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

Scrapit

Deastons wrote: »

Yes, it can. And it did happen safely.

But as I've mentioned, there were two men on the grass verge/edge of the road collecting litter. In normal circumstances I would have kept close to the centre of the road to give as much room as possible for the litter pickers.

But this car prevented me from doing that and forced me to pass unnecessarily close to them. I doubt anyone was in any danger, but a bit like passing a cyclist, I prefer to give as much room for error as possible.

And that just got me thinking, hence my question. Normally I wait for the oncoming lane to be clear before I overtake, to ensure it's safe. But a lot of others seem to see oncoming traffic and overtake anyway - I was intrigued to know if there's a rule that says oncoming traffic must make space.

Litter pickers were off the road. If you were off the road then it would be a problem. But if you were off the road you'd be in the wrong. The workers weren't an issue.

comeandgo

Scrapit wrote: »

Litter pickers were off the road. If you were off the road then it would be a problem. But if you were off the road you'd be in the wrong. The workers weren't an issue.

Have you been a few feet from traffic doing 60 miles an hour past you with no barriers? It is scary, Try it then you will give roadside workers the proper respect and distance they need.

Deastons

Herzlos wrote: »

Your post history is public.

What have I ever said about an international licence?

Scrapit

comeandgo wrote: »

Have you been a few feet from traffic doing 60 miles an hour past you with no barriers? It is scary, Try it then you will give roadside workers the proper respect and distance they need.

Oh I see, you are gonna go ahead and assume I haven't, ok then. I have and I know for a fact what I say stands. Any risk assement and method statement that allows workers near enough to vehicles when they do not leave the road is completely flawed on the most basic levels. Personally I only work behind varioguard now and even then the risk assessments I write require me and my workers to be 600mm inside those at all times.:T

Deastons

Scrapit wrote: »

Litter pickers were off the road.

Were they? That's not how I remember it. But as you were clearly there, I'll bow to your superior knowledge.

AndyMc.....

Deastons wrote: »

Were they? That's not how I remember it. But as you were clearly there, I'll bow to your superior knowledge.

Next time use the brakes and slow right down.

Scrapit

Deastons wrote: »

Were they? That's not how I remember it. But as you were clearly there, I'll bow to your superior knowledge.

Yes they were.;)

System

I drive a 44 tonne lorry. Thanks to the "must get in front of the lorry at all costs" mentality of a lot of drivers there have been plenty of occasions where I have been in the right but have still taken action to avoid a collision. Two that immediately come to mind would have resulted in the deaths of the drivers had I took your view, Deastons. In both cases they were waiting to turn right from a side road on the left and as I approached at 50MPH decided the best time to set off from a standstill and drive right across the front of my lorry was when I was within feet of the side road. One of the times on the A515 approaching Buxton I had to brake so hard when a muppet in a Land Rover Discovery decided to do it that despite the lorry being fitted with ABS and EBS and being an automatic I locked up all 6 axles and stalled the truck. That was also about as close to being in a jacknife that I ever want to get.

Just because you're in the right doesn't automatically mean that you shouldn't give way to avoid a collision. In such a case if there was a collision the police would likely take a very dim view if you said you did nothing to avoid it when it was possible to do so because you were in the right.

Mercdriver

Deastons wrote: »

So you say I am "obliged to create space" but can't actually provide something to back it up?

Are you saying that you can't see the developing situation and can't do something yourself to avoid the situation? Time to put the speed gun down and learn to have better observation skills and drive at an appropriate speed.

If this is something that happens regularly and you can't stop in time to avoid a parked car or litter pickers, then you aren't doing it right, Gina.

Mercdriver

Deastons wrote: »

Yes, it can. And it did happen safely.

But as I've mentioned, there were two men on the grass verge/edge of the road collecting litter. In normal circumstances I would have kept close to the centre of the road to give as much room as possible for the litter pickers.

There's another hole you failed to notice. This time it is in your argument. Your efforts to avoid endangering the litter pickers is admirable and is indeed your duty as a driver. You can avoid endangering them by passing them at a speed that removes them from being at risk of being harmed. Ok you lose 15 - 20 seconds at most. Learn to be pragmatic. Driving for real isn't like using a remote controlled RX-8.