Did I do anything wrong here? Driving

[Azzywhatty]

I drove home from rural Northumberland today. On a single track road my sat nav fell out of its holder onto the passenger side floor. There was a lorry behind me. I continued along the single track road until it widened into two lanes, then indicated left, slowed down and stopped so I could pick it back up.

The lorry behind me beeped as I stopped. Did I do anything wrong here? I indicated and slowed and waited until the road went back to two lanes and it was safe to stop. I can’t work out why he was beeping.

There was no other traffic in either direction.

YANBU - you did nothing wrong
YABU - you did something wrong (what and why??)

Sorry but you've asked AIBU and then are arguing with everyone you're not. You don't just stop in the middle of a 2 lane road, you wait for a layby or turn into a side road.

It was a country lane that had been a one lane track. It is the side road.

Not many of those on rural lanes 🤷🏻‍♀️

Unless you mean a passing place but ime that wouldn't make it any easier for the lorry to pass.

I don't think many of the posters here have actually driving on proper rural lanes!

Why was it so important that you had to stop to pick up your satnav? Couldn't you have waited?

Does your satnav not talk?

Aren't you a delight?!

Do you feel big and better now you've been a bitch to someone?

perhaps your indicator doesnt work?

i pulled over once and stopped, and a man slowed down and told me off for stopping on the road,
no idea why!

Absolutely nailed it!

some parts of the road are for driving. Some are for stopping and parking.

you were in the “moving” section of the road and you stopped. This isn’t ok. Using hazards to indicate that you’ll be coming to a stop in a “moving” section of the road would’ve made it better as other road users would’ve known what to expect.

it’s hardly crime of the century but you shouldn’t have stopped where you did and if you “had” to because there was an emergency then you shouldn’t use hazards to indicate this.

So it was a A road? Highway Code says: You should not stop on an A road unless it is absolutely necessary, such as in an emergency, as stopping on a busy road like an A road can pose a significant safety risk to other drivers; always try to pull over to a safe, designated stopping area if you need to stop. So you should have found a lay-by or similar to remove yourself from the carriageway. Next time pull off the main road.

But you weren't on a residential street - you were on a blooming carriageway! I suggest you go and re-read the Highway Code before you cause yourself, or someone else, an injury,

The Highway Code will tell you the rules for different roads. You are comparing very different roads.

I do, yes! Are you someone who comes to a dead stop on the carriageway too? In which case, same comment applies.

Thank you. I drove past several passing places when it was still single track but it would’ve been more difficult for the lorry to pass.

You can’t see any difference between a residential street and a dual carriageway? Genuinely you cannot see any difference there? If you were blocking a lane then YES you were in the wrong, you absolutely do not do this, you need to find a car park/lay by where you can be fully off the road.

You turn into another road, to seek a suitable and safe place to stop.

YABU

I seem to be going against public opinion on this one. OP, in my opinion you did nothing wrong.

I suspect that the lorry driver was: a) driving too close behind you, and b) not paying attention and didn't notice that you were indicating (or was too close behind you to see your indicators).

Well I would have waited for a lay by or passing place and pulled in quickly with signalling. But you seem determined you were right, despite everyone telling you otherwise, so there isn't much point to this thread is there?

It’s a criss cross of country roads and I needed the satnav to tell me where to go. I couldn’t hear it when it was on the floor.

It wasn't a dual carriageway though.

What is the speed limit? Normal limit on double lanes is 70. You just don't stop ever on such lane. This is utter madness.

Even on a 40, this is just bad driving, unless there are already cars stopped.

I certainly would never do that with a lorry behind me, that's for sure.

Your complete surprise about why that might be wrong show a serious lack on self awareness on the road.

What??

Country lanes don't have hard shoulders. You also can't pull off onto the verge because they have whopping big ditches!

So it was a single carriage way road? And you just randomly stopped. Yeah that’s totally wrong. He must have thought you were indicating to turn somewhere but instead you stopped dead in a road?

Unless you mean a passing place but ime that wouldn't make it any easier for the lorry to pass

Of course it would. That's literally what passing places are there for.