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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Who was in the wrong driving?near miss

148 replies

Snowplacelikehome26 · 14/12/2023 22:33

Near miss today. There was a car approaching the mini roundabout from the right but he was a while off and wasn’t near the line yet so I entered the roundabout as I had time. However he sped up very very fast to intimidate me. He was so close going to the side of me. I do know it’s give way to the right but I thought as I’d already entered before him and I was already on the roundabout and he was not yet entering then I thought I would have had the right of way?

OP posts:
MilkChocolateCookie · 15/12/2023 04:04

Hard for us to be sure, it could be that you pulled out when you shouldn't have or that he was just being an arse. Anyway don't worry OP, no harm done and I'm sure he's not fretting about it!

Copperoliverbear · 15/12/2023 04:23

Always assume they will speed up and make sure there is more than, just enough time x

SD1978 · 15/12/2023 05:46

The hive way to the right is only if they are already ON the round about- whoever is on it has right of way. This shite that you have to sit and wait for a car who is further away from the roundabout than you because they are approaching from the right, is wrong and so many people (arsehole drivers) assume it!!

Peacheroo · 15/12/2023 05:54

Are you sure he sped up and not that you misjudged his speed?

It doesn't matter that you enter the roundabout before him - you shouldn't enter the roundabout if he is close enough that you would get in his way because you should give way to the right.

No one has right of way. You either have priority or you give way.

I had this exact situation yesterday but the other way round. A man in a van pulled out as I entered the roundabout. It was a 30, I could tell he was going to do it. It wasn't a near miss but my nose was close to the side of his car - I'm sure yours wasn't that close either and he was just trying to make the point that you should have waited.

In this instance, I think you were in the wrong because for it to be a near miss as you describe it you will have pulled out when there wasn't time.

Peacheroo · 15/12/2023 05:59

It's not if they are already on the roundabout for a mini roundabout - as soon as you're on it, you're over it. If they are approaching and would have to stop for you (when they have priority) then you did it wrong. Mini roundabouts are typically only in residential or 30 areas so you would have plenty of time to react.

MurielThrockmorton · 15/12/2023 06:05

I looked this up recently, the highway code says giveaway to traffic approaching from the right, which does seem to imply to me that they don't have to be on the roundabout. I was in your position OP but I was less certain I was in the right after reading this.

Who was in the wrong driving?near miss
Peacheroo · 15/12/2023 06:11

MurielThrockmorton · 15/12/2023 06:05

I looked this up recently, the highway code says giveaway to traffic approaching from the right, which does seem to imply to me that they don't have to be on the roundabout. I was in your position OP but I was less certain I was in the right after reading this.

Thanks for sharing this. It's clearly approaching and not on. Think about it. Someone is just before the line but not passed the line - if you go, there could be an accident. I'm surprised people on the thread are saying it. That's exactly why there is such a problem on the roads nowadays.

DoorPath · 15/12/2023 06:24

OP (and others), you are wrong about the o car approaching from the right needing to be on the roundabout already. Think that through for a second with mini roundabouts, it doesn't make any sense. You should not enter a roundabout if doing so will cause a car approaching from the right to brake.

OP, you driving was poor and illegal here, and I hope you take that on board. Not understanding the Highway Code or basic road rules is no excuse. Would you consider taking some top up driving lessons?

CormorantStrikesBack · 15/12/2023 06:29

I think your fault. He must have been very close to the roundabout and you should give way to cars approaching from the right. Sounds like he felt you cut him up which you may well have done. If he’d hit you on your side the best you could have hoped for was 50/50 and very possibly all your fault. Why risk it.

margotrose · 15/12/2023 06:31

I don't know why everyone is saying you only have to give way if the car is already on the roundabout Confused

The highway code says that you have to give priority to traffic approaching from the right. It doesn't say anything about the car already having to be on the roundabout.

Personally if I see a car approaching from the right, I stop and wait for them to pass me. You saw him coming so you should have stopped and waited for him to go.

PlipPlopChoo · 15/12/2023 06:34

If he was able to speed up and get near the side of the car it sounds like you pulled out when you should have waited.

Either that or you misjudged or failed to observe his speed to begin with.

Sirzy · 15/12/2023 06:39

It sounds like in hindsight you misjudged that it was safe to pull out. But these things happen and nothing bad happened it’s just a reminder to be a bit more careful in future.

ineedsun · 15/12/2023 06:43

I’ve got a ten year old automatic Audi, I couldn’t drive aggressively if I wanted to, the acceleration is really slow and it even takes a second or two to start moving once it’s in drive. Which suits me because it reduces the chance of a speeding ticket.

What’s interesting though is the number of people who try and prove a point by trying to beat you away from a junction or overtake in very dramatic fashion. Never had that to this extent with previous cars so can only assume it’s the fact that I drive an Audi.

I do wonder whether they feel that they’ve achieved something when they disappear into the distance or whether they feel like a nob if they realise that I’m not playing.

Mumof2teens79 · 15/12/2023 06:43

Was the roundabout clear?
Itsnojust about the car approaching from the right (either entering or already on) but also about whether you had time and space to move through without braking.
If used correctly no-one should have to stop orbrake on a roundabout

bozzabollix · 15/12/2023 06:55

I’m a driving instructor and know that people find it really hard to remember exactly what happens when something goes wrong. They often remember to their own advantage. So it could’ve been you misjudged the speed of the approaching vehicle, or just took the gap. These things happen. People make mistakes and they often get upset or angry. I encourage people to try to take the emotion out of it. Think about the aggressive driver who has upset you, what could’ve happened to him that day to make him feel awful? Best to give the benefit of the doubt then you can move on in a non emotional state behind the wheel.

I drive a BMW separate to my learner car. It’s driven beautifully having not long taken my instructor test in it, but BMWs look angry! Mine sits in front of a low kitchen window eyeing all us inside furiously. So I reckon people think BMW or Audi drivers are more angry than they actually are. I see it with my learners, a BMW driver will let us out but they don’t want to be in front of a Beemer driver so often stall, and that’s to someone being polite enough to let a learner go in front of them. It’s definitely a thing.

Perhapsanorhertimewouldbebetter · 15/12/2023 06:58

I do understand why you entered the roundabout, but equally he must have been fairly close to the entrance, even with speeding up, if you both ended up too close.

If in doubt wait.

Lifestooshort71 · 15/12/2023 07:09

So highway code says you were in the wrong which we can't dispute but I also believe in a bit of give-and-take at roundabouts. Why was he so keen to mow you down? And, if he'd hit you up the backside, I believe he'd have been at fault according to the insurance?

Peacheroo · 15/12/2023 07:10

bozzabollix · 15/12/2023 06:55

I’m a driving instructor and know that people find it really hard to remember exactly what happens when something goes wrong. They often remember to their own advantage. So it could’ve been you misjudged the speed of the approaching vehicle, or just took the gap. These things happen. People make mistakes and they often get upset or angry. I encourage people to try to take the emotion out of it. Think about the aggressive driver who has upset you, what could’ve happened to him that day to make him feel awful? Best to give the benefit of the doubt then you can move on in a non emotional state behind the wheel.

I drive a BMW separate to my learner car. It’s driven beautifully having not long taken my instructor test in it, but BMWs look angry! Mine sits in front of a low kitchen window eyeing all us inside furiously. So I reckon people think BMW or Audi drivers are more angry than they actually are. I see it with my learners, a BMW driver will let us out but they don’t want to be in front of a Beemer driver so often stall, and that’s to someone being polite enough to let a learner go in front of them. It’s definitely a thing.

BMW death stare 🔥🔥🔥

margotrose · 15/12/2023 07:11

Lifestooshort71 · 15/12/2023 07:09

So highway code says you were in the wrong which we can't dispute but I also believe in a bit of give-and-take at roundabouts. Why was he so keen to mow you down? And, if he'd hit you up the backside, I believe he'd have been at fault according to the insurance?

It depends, he could argue she'd pulled out in front of him.

Lifestooshort71 · 15/12/2023 07:22

Yes, you're right, he could. I learnt to drive decades ago and if you rear ended someone it was always your fault - do they still do knock-for-knock?

Peacheroo · 15/12/2023 07:24

Lifestooshort71 · 15/12/2023 07:22

Yes, you're right, he could. I learnt to drive decades ago and if you rear ended someone it was always your fault - do they still do knock-for-knock?

Depends on situation. If the front car slams brakes on then it's 50/50.

CormorantStrikesBack · 15/12/2023 07:28

Lifestooshort71 · 15/12/2023 07:09

So highway code says you were in the wrong which we can't dispute but I also believe in a bit of give-and-take at roundabouts. Why was he so keen to mow you down? And, if he'd hit you up the backside, I believe he'd have been at fault according to the insurance?

The OP said he nearly hit her side. Which suggests to me she pulled out too close infront of him. If there had been a decent gap no matter how much he sped up he’d only have been in danger of hitting her from the back. If he had hit her side on a roundabout it would have been her fault unless there was some good evidence he was way in excess of the speed limit

TerfTalking · 15/12/2023 07:30

I would have waited for him tbh, a mini roundabout is tiny, so him approaching and joining the roundabout could have been one second, I don’t believe he was very very fast or you would have collided.

I have one on my street, the number of crashes there have been on it by people not slowing or anticipating another car coming upon their right is many.

somewhereovertherain · 15/12/2023 07:32

TLDRfuckers · 14/12/2023 23:02

You give way to cars approaching on the right, defensive driving is safer than taking risks. Even if he’s an arse for speeding up I think your insurance company wouldn’t pay up if there’d been an accident.

cars do not need to already be on the roundabout for you to give way to those on the right, otherwise what’s the point of a mini roundabout (so tiny) at all?

This annoys me you only should give way to the right if they are at the roundabout first. Otherwise the person at the roundabout has right of way and it’s people not understanding this is why so many roundabout’s don’t work as efficiently as they should.

OP he was an arse you where in the right.

Peacheroo · 15/12/2023 07:34

@somewhereovertherain RTFT. This has already been addressed and you're wrong.