabout that somebody who would have been on their left is already on.

Best to assume all other drivers are idiots and be appropriately cautious.

I don't know why this has angered you so much as it doesn't seem to have impeded you or anyone else.

forcing them to wait whilst I take the priority, even when the row of parked cars is on my side

Given that you are such a confident driver can we assume you have read and understood the highway code?

I have lost count of how many times I have been cut up by drivers coming towards me in my lane, often well over the white line, because they can’t wait two seconds to pass a line of parked cars. I have also witnessed someone badly damage a car travelling in the opposite direction in that way.

You might think you are safe, but it doesn’t necessarily look or feel like that to the person coming towards you and no, I am not going to assume you are an able driver if your behaviour indicates you may not be.

The hassle of dealing with the damage to my car is just not worth saving a few seconds for.

I am a cautious driver .I would rather wait a few minutes and be safe! There are so many variables, its hard to tell the width of your car sometimes.

I hear you OP! Same situation every day near a local school. Wide road, parked cars down one side and then still space for traffic to get past in two directions. People who don’t know the width of their own vehicles are a liability. How can they not?!

@dottiedodah

There are so many variables, its hard to tell the width of your car sometimes.

Err, no it’s not. I imagine you were given the spec and dimensions when you bought it. It’s not a piece of play doh that changes at will! 🙄

Some drivers are frankly idiots. I was coming home yesterday when another driver swerved suddenly into my lane, having been in the wrong lane to go straight ahead like me. He then swerved left to the turn left lane, then back into my lane. I drive defensively because not everyone is competent (sober?!) and it would be silly to rely on others to ensure your safety.

It sounds like they're giving you 'evils' because it's their right of way and you're bulldozing your way through at 30mph.

Smaller gaps require a lower speed.

I'd be wary of someone like you too.

So it’s everyone else and not you 🤔
If the parked cars are on your side you should be giving way. It’s not up to you to decide if other cars can safely get through. No wonder you get glared at.

How much clearance are you allowing for passing the parked cars? Ideally should be the width of a car door in case someone opens one or a child walks out between parked cars.

It must be a bloody wide road.
Dd failed her driving test because although she fitted in the gap, she hadn't left enough room between her and the parked car so that the door could be opened without being hit.

We live in a town where the roads are fairly narrow and if you left that much space you would never move anywhere and the town would clog up. One day when I'm feeling awkward I might just follow this to the letter.

Yabu.

I don't believe anyone is giving you the evils or looking shocked. Occasionally having to pull in to let someone else pass on a narrow road is part and parcel of driving, why would you be shocked someone is coming in the opposite direction? You seem to be extrapolating a lot from the simple fact that you don't think they need to pull in. If they do, how does it harm you?

Being cautious doesn’t mean they’re not confident

Yup.

So basically you're pushing in on they're right of way which is why they're probably pissed off at you.