Why are people so determined for me to pull out in front of them?

[smelliecat]

I was driving today and it's a usual road. It reaches a road where visability is low and there is a bride. I always stop and have a good look before putting out. There are traffic lights in the distance and a in front of a hatched "keep clear" sign.

On the opposite side of the road lots of cars will stop and let me out - even when the road is empty..

I just don't get it.

Why.

I just don't know why someone would see a car and stop.

What?

People letting you out is a problem?

Correct. Why should I risk road safety by pulling out in front or them? On an empty road

Because they've stopped to let you pass on a presumably narrow bridge

It’s not risking rod safety though? Letting people out is a standard and essential part of the road system. It’s mildly inconvenient when someone stops with no traffic behind but that’s it.

Is this really bothering you this much at gone 11?!

I hate it when people decide to rewrite the rules of the road arbitrarily. It makes it so unclear what to do safely even if they mean well. It's different letting someone out in very congested traffic.

Your post is a bit hard to follow. But if lots of people are doing the same thing, maybe it’s you that is doing the wrong thing.

Jesus, people can’t do right for doing wrong!

I used to drive round Luton where it’s dog eat dog (after they’ve run them over).

Now I live somewhere where drivers are courteous and patient and generous and it’s lovely.

Move to Luton, OP - that’ll suit you down to the ground (scattered with car parts).

WTF. No. I libe in a city

That doesn't mean there aren't narrow bridges

I don't live near a narrow bridge and I'm not dumb enough to think they would need to stop to let me in front of them to go out on a narrow bridge....

Let me guess, you stop to let people pull out despite an empty road

Why are you just going after me? Other people also disagree

Who has right of way?

I don't move if other drivers have right of way and they wait and flash me. There's a junction near here that bad drivers often try to re-write the highway code. I just let them sit there until they realise I'm not budging and they move off.

All these terrible drivers being so polite 🤔

lol and I'm reading it late as it irritates the hell out of me too.

There's a time to let people out and a time to drive and get out of their way. Some people are continually telling others what to do on the road, including being 'helpful' when the help isn't needed.

I'm sorry I'm going to need a diagram

Think you mean people stop to let you cross their path when they actually have right of way. If any accident occurred you would be technically in the wrong as you do not have right of way. Reminiscent of the flash to crash scams, is that what you mean.

So what is a "bride", is it not a bridge? Or just not a narrow bridge?

I agree with you OP. As a driver your should be predictable, not polite. If you have priority just keep driving. When people stop to let you out when the road is clear behind them anyway it’s not kind; it shows a lack of awareness of what’s going on around them. It’s totally different to letting cars out of a side road in queued traffic. And if there were an accident as someone joining the main road, the driver being let out would be at fault.

And me! theres a junction near my home where people constantly try to let me out when they have the right of way - they wait there beckoning you into oncoming traffic and flashing their lights. I appreciate they’re trying to help but it’s the opposite.

The other one that annoys me is when people are driving along with one car behind them on an otherwise completely empty road and they’ll come to a complete stop to let a car out when if they’d just carried on the car would have been able to pull out safely and nobody would have had to stop. Instead you make 2 cars have to stop completely and the other car has to process what is happening, make sure the car is actually letting them out and then pull out, creating a completely unnecessary chain of events.

Thank you. Someone with sense!

Absolutely agree with you OP. Daily I have to navigate a really busy junction. You have to keep your wits about you as cars are everywhere and due to the layout you can't be certain which direction they plan on going.. Now and again I have people flashing to let me out but they're part of just one lane of cars I have to take account of, there's another two directions from which cars can come. So they're not actually in a position to flash and let me out. I then have to sit there ignoring them while traffic builds up behind them causing the junction to be even more hazardous.

So many accidents at this junction and I bet at least a few will be caused by drivers trying to be polite.

It's impossible to understand from your description what is actually happening but if lots of people are doing this then its probably an issue with your driving. Do they expect you to merge across like most people would and instead you are just driving up to the 'bride' and stopping like a numpty?

I sort of know what you mean. There are lots of situations where someone stopping to let you out is very welcome but when you are the only two cars on the road and them slowly approaching and slowing down to let you out takes longer than if they'd just carried on that does my head in a bit. But then I am always in a rush and find dithery driving infuriating all the time.

You shouldn’t be stopping to have a good look at the ‘bride’ 😁