To ask whose right of way it was? (with pic)

[AngeloMysterioso]

Two cars pulling into the same road from two roads which end opposite each other. Car A is turning right and Car B is turning left. Both had to wait for a few cars to pass in the direction they were travelling and then both pulled out at the same time, very nearly colliding.

Whose right of way was it?

YANBU - Car A’s right of way
YABU - Car B’s right of way

Always wrong. How does “the one who go
there first” when it’s busy and there are queues. How do you know who got there first?

We have always driven on the left. You always have priority when turning left. You have to give way to oncoming traffic when turning right. At junctions like this, the car across from you counts as oncoming traffic.

I had an identical situation recently op. I was car B. Aggressive male driver in car A position nearly crashed into me and shouted and gesticulated at me. At the time I thought "dickhead" and carried on my merry way.

But that is what most people do, even if they have the right of way, but most people would check that car B had let them go, before just pulling out like car A did.

What car A did was dangerous, but car B should have checked that they weren't going to pull out before car B turned left.

Of course car B does not need to check what car A is doing because it is their right of way, but if she doesn't then she might have an accident which will take up months, if not years of her time to resolve even though she was in the right.

Her premiums will also go up even though it was not her fault at all.

Spot on .

Well next, time you might not be so lucky, so it is a shame that you did not learn from that experience. Do you really want an accident just because you did not check what the other driver was going to do? How much is that going to cost you in time and increased premiums?

What car A did was dangerous, but car B should have checked that they weren't going to pull out before car B turned left.

Of course car B does not need to check what car A is doing because it is their right of way, but if she doesn't then she might have an accident which will take up months, if not years of her time to resolve even though she was in the right.

Her premiums will also go up even though it was not her fault at all.

It makes sense. However, although not in the ops case, but on unmarked junction no one has priority.

A bit muddled it there are rules for one scenario but not the other.

This^

This!

And then they’d both go at once!

My ds gets annoyed with me shouting “make up your mind!” To other cars in situations where other cars seem to dither.

Yes, but he isn't going to get them is he?

So if you encounter him and do what the OP did without checking what car A is going to do, you could well have an accident.

B as they werent crossing over a lane of traffic

At a crossroads, the car that arrived first has priority by default.

If both cars arrived at the junction at the same time then you give way to the right. This means that Car A had right of way.

Car A crossing over a lane of traffic is irrelevent. Both cars are joining a new road.

I'm shocked at the number of people saying it's car B that has right of way.

This is 100% correct.

Car B had right away turning left and not across traffic

I have a similar set up but imagine car b is getting off their driveway. I have to give way to the car across the road nearly every time because the drivers are so desperate to use the tiny gap in the traffic on both sides. Technically it's my right of way but if I use it, I'd cause an accident. I find it happens a lot like that on busy roads. The people who need a gap on both sides rather than one assume it's their right of way.

Do us all a favour and pop your license in an envelope and send it back to Swansea will you. Not ONE THING you have posted is correct.

B, they are not cutting across lanes.

😂

Oh look! First result on google gives us the answer. Would you like me to provide you the envelope for your license now? Or are you capable of doing it yourself?

https://alfiesdrivingschool.com/right-of-way-at-crossroads/

Here's a couple of pertinent paragraphs from that page:

"The driver of the vehicle who arrives first at the intersection has the right of way. This rule applies regardless of whether or not the intersection is controlled by traffic lights or stop signs. If two vehicles arrive at the same time, the driver on the left must yield to the driver on the right."

"One important rule to remember is that, at any intersection, drivers must give way (yield) to traffic coming from their right unless otherwise directed by signs or markings. This rule applies even if you have a green light or are otherwise entitled to proceed through the intersection."

Even if you go by the rule of nobody has right of way, which is entirely possible, then you are supposed to use your knowledge of other junctions to guide you. In this case, it's roundabouts, where you also give way to the right.

But this just leads to chaos. There are rules for a reason. If everyone would stick to them the roads would be far safer. Being kind doesn't enter into it.

B.

But people don't stick to the rules as the OP has shown. You can't just turn left because it is your right of way without looking to see what car A has decided to do. If car B does just turns left without checking she will likely have an accident which will raise her premiums massively even though she was in the right.

This doesn't make sense. Obviously the OP didn't realise Car A would also turn at the same time, OP had right of way after all.

I'm just sitting here with a bucket of popcorn as I'm in France where the rule is "give way to traffic coming from the right" (unless the road markings indicate something else) which would transpose as "coming from the left" in the UK and make sense with what all the posters who said B have explained about crossing lanes of traffic.
At the end of our street is a T junction without road markings. I always turn right there and in theory anything coming down the road towards me is coming from my left (one way street), but I always make sure nothing is coming before pulling out as I don't want the hassle of dealing with the aftermath of an accident!

But she should have checked unless she doesn't care about having an accident.

I would always check.

If she doesn't want to check that is the risk she takes.

Exactly. You might have the right of way, but what good is it if you have an accident.

It is sensible to check what car A is going to do, and if they look like they are going to pull out because the road is clear, then let them as it avoids an accident and it is much easier for you to turn left than it is for car A to turn right.