Is passing on the left at this junction inconsiderate?

[KangarRooRooRoo]

There's a junction I regularly navigate on my way to work every day, it's a small B road joining a main A road at a t-junction. Turning right can be tricky as the road is busy and visibility isn't great. There is always a queue of 5-6 cars waiting to pull out of the B road and cars can often be sat there for several minutes waiting for a sufficient gap. Most cars turn right but about 25% turn left.

The joining B road is single carriage way but widens at the t-junction to allow plenty of room for 2 cars to be side by side, although there are no white lines or 'lanes'.

Cars in the queue on the B road regularly drive up the left hand side of a right turning car, blocking their view and usually meaning a gap/several gaps to pull out get missed and the right hand turning car is sat there for another minute or so.

I don't believe this is illegal or against the highway code in anyway but what is the etiquette here?

YABU: It's fine, it's not illegal and if you can go you should go
YANBU: it might not be illegal but it's bad etiquette and inconsiderate to other drivers

I’m convinced this exact story has been posted before. I can’t remember what the consensus was though.

If there's room for two cars it makes sense for cars that are turning left to use the space. They could be stuck behind right-turning cars unnecessarily. There's lots of similar junctions near me, it's what everyone does.

It's annoying but seems to be the done thing. I don't like cars who pass on the left when you're turning right off a main road when there's not much room, either. Feels unnecessarily risky and impatient so (depending on the road) I sometimes position myself in the centre to stop people doing it. I guess that's an option in this situation but it will piss people off !

The joining B road is single carriage way but widens at the t-junction to allow plenty of room for 2 cars to be side by side, although there are no white lines or 'lanes'
So it's a single lane and no, no I e should pass on the left.

Similar junction near me, the opposite problem, I could go up the inside to turn left, but my view would be blocked by the massive SUV turnng right. Personally, if I'm turning right, I stay central in the lane, so i don't get taken out by a truck cutting the corner. It all depends on the road layout and width of the lane.

Is it not possible to look through the glass of the left-turning vehicles to evaluate traffic coming from that side, just as they are looking through your windows to see nothing is coming from the right?

Although if they are in stupid massive SUVs they may be higher than you, but that can't be everyone.

There is a difference between the rules of the road as per the highway code and the effective practice on the road

The highway code does not specify anything about a widened part of a junction in the paragraphs about junctions but only has references to use of lanes in paragraphs 134 and 163

134 is about lane discipline, 163 is about overtaking

If there are not any lane markings then it is one lane
(eg a single arrow line with two or more arrow points is one lane, but a left arrow and a right arrow that are both seperate indicate two lanes)

A wide lane exists to allow for different types of vehicles and for the appropriate positioning to aid the vehicle that is turning and also to show other road users your likely intent (along with indicator or in the case of going forward you would not indicate but would position)
Take care of long vehicles that may position to one side but turn in the opposite direction to give maximum space

In practice though it is different and left turners will push through. Technically in certain circumstances they can claim to be correct to progress traffic passing a stationary vehicle which is being held up by traffic not affecting left turners

But two vehicles on a widening junction block the view of each other and make the junction more hazardous
If an incident occurs the highway code trumps what people may be doing in general

It depends what the left turning vehicle is, a normal car and the driver turning right would be able to see traffic from the left over the other cars bonnet, in the other case the driver turning left has to see through the right turning cars windows, not always easy if it's a suv with tinted glass. I agree truck or bus is involved stay well back, because the tail will have a wide swing.

No, the junction widens considerably, so the left turning car is angled slightly away completely blocking the view (which is not great even when there isn't another vehicle there).

Of course it's fine. It's why (in part) the road widens at the end. It is why (in part) the correct position to turn right is up against the centre line where position, and why (in part) the correct position to turn left is close to the kerb. You could potentially receive faults on a driving test for not making use of the space to make progress yourself and to enable others to do so.

You absolutely should not stay central in your lane - the correct position to turn right absent other considerations present at the time of positioning is against the centre line.

If a lorry is already approaching to turn, the safest course of action is to hold back and let them turn. If there isn't you should position correctly against the centre line.

By adopting the correct position, you are maximising traffic flow by allowing people to turn left while you wait for a gap. You are giving the strongest message about your intentions to back up an indicator by having a really obvious right turn position (think about how a central lane position would look at a crossroads for example, especially if your indicator is off or simply not observed for some reason). You are discouraging idiots on motorbikes, bikes, scooters etc. from trying to turn right alongside you by closing the space down.

The people who go to the left and block your view turning right absolutely drive me mad. There is totally no need and you can normally see through the windows of the car on the right, to check its clear and then pull forward and out. Total ignorant morons and unfortunately, we seem to be over run with them. Also people who don’t acknowledge when you give way. Not sure when manners disappeared !

This would be more dangerous as the left turner (who is looking through the window) is only having to assess one direction of traffic (though should look left as good practice but have a clear view this way). The right turner however, has to assess properly 2 sets of traffic and at a busy junction, could miss for example, a motorbike or cyclist, coming from the left on opposite side of road, by trying to view the furthest side of the road through another car. Clearly not as safe as the other way round.

You think other people are impatient for following the rule correctly, and your solution is to do bad positioning to piss them off? You’re joking, right?

Yes. If vehicles pass too closely and don't slow down at all, and do not account for the position of the right turning vehicle when they make their turn, they are impatient, yes. There are two specific roads I am thinking of near to me. Neither would delay anyone for any significant period by positioning slightly more centrally but does discourage drivers breaking the speed limit and driving badly. Frankly, if I had a bigger car, they couldn't try and squeeze past anyway.

That's by the by really.

In op's case , I am saying she could take a more central position which would allow her to get out quicker and safely, however it will piss people behind her off. That is not the same as saying she should do this in order TO piss people off. I'm saying it may be the consequence.

Then you're in the wrong. A widened junction doesn't need lane markings to facilitate both left and right turns, and sitting in the middle just makes you a dick if there is room for both vehicles to turn.

If turning right, you should be up to and positioned near the central markings, so your car is sitting close to the central markings. Like this Accord Driving School - Emerging from minor road onto major road

If there is room for cars to pass you on your left they can do so, and it will improve the flow of traffic up to that junction. Impeding them is just stupid.

If you are staying over towards the left to avoid large vehicles turning right into the minor road, then you are still in the wrong. They will either make the turn, or allow you to make the right turn before they turn into the road. Obviously if you see a bus or lorry making a manoeuvre as you approach the junction you'd hang back to allow them to complete the turn but that isn't what you're saying here.