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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not let someone cut in front?

50 replies

harmoneygarxe · 09/12/2024 23:52

If it’s fairly obvious someone has used the wrong lane when driving do you still let them cut in front of you?

I watched someone do this tonight, the person trying to cut in front was on green (we were on red) and the driver on green still tried to force their way in despite the amount of cars beeping them.

OP posts:
Thunderpants88 · 09/12/2024 23:59

Diagram

JC03745 · 10/12/2024 00:03

the person trying to cut in front was on green (we were on red)

On a green or red what??? Do you mean they were going through traffic lights that were green? Sorry, I have no idea what you mean? 🤔

UncharteredWaters · 10/12/2024 00:05

Do you mean your queue was at a red light, (e.g right turn) they came down the lane beside that had a green light (say straight ahead) but wanted to cut into your lane?

FoolishHips · 10/12/2024 00:10

Safety comes before anything else. My ex had a friend who refused to let someone in and it caused a crash. He still thought he was correct. Fucking moron.

Honeysuckle16 · 10/12/2024 00:12

I understand exactly what you mean. I drive a lot on busy roads so see all kinds of scenarios. Yes there are drivers who think they should be prioritised and it’s annoying but after doing a defensive driving course I just let them in and get on with my life. It’s not worth agonising over it.

Pandasnacks · 10/12/2024 00:13

I'd rather let someone in than risk crashing. And I'd rather have idiot drivers ahead of me rather than up my arse.

Ablondiebutagoody · 10/12/2024 00:15

Yes. Maybe they are being cheeky, maybe they made a genuine mistake. I don't mind letting people in.

Beamur · 10/12/2024 00:15

I just let them in and don't stress about it. Not worth getting het up.

Vaxtable · 10/12/2024 00:15

Yes I would, I would mutter bad names under my breath but would let them in

Original poster
harmoneygarxe · 10/12/2024 00:18

UncharteredWaters · 10/12/2024 00:05

Do you mean your queue was at a red light, (e.g right turn) they came down the lane beside that had a green light (say straight ahead) but wanted to cut into your lane?

Yes

OP posts:
BeMintBee · 10/12/2024 00:18

Beamur · 10/12/2024 00:15

I just let them in and don't stress about it. Not worth getting het up.

Same. Can’t get bothered by this sort of thing anymore. Prefer to let bad drivers go ahead of me and be out of my way!

Original poster
harmoneygarxe · 10/12/2024 00:19

JC03745 · 10/12/2024 00:03

the person trying to cut in front was on green (we were on red)

On a green or red what??? Do you mean they were going through traffic lights that were green? Sorry, I have no idea what you mean? 🤔

I did specify driving

OP posts:
Wingedharpy · 10/12/2024 00:23

It might be "fairly obvious" it's the wrong lane to you, if you're familiar with the road layout etc but it may not be fairly obvious to someone else who's never driven that way before.
Signage can be awful on some roads and road markings are useless if there are cars covering them up for several yards.

HolyPeaches · 10/12/2024 00:26

When I was a young 17 year old who’d just learnt how to drive. I used to hate people who “cut in” and would get so much road rage, beep my horn, not let them in. Etc.

Many, many moons have now passed 😂
I’m thankfully more mature and if someone wants to cut in, I just let them. It adds 5 or so more seconds onto a journey. It’s an absolute non issue.

HeddaGarbled · 10/12/2024 00:30

Yes, I always let people in who are indicating. Haven’t you ever ended up in the wrong lane by mistake? That scenario you describe - queues on approach to traffic lights obscuring the arrows on the road - is exactly the sort of thing to catch out people who are unfamiliar with the road layout. Even if they’re just being chancers, it’s not really any skin of my nose, and I prefer to give them the benefit of the doubt.

Runnersandtoms · 10/12/2024 00:31

I can't believe how angry people get about letting someone else in. It literally makes no difference to your journey time if you are already stopped at a light. Even if you slow down or stop to let someone in you're talking about seconds. Even when you have to wait 'ages' for a dustbin lorry or similar it may add a max of 5 mins to your journey time. Driving is not a race or a competition but for some reason the majority of drivers drive like it is.

p1l1l · 10/12/2024 00:31

It's hard to know whether people have made a mistake in an unfamiliar location or whether they are just CFs. I let them in to avoid accidents.

EconomyClassRockstar · 10/12/2024 00:35

I always find it mortifying when I'm driving in an area I don't know, relying on GPS, and then realize I'm in the wrong lane and have to cut across. It's never on purpose but you can't just let the people on green not move forward because of your mistake. And I live in an area of the US where people LOVE to tell you you're an asshole in the car 😁

TheBestLackAllConviction · 10/12/2024 00:38

Yes. Getting into the wrong lane is not a moral failing or a demonstration of spectacular incompetence, it's something that can happen to anyone on an unfamiliar road.

sweetkitty · 10/12/2024 00:41

It’s the CFs who see that two lanes are going down to one and everyone else has merged in time but they come flying up the empty lane right to the top then indicate to be let in at the last minute!

BibbityBobbityToo · 10/12/2024 00:43

I'm a passive driver, I would do whatever action gets the majority of road users moving off safely. If that means letting one prick push in then yes, I don't give it headspace.

Sometimes drivers can make a mistake, especially if they are driving in an unfamiliar area. If everyone just chilled out a bit and stopped being so territorial over tarmac driving would be a must more pleasant experience.

fivebyfivebuffy · 10/12/2024 00:43

sweetkitty · 10/12/2024 00:41

It’s the CFs who see that two lanes are going down to one and everyone else has merged in time but they come flying up the empty lane right to the top then indicate to be let in at the last minute!

You should be using the lane to the end and merging, not merging ages in advance

Llttledrummergirl · 10/12/2024 00:45

sweetkitty · 10/12/2024 00:41

It’s the CFs who see that two lanes are going down to one and everyone else has merged in time but they come flying up the empty lane right to the top then indicate to be let in at the last minute!

It's zip merging and it's the correct way to merge.

Thankgoditsbedtyme · 10/12/2024 00:47

HeddaGarbled · 10/12/2024 00:30

Yes, I always let people in who are indicating. Haven’t you ever ended up in the wrong lane by mistake? That scenario you describe - queues on approach to traffic lights obscuring the arrows on the road - is exactly the sort of thing to catch out people who are unfamiliar with the road layout. Even if they’re just being chancers, it’s not really any skin of my nose, and I prefer to give them the benefit of the doubt.

Absolutely this. It’s easy to make a mistake when unfamiliar with an area, I always let people in who are indicating and I like to think others would be as kind to me, if the role was reversed.

Sonowimbackfromouterspace · 10/12/2024 00:47

harmoneygarxe · 10/12/2024 00:18

Yes

Show quote history

In this scenario, I don't see how anyone could let them in, as you'd be bumper-to-bumper in a queue at the lights. As to whether or not I'd let them in once the lights change, well no, absolutely no way.

There is a major road I use a lot where I've seen this happen a few times over the years - even if the person wishing to cut-in has used the incorrect lane in error, I still don't know how they've got the over-entitled balls to then prevent an entire stream of traffic behind them from moving while they sit there waiting for the traffic lights for the lane next to them to turn to green so they can cut it. It makes my blood boil!