Is it illegal to give up your right of way?

Strider590

^^ Strange isn't it?

Come cruising down the right hand lane of a dual carriageway, past a queue of cars and most people get the hump..... But take a detour off the DC, through a village and then back onto the DC and people can't wait to let you back in.

pitkin2020

Strider590 wrote: »

^^ Strange isn't it?

Come cruising down the right hand lane of a dual carriageway, past a queue of cars and most people get the hump..... But take a detour off the DC, through a village and then back onto the DC and people can't wait to let you back in.

Only in Britain, because they see you as a que jumper but british nature is to see any sort of que and join it, regardless of why lol

gregpot2000

When I was learning to drive in 2006, I actually failed a test for this. I flashed to let someone in the middle of the road pass in front of me, I was actually in a stationary line of traffic, so just delayed setting off, and flashed this guy in front of me.

The examiner said it is not up to me to direct the flow of traffic, and how could I be sure there wasn't a cyclist behind me. and there was a chance an accident could have occurred.

Trebor16

pitkin2020 wrote: »

Trying reading the post, Vax has said HE was having to slow down to let people out with an empty road behind him, because he is stuck behind SOMEONE who is slowing down to let people out when there is only 1 car behind them and an empty road behind that car. They are causing an inconvenience to that car behind them when there is no need.

Gosh Pitkin, given the pedantic nature of your reply it really is clear that your location in your profile is so apt, as you are clearly not living in the real world.:D

rev_henry

gregpot2000 wrote: »

When I was learning to drive in 2006, I actually failed a test for this. I flashed to let someone in the middle of the road pass in front of me, I was actually in a stationary line of traffic, so just delayed setting off, and flashed this guy in front of me.

The examiner said it is not up to me to direct the flow of traffic, and how could I be sure there wasn't a cyclist behind me. and there was a chance an accident could have occurred.

That's the kinda thing everyone does because its polite and helps everything along, but knows not to start doing it until after passing your test!

warehouse wrote: »

On my driving test, right at the end I was attempting waiting to turn right into the driving centre. Someone coming towards me flashed their lights. I didn't turn right as I knew it was a signal to let me know they were there, and I had absolutely no right of way. The examiner looked at me but I didn't move. The other driver flashed again and then stopped, and only then did I turn right, even though I still really didn't want to.

I passed, but the examiner said I shouldn't have hesitated when flashed and that they had only just passed me because of it. I didn't argue because I wanted to get my certificate and get the heck out of there, but it still annoys me to this day, (30 years later), that the person examining me didn't seem to know the highway code as well as I did!

On my test something similar happened. I had to pull out the test centre into a queue of traffic and was being rather over cautious about doing so. Eventually my examiner said something like 'I think this lady is letting you out' and I went. Didn't even get a minor for it iirc, but that examiner did seem a particularly nice fellow - towards the end of the test we were busy chatting about my A-levels and he didn't notice me, er, try to pull away in 4th.

vax2002 wrote: »

I did see an "accident " many years ago caused by such silly behaviour, on a main road and I can hear a fire engine hurtling down the outside, silly old get in front flashes a car out of the sidestreet and the woman turns straight in to the path of the overtaking fire engine, lights, bull horns, sirens, one large intake of breath waiting for the bump, but she was hit by a van coming the other way first and spun round in to a bus stop, the fire engine stopped, which was just as well as they ended up cutting her free.
The silly old git that flashed her out drove off over the plastic and glass!

Similar thing often happens at a petrol station I sometimes go to. The road is quite wide, you want to turn right into the forecourt, someone coming the other way also wants petrol and flashes you into the petrol station before him, but doesn't notice someone behind him overtaking him.


No, giving up your right of way is not illegal! It may be courteous or it may be silly or dangerous given the circumstances.
Flashing people out/in is also not illegal, but does go against the highway code rule 110:

'Flashing headlights. Only flash your headlights to let other road users know that you are there. Do not flash your headlights to convey any other message or intimidate other road users.'

Note that it does not say 'you MUST not' only 'do not' so its not illegal to do so, just naughty, technically.

reeac

Trebor16 wrote: »

So why bother slowing down then and letting someone else out if the road is empty? The car in the side turning will be able to pull out as soon as the car on the main road has gone. In the meantime there is no deceleration/acceleration cycle for the car on the main road to go through and therefore an improvement in efficiency.

I quite agree and personally I wouldn't slow down to let someone in if the road behind me was empty. My post was intended partially to inject a bit of humour into the heavy-handed approach of blasts on the horn etc. but also because the scenario was of TWO cars on the main road, not one isolated car and with no knowledge of the spacings between all three cars, visibility, local speed limits, number of cars queueing on the side road etc I don't see that one can be dogmatic about what is right and what is wrong.

Bowling_4_Gold

Can be quite a dangerous habit:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQkKigg4v9c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B21UJsx9vWk

dacouch

I let police cars in at least three times a week and not once have they had an issue with it, they are always grateful and give a wave in appreciation.

I also let out other emergency services, other drivers, cyclist, motor bikes and also mums with prams / toddlers or other people who struggle to get other the road. It's very easy to do this without affecting the cars following you arrival time, you often don't need to stop just adjust your speed and show them you have seen them / allowing them out. This can also be when you can see the traffic light ahead is red so it make no difference to following drivers if you stop.

This is in London.

You should try it one day, it's very rewarding to be nice to other people, karma is a wonderful thing, one day you could the person in a side road with no chance of joining the road unless someone lets you in.

Obukit

Bowling_4_Gold wrote: »

Can be quite a dangerous habit:

To be fair both are the fault of the drivers turning without looking, not the person flashing their lights. In both occasions it should be obvious - as the vehicles were vans so couldn't check their blind spots - that the flash meant "I'm not moving forward", not "You can turn across both lanes without looking".

Bowling_4_Gold

Obukit wrote: »

To be fair both are the fault of the drivers turning without looking, not the person flashing their lights. In both occasions it should be obvious - as the vehicles were vans so couldn't check their blind spots - that the flash meant "I'm not moving forward", not "You can turn across both lanes without looking".

Yes it was the fault of the turning drivers in both instances, but I feel there is less likelihood that the collisions would happen if they weren't 'flashed out'- at least a little of the blame goes to the 'flashing' drivers.

It kind of puts you under pressure to move when someone is flashing at you, therefore you may neglect the basic safety checks... not an excuse though!