It’s a driving one (diagram included lol)

[Timetogetgone]

I’m ready to be told I’m in the wrong (gently haha) but today, I was pulling out of a side road, turning right.

At this junction, it’s very tight, you have to pull forward to see down the road to see who’s coming. Anyway, it was totally clear no cars coming from the right (I’m the red car) so I’ve pulled out to go into the left lane, I had to wait for one car to pass on my left and I could go.

In that time, someone has come down the road on my right and tried to go around me. She broke suddenly as she nearly went into my car and said why did you pull out? But I was already on the main road?! the road was already clear for me to go (she must have sped up) and then nearly went into me.

I said why are you trying to go around me?! I hadn’t just pulled out, I was there in front of her.

Was I in the wrong?

I'm afraid you are in the wrong as you should have waited for the road to be clear both ways before turning right, but she could have been more reasonable, worked out what you were doing and waited, from what you say, a very short period of time for you to complete your turn.

The road wasn’t clear as a car was coming on the left. I do appreciate that people do pull forward and wait for oncoming traffic to pass and most of the time other approaching cars see that’s what they’re doing and let them out, but you are in the wrong for pulling out on an unclear road unfortunately.

I totally understand what you mean, but I promise you she was not there when I pulled out (I definitely wouldn’t have pulled out otherwise) then she just literally appeared!

Yes, you're in the wrong. Pulling out for a better view is always risky. Your main error is that you pulled out when there was a car coming to the left. You should have only pulled out slowly when it was totally clear on the left and then have a better view on the right to get on the road.

Ok, totally noted and I didn’t really realise that even though there was space on the right, that I shouldn’t have pulled out until there was complete space on the left. Noted for the future though!

How can she appear out of nowhere? Is there a bend in the road? It sounds like you crossed her path so would be in the wrong.

I believe you! But you would have been able to see whether the road was clear from the left so should have waited until it was to pull out rather than pull halfway across in anticipation.
That's in an ideal world of course, but I wouldn't worry about it too much - she didn't hit you and no-one was hurt. Just one to be a bit more cautious of next time!

Hi, yes there is a bend In the road further down but I can guarantee she was not there (hence why I think she sped up) I checked my dash camera and she was not in the road when I had pulled out.

100%. I’ve bee brushing up on my Highway Code inbetween emails now haha

If you were just waiting for the car continuing along to the right before completing your manoeuvre then you should have waiting at the junction and then proceeded. There is no filter area for you to sit on. You performed an unsafe manoeuvre.

Tbh in very congested areas this is one of the rules that people just have to break, but it does put you technically in the wrong. There are thousands of places in and around London (for example) where if you’re turning right onto a main road, you’d be there for literally hours if you waited for it to be clear in both directions. Most drivers know this and someone will usually just stop and let you out, but every now and then you’ll get someone who’s outraged that you’re not sticking to the letter of the Highway Code, and technically they’re in the right.

You look to be in the wrong, you don't pull out and then wait for the other lane to clear, you wait for both lanes to be clear so you can pull out in one go.

As another point I think you should move forward from the 'stop' line to see right only when the left is already clear. That way you are not left with your nose hanging out into the road while traffic is still coming from the left.

Yup! I’m in London and I’m pretty central, so the roads are very narrow and rubbish visibility. I’ve lived here my whole life and really, it’s one of those road that you have to because as you said, you’d be there hours but the road was clear on my right, I don’t understand why she wanted to crash into me haha

How would your dashcam see another car off to the side as you pulled out? Does it look sideways as well as just forward / back? Is it a high speed limit road?

Unfortunately it’s on you to double check that both ways are clear before proceeding, it’s been drilled into me to look, check and look again before pulling out by my driving instructor. Things can change quickly on the road! It’s annoying how many badly visible junctions there are as well, especially depending on your car type which seems to impact how easily you can see.

It’s totally my bad. I had to pull out slightly on the right to check down the road (it’s a tight space) but no one was there at all and then on my left, a car was passing so I basically waited a small fraction of time to move off and she had then tried to go in front of me (she would have gone into the other car as well due to the tight road)

It’s a fish eye lens so when I’ve pulled up and pulled forward it can see down the road. It’s a 30mph road but people obviously speed down it all the time.

but you’re right and I will triple check from now on (but probably go the long way round to avoid this junction haha it’s such a busy area I’d never get out otherwise)

She’s probably just angry all the time. There’s nothing like driving in London to make you grateful for having a reasonably calm temperament!

The road wasn't clear, you pulled out and blocked it until you could proceed with your right turn.

YABU. You should wait on the side road until the main road is clear in both directions.