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.

OP's other driver could have slowed down but chose not to "as they had right of way".
It sounds like someone made a dangerous manoeuvre which didn't allow you time to adjust your speed. If you did have time to adjust your speed, but chose not to then (regardless of right of way) I think you should have.

Highway says you should not be making manoeuvres such as a 3 point turn on a busy road, you should continue in the direction of travel and find a quiet road to make your manoeuvre.

OP has accepted she should not have done the turn where she did.
The other car still should have slowed down so that they were driving safely with the conditions ie a car doing a manoeuvre ahead.

A single car 300m away in London probably isn't regarded as busy though.

That’s when I realised- I’m fine with all this stuff if people at least have the grace to say thank you. I hope you say thank you?

Whatever other faults I may have I will say I'm courteous both when it comes to giving way to other drivers and thanking them when they give way for me!

Yes we're in one of the outer London boroughs where the local council is allergic to the idea of 20mph speed limits, traffic calming, ULEZ...

I drive in London regularly and if someone is doing a 3 point turn, depending on which point they are at I would slow down/stop if they were almost at the point of going forward so they could complete the turn and drive off in front of me or if they were still reversing I would go past and continue on my way

I wouldn’t wait for them to complete a 3 point turn if they were just about to start one

Won’t go into details but a few years ago I had a fine for driving northward on a particular road

The only sign I passed to say only residents and permit holders could continue along the road in 100 metres was placed after the last exit anyone could take to get off the road.
I refused to pay and had them take me to court
After realising that it didn’t matter how many signs they had placed at the bottom of the road, if I hadn’t approached from the bottom of the road, they changed tack and said on seeing the signs at the start of the restricted part of the road I should have done a U turn or 3 point turn in the middle of this quite busy road. The photos of me continuing to drive on this restricted road just showed the amount of traffic there was

Judge thought that was a dangerous suggestion given the amount of traffic and cancelled all of my fines which had got to high is 3 figures

You would have failed a driving test for that. After the second turn you're supposed to check your mirrors let traffic past

Doing a three point turn on a main road = reckless

YABU

But you'll continue to argue your (invalid) point

yep it looks like it.

AIBU...

yes you are

Oh but, but, but...No I'm not...

YABU

Regardless of the other traffic, you made a manoeuvre involving reversing outside a school. If the road is so narrow then the back or front bumpers will be overhanging the kerb at the limit of each manoeuvre. You couldn't possible see a small child on the pavement at that distance.

I think there's an argument for NOT making 3 point turns part of the initial test. Might mean people without the confidence to do one properly and appropriately don't attempt it where they shouldn't

Not far from me is what used to be a minor road, almost a back road although it's in a city. Driving Instructors used to use it to teach their pupils 3PTs, no problem. A few years ago the Council built a brand new main road that this road now feeds onto but instructors are still using it to teach 3PTs despite there being 10X the traffic using it to get to the new road. Earlier this week there were 3 driving school cars waiting at the side of the road. Traffic was queued behind them back to the main road waiting for the oncoming traffic to pass so they could overtake the learners.

(Not immediately relevant to the OP but taking the opportunity to rant).

You assumed she’d stop but knew she had priority!