Did I do something wrong?

contrivant

I literally can not figure out why this guy did this, so I wanted to see if I was missing something. I've only been driving in the UK for about 2 years now, previous to that I'd been driving in the US for about 20 years, so I'm open to the fact that I may have done something wrong.

I was turning right from a side road onto a main road yesterday. Had a large SUV behind me that wanted to turn left, and behind him a guy in a smaller Audi. I pulled up as far as I could without going into the road to let the SUV squeeze past me to make his left, but he didn't move forward (being cautious about the amount of space).

The traffic on the main road isn't terrible, but it was fairly steady being that it was 5 o'clock, and while there were some gaps, nothing I could have pulled out into the road for without causing another driver to have to brake quite a lot. As I finally see my opening (I'd been there 2 or 3 minutes), I check my right mirror and the Audi has decided to overtake me? On a right turn? He honks and sweeps around me onto the A road. I let him pass then turn to get behind him as the road is clear enough that we can both go. He drives for about 100 metres, then pulls over and parks. I honestly can't figure out why you would overtake someone making a right turn? It just seems so ludicrous that I can't understand why anyone would do that.

Can't post an image as I'm too new, but the co-ordinates on google maps are 52.4329124,-1.9380726 and I was turning right from Acacia Rd onto Linden Rd.

facade

You were waiting too long for him, and he watched you wait through gaps that he could have got out and pushed his car across, so he likely assumed correctly that you wouldn't go in this gap either.

Really, you should have collided with him as if there was enough space for him to overtake a stationary vehicle (you) there would have been ample time for you to have turned right, so you should have turned into him

His defence would be that you had clearly broken down.

You didn't do anything wrong, you were just overcautious, a bit more experience and you will judge gaps and time better.

Herzlos

He's an Audi driver, there's no point trying to figure out a reason.

Double_V

Herzlos wrote: »

He's an Audi driver, there's no point trying to figure out a reason.

Please don't say like that.

bartelbe

You did nothing wrong, this country is full of terrible and dangerous drivers who should have their licence's taken away.

contrivant

facade wrote: »

You were waiting too long for him, and he watched you wait through gaps that he could have got out and pushed his car across, so he likely assumed correctly that you wouldn't go in this gap either.

Really, you should have collided with him as if there was enough space for him to overtake a stationary vehicle (you) there would have been ample time for you to have turned right, so you should have turned into him

His defence would be that you had clearly broken down.

You didn't do anything wrong, you were just overcautious, a bit more experience and you will judge gaps and time better.

As I saw the gap coming up, I checked my mirrors (we have a lot of cyclists) and when I saw him moving, I chose to stay stationery. It's not worth me having an accident over someone trying to push in front of me. He was sitting across the Linden Road lane on that road for a bit before the gap actually came up.

I honestly don't think I was being overcautious though. I drive a little 1 litre car, it doesn't pick up speed quickly, and if I'd taken any of those smaller gaps, the person behind me would have had to put on brakes really hard.

You may be right that he could have gotten out in those gaps I couldn't because my car isn't powerful enough though.

facade

contrivant wrote: »

As I saw the gap coming up, I checked my mirrors (we have a lot of cyclists) and when I saw him moving, I chose to stay stationery.

Well done for checking your mirrors before you moved, I didn't mean you should just crash into him regardless, but that you should have been moving before he did really, you're in front, and the gap arrives at you first.

Don't worry about it, no harm done, keep making the observations and drive safely.

pendragon_arther

Some of us more experienced drivers probably wouldn't wait that long to turn. If there's traffic in both directions some of us would ease out half way even if it means blocking an oncoming vehicle for a few seconds to find a gap in the other flow of traffic.

contrivant

pendragon_arther wrote: »

Some of us more experienced drivers probably wouldn't wait that long to turn. If there's traffic in both directions some of us would ease out half way even if it means blocking an oncoming vehicle for a few seconds to find a gap in the other flow of traffic.

Yes, to be fair, we would never do that back home and I'm still dubious about doing it over here. I don't like blocking people if I can help it. Ah, city driving

wba31

contrivant wrote: »

Yes, to be fair, we would never do that back home and I'm still dubious about doing it over here. I don't like blocking people if I can help it. Ah, city driving

Not just city driving, city driving in Birmingham. It's a flipping nightmare most the time, there seems to be a lot of people hell bent on just getting to their destination ASAP without any thought for the rules of the road, courtesy to other drivers, common sense to other drivers. I see it every day on my commute, and the best course of action is, as you did, remain calm, patient, and just let them act foolishly without getting involved and keeping yourself safe.

Andrew_Ryan_89

Mate, 2-3 minutes is a long time. You need to edge yourself out and block of the traffic coming from the right. Someone coming from your left is bound to let you past or see a gap. Just have to put your foot down.