If someone coming the other way is on my side of the road, do I have to move over?

Deastons

There's a realtively long, straight, wide single-carriageway road near me. People often decide to overtake while there's oncoming traffic by forcing the oncoming traffic to move hard to their left to create a magic overtaking lane down the middle of the road.

Today there was litter-picking happening - a van parked on the side and a couple of guys collecting rubbish.

A car was suddenly on my side, hurtling towards me as they overtook a lorry. I had no choice but to move uncomfortably close to the guys picking litter (not dangerously close, but closer than I feel comfortable with).

And this got me thinking, do I have to move over? If a car coming in the opposite direction moves into my lane, do I have to allow space for them? If we made contact, whose fault would it be?

Scrapit

Try not moving. That will give you your answer.

wymondham

Do whatever you have to, to avoid hitting anything...

spadoosh

Deastons wrote: »

There's a realtively long, straight, wide single-carriageway road near me. People often decide to overtake while there's oncoming traffic by forcing the oncoming traffic to move hard to their left to create a magic overtaking lane down the middle of the road.

Today there was litter-picking happening - a van parked on the side and a couple of guys collecting rubbish.

A car was suddenly on my side, hurtling towards me as they overtook a lorry. I had no choice but to move uncomfortably close to the guys picking litter (not dangerously close, but closer than I feel comfortable with).

And this got me thinking, do I have to move over? If a car coming in the opposite direction moves into my lane, do I have to allow space for them? If we made contact, whose fault would it be?

Its not always a case of one person being at fault. In a situation where you can avoid an accident but choose not to you will be breaking some road law (im going for without due care and attention, hopefully smarter people can correct me).

You have a lot of problems on the road dont you?

Deastons

Scrapit wrote: »

Try not moving. That will give you your answer.

But then it becomes a game of chicken. In my opinion, the other car should have waited until the opposite lane was clear before starting their overtaking manoevre.

But instead they just assumed I would move over to create a path for them (which I did, but I didn't want to out of respect for the litter pickers).

tho_2

The other car should wait. They didnt. So you either crash or move. is it worth your life to make a point about priorities?

foxy-stoat

Deastons wrote: »

But then it becomes a game of chicken. In my opinion, the other car should have waited until the opposite lane was clear before starting their overtaking manoevre.

But instead they just assumed I would move over to create a path for them (which I did, but I didn't want to out of respect for the litter pickers).

I would agree with you, they should of waited...but they didnt and its on you now not to hit the other car or hit any humans.

Glad you didnt hit anyone....another vote for a dash cam and send the footage to the police for them to have a word with the other plank.

James2k

Deastons

tho wrote: »

The other car should wait. They didnt. So you either crash or move. is it worth your life to make a point about priorities?

Of course not. And I made no suggestion that I wanted to risk anyone's life to make a point.

But cars do it along that road all the time - driving down the magic middle lane. And a lot of cars automatically drive close to the edge in order to create that lane, as if to encourage overtaking.

I'm simply asking if I am obliged to create space, because if those litter-pickers had felt I was dangerously close and reported me, I'm assuming I'd ultimately be in the wrong.

Aylesbury_Duck

Yes, you are obliged to create space but you have a responsibility to assess the situation and not endanger the roadside workers, either. Ultimately, if that means slowing right down to a halt, so be it.

Deastons

Aylesbury_Duck wrote: »

Yes, you are obliged to create space but you have a responsibility to assess the situation and not endanger the roadside workers, either. Ultimately, if that means slowing right down to a halt, so be it.

I was doing 60mph, they were doing more than that (assuming the lorry was doing around 56mph), even an emergency stop wouldn't have prevented me hitting them.

Could you provide a link to where it says I must make space?