Neighbour issue- was I being unreasonable?

[St123]

Hi there

I just want your thoughts on this situation. Our house is on a private single road, where there are a few houses along this road. It can only accommodate one car going up or down at a time.
I had just turned off the main road (which at this time was quiet) into our private road and drove up and my neighbour was pulling out her driveway slightly (which is why I continued to drive up) then continued to drive down. We don’t get on with these neighbours due to issues in the past. So at this point both of us were blocking the road and couldn’t go either way. This childishly became a stand off with neither of us refusing to move. She was mouthing at me to reverse back onto the main road to let her out and I mouthed back asking her to reverse back into her driveway as that was the safest option without me having to move back onto the main road and potentially hitting car. She then got out of her car and stormed back home leaving her car blocking the road. The situation was getting very embarrassing so I just reversed out onto the main road then she came back 5 mins later and drove off. Normally in this situation if I am in her position, I would either wait for the car to pass or go back into my drive to let them pass as it’s easier than the other person reversing onto the main road. Am I in the wrong here and just completely embarrassed myself? What would you do in my position? This neighbour does think very highly of herself and I felt it was more of a whose more dominant situation if you get what I mean. TIA x

Ideally she should have reversed back.

Legally, you shouldn't be reversing unto a main road so she's wrong but that's not going to make these stand off situations easier.

She should have moved back onto her driveway - however if she had done this more than once whilst trying to leave, maybe you were the straw the broke the camels back. Regardless, the highway code would agree with you that reversing onto a main road is the more hazardous manouver and she should move.

Isnt it illegal to reverse onto a main road?

The child in me says it's a shame you blinked first. You were home and could have just gone in the house. She needed to go out 🤣

Print off the relevant section of the highway code and put it through her letterbox.

Neighbour should reverse. Could they see you coming up before pulling out?

This!

There is no way I would have reversed onto a main road. That's just asking for trouble.

She had it easier so she should have backed up.

I'd have got out of my car and left it where it was for a few hours.

It's illegal to reverse onto a main road.

I wouldn't have dared reverse onto a main road! Surely she should wait until you have passed before reversing out of her drive, what a twit! Is the road very narrow or were there cars parked down one side that make it single lane?

You were well established on the road. She should have given way to you.

Next time beat her to it and just leave your car there. That's what I would have done

It's actually not, but it is very unadvisable and should only be done if there is no other option. You can also be charged with driving without due care if you cause an accident whilst doing so.

Agree with PP...print the Highway code and put thru her letterbox.

And if it happens again, just get out of the car and walk into your home! You are home (nearly) after all so she can sit and stew instead.

You were coming home, she was going out.

She obviously had somewhere to go.

So you should have parked up and went indoors.

Left her to sort out her own mess

The road isn’t really a main road as such it’s just the main road on a private development if you see what I mean, but still equally dangerous to reverse onto x

The road is narrow and only one lane x

I would have abandoned my car!

You could have parked in the middle of the road for a few hours blocking her in and returned later. That would show her 😂

You were already on the road. She should have waited.

I agree with pp, at the point she got out and stormed off. I'd have just left my car and wandered home. Perhaps leaving a note "I'll be at home in no. 5, let me know when you've realised I was already on the road and you need the reverse".

I don't think OP leaving the car on the road, i.e. blocking it, would look good to the police as it needs to be left accessible for the emergency services? I have voted YANBU obviously, the neighbour should have reversed back into their drive as a safer option

I would love to have the balls to do this. In reality, I probably would have done exactly as you did.

Choose your battles. This isn't worth the energy

At the point she got out and went in the house so would I have. After all you were actually going where you wanted to. She would have then had to come to ask you to move should she need to leave.