A driving AIBU: three point turns

[BeanAround]

This morning I was parked up next to the curb on a long straight 30mph urban road which is moderately busy. I needed to drive off in the opposite direction. The road is wide, but wide enough to U-turn meaning I had to do a three point turn in the road.

I waited until I had a reasonable amount of space clear of traffic in both directions - nothing visible behind me, and a car approaching about 300m away in front of me.

I completed two points of the three point turn and was ready to execute the third point as the approaching car reached me.

At this point, who should give way?

I fully expected the approaching car to adjust their speed so I could drive off ahead, but the car continued without slowing and went ahead of me, which gave me a bit of start.

YABU - the car turning in the road should give way to the approaching car, letting them pass before completing the 3 point turn

YANBU - the approaching car should slow to allow the car turning to complete the manoeuvre.

No, what IS reckless is starting to undertake a turn when a car that you can see will reach you before you complete it.

YABU. You shouldn’t be doing the manoeuvre unless a completely clear road and if necessary you should give way before completing the manoeuvre.

The polite thing to do would have been to wait for you to complete your move. But unfortunately, people aren't always polite. And if it was easy enough to slip by you, rather than wait, I can see that that is what most people would do.

Oh god, you're not the driver who started a thread about stopping her car to pick up her sat nav the other day? The one who had a lorry right behind her and who just indicated and stopped in the live lane. That thread was heaving with people saying it was fine to just stop in the road for whatever so I'm sure they'll be coming along to tell you to crack on with your 3 point turns.

YABU.

No, you shouldn't be doing that unless the road is absolutely clear.

If you follow Google Maps or your own car satnav, they will never have you performing a turn in the road. You will be sent a mile or more In the same direction until there is a safe roundabout or junction to make a U turn 🤓

Three point turners are so annoying, just drive the long way round

I would slow down as you’re mid manoeuvre, but I’d be irritated. People often do this near school, and there are other options (that would take them slightly longer but not inconvenience others), but they choose to suit themselves. I myself make sure to take plenty of time and turn my car round before parking up, so when I leave I’m facing in the right direction.

It’s a 5 min journey if I do a 3 point turn, going the long way round would take about 20mins as there’s no way to avoid hitting a gridlocked junction. There are no side roads to turn around in. Everyone dropping off does a 3 point turn.

Yet there is a busier road quiet enough to consider a 3 point turn.....of course you can find a better turning point

There are no side roads: the school is half way down a long wide avenue with no side roads. The roads at either end are bigger and significantly busier.

Then, surely, you wait until it is safe to manoeuvre and not "fully expect" someone to yield to you because you decided you have priority.

I agree with you op about the reality of driving, in London at least. The other driver was a bit of a twat for not slowing down.

You drive your kids to school in london? Not only should you stop going dangerous manoeuvres in the street to save you a few minutes, how about giving everyone around you a bresk and ditch the car altogether. You live in london!

Normally we walk (40min round trip) but sometimes my work logistics mean we need to drive. The school has a very large catchment for London so driving is very common.

Clearly are not trying hard enough

You need to find a new school for which no u-turn is needed
Or move to the other side of the school.

Either would provide a permanant solutiion.

HtH😀

I agree with the OP, any decent person would slow down to allow the other driver to complete their turn in the road. I would think they were rude to drive straight past and make you wait.

You don't start a manoeuvre when there is oncoming traffic.

Seriously ?

How is that any ruder than the OP driving in front of them and making them wait?

I'm a bit more pragmatic OP and agree a turn in the road isn't that unreasonable with a car 300m away. A little bit of common sense and we can all get through life a bit better. Other driver adjusts speed and is delayed by seconds, you don't add to already busy roads. Then maybe someday you can do similar for somebody else.

If I was the other driver, id slow down. If I was you, I wouldn't start a 3 point turn unless I had room to finish it before another car was coming. I'd go until there was somewhere to turn around, or go the long way.

Technically you shouldn't complete a manoeuvre like that when there is oncoming traffic. But in that instance I would wait and let the other car pass before I finish the manoeuvre

I would have slowed down to let you turn, but YABU - it's the wrong place to perform a 3 point turn.

I’m not in the UK but we’re I’m from someone performing a U-turn needs to give way to all other traffic.

Cycling is quicker