Leaving brief gaps when queuing past side roads
Discussion
Maybe not an advanced driving question , but I’m curious about this scenario, and not sure what is the correct thing to do.
Driving along main road , slowing up towards a set of lights (ped crossing)
I leave the side road clear as I slow to a crawl then brief stop. A car is waiting to turn right out the side road.
However after a couple of seconds,the traffic ahead of me is moving again.
What is the correct thing to do - wait for them to emerge as if I’ve committed to leaving a gap for that car (even if the emphasis is on them to check it is clear in both directions) or move off again as soon as traffic in front does ? I feel I confuse other drivers sometimes. I won’t flash them out if they are turning right , but I’ll leave the gap as long as the traffic in front is stopped.
When traffic moves again I’ll move again.
How can I avoid confusion unless I just don’t leave a gap ?!
Driving along main road , slowing up towards a set of lights (ped crossing)
I leave the side road clear as I slow to a crawl then brief stop. A car is waiting to turn right out the side road.
However after a couple of seconds,the traffic ahead of me is moving again.
What is the correct thing to do - wait for them to emerge as if I’ve committed to leaving a gap for that car (even if the emphasis is on them to check it is clear in both directions) or move off again as soon as traffic in front does ? I feel I confuse other drivers sometimes. I won’t flash them out if they are turning right , but I’ll leave the gap as long as the traffic in front is stopped.
When traffic moves again I’ll move again.
How can I avoid confusion unless I just don’t leave a gap ?!
When the traffic is queued it can hinder visibility to see if the other lane is clear - so it might take longer than you expect for them to confirm that they can go. As the gap grows in front of you their visibility will improve. If I can see for myself that they've got a gap I'll make it obvious that I'm giving up my right of way by not moving at all and making eye-contact. If they don't use the chance or the second chance then I'll just go, cautiously.
If there's no hope of a gap on the other lane I'll usually close the gap immediately - waiting excessively causes confusion and is discourteous to drivers behind.
If the waiting driver is being particularly keen and willing to creep out in front of me whilst waiting for a gap on the other side, I'll try to facilitate that by leaving space.
I wouldn't try to flash them out, and it's the only instance when I don't just take my right-of-way.
If there's no hope of a gap on the other lane I'll usually close the gap immediately - waiting excessively causes confusion and is discourteous to drivers behind.
If the waiting driver is being particularly keen and willing to creep out in front of me whilst waiting for a gap on the other side, I'll try to facilitate that by leaving space.
I wouldn't try to flash them out, and it's the only instance when I don't just take my right-of-way.
Edited by Ed/L152 on Thursday 21st February 09:15
For OP,
You are doing the correct thing in leaving a gap, that is also courteous for other road users wanting to turn right in front of you from the main road into the minor road.
Never wave or "flash" other drivers out. If they hit something you may also be liable. No motorcyclist would ever thank you for waving someone out as he was overtaking you, and the driver you waved out thought it was clear....and hit him! Same for cyclists undertaking you.
As you are sat there you could check both mirrors, so if the car from the minor road did start to take advantage of the gap you have left....if something was coming up behind you that you thought the emerging driver had not seen ....you could sound your horn, everyone would then slow/stop what they are doing and you could prevent an accident
When to move again? say there was oncoming traffic....he would not be able to emerge anyway...so proceed with caution, eye contact often helps
If no oncoming traffic, then you could consider being a good egg, and let him out, his choice to go or not, if he does not take the gap, then again proceed with caution
When in stop start traffic I always leave the gap, even to drive ways, who knows an oncoming car might want to turn onto his drive, if you are blocking it he is then holding up traffic behind him, a six foot gap is hardly holding up traffic behind you!
You are doing the correct thing in leaving a gap, that is also courteous for other road users wanting to turn right in front of you from the main road into the minor road.
Never wave or "flash" other drivers out. If they hit something you may also be liable. No motorcyclist would ever thank you for waving someone out as he was overtaking you, and the driver you waved out thought it was clear....and hit him! Same for cyclists undertaking you.
As you are sat there you could check both mirrors, so if the car from the minor road did start to take advantage of the gap you have left....if something was coming up behind you that you thought the emerging driver had not seen ....you could sound your horn, everyone would then slow/stop what they are doing and you could prevent an accident
When to move again? say there was oncoming traffic....he would not be able to emerge anyway...so proceed with caution, eye contact often helps
If no oncoming traffic, then you could consider being a good egg, and let him out, his choice to go or not, if he does not take the gap, then again proceed with caution
When in stop start traffic I always leave the gap, even to drive ways, who knows an oncoming car might want to turn onto his drive, if you are blocking it he is then holding up traffic behind him, a six foot gap is hardly holding up traffic behind you!
Agree it's good practice in relation to side roads, good advice from others.
Now how about entrances to properties?
On a regular route we've been afflicted with temporary lights over a couple of years now in various places, feels like over 50% of the time. Glad I don't live there it would piss me right off.
The queue often extends past properties and side roads. At least once a week someone will come through the lights in the opposite direction, then stop to turn into their drive, usually prevented by the queue. Traffic tails back through the lights, much shuffling to make space, by which time, if the lights are on timer, they've now cycled onto green. Right turner gets in their drive, opposing traffic clears just in time to let a couple through then back on red. A fair few think, wrongly, stuff it and go through on red and it all goes downhill from there.
Personally when I'm in the queue I also keep entrances clear, some people really don't appreciate it, and it's especially difficult when you've got a long trailer on the back. It's particularly galling when you've made a space and some impatient arse overtakes to fill it. On those occasions I just want a right turner to come along, my prayers have sadly never been answered.
Now how about entrances to properties?
On a regular route we've been afflicted with temporary lights over a couple of years now in various places, feels like over 50% of the time. Glad I don't live there it would piss me right off.
The queue often extends past properties and side roads. At least once a week someone will come through the lights in the opposite direction, then stop to turn into their drive, usually prevented by the queue. Traffic tails back through the lights, much shuffling to make space, by which time, if the lights are on timer, they've now cycled onto green. Right turner gets in their drive, opposing traffic clears just in time to let a couple through then back on red. A fair few think, wrongly, stuff it and go through on red and it all goes downhill from there.
Personally when I'm in the queue I also keep entrances clear, some people really don't appreciate it, and it's especially difficult when you've got a long trailer on the back. It's particularly galling when you've made a space and some impatient arse overtakes to fill it. On those occasions I just want a right turner to come along, my prayers have sadly never been answered.
FiF,
We have the same problem in Southampton where some temp lights are set up going over the motorway whilst they spend (at the rate they are going at) a couple of years rebuilding it. The amount of drivers blocking the entrances to house/s properties causing a back up is bad when they want to get in/out.
It's because most people are stupid/ignorant/don't care/not thinking
We have the same problem in Southampton where some temp lights are set up going over the motorway whilst they spend (at the rate they are going at) a couple of years rebuilding it. The amount of drivers blocking the entrances to house/s properties causing a back up is bad when they want to get in/out.
It's because most people are stupid/ignorant/don't care/not thinking
If it feels safe, I will leave a gap, it is courteous to do. If I believe leaving a gap would be dangerous, I will block it (but that will be rare). I will rarely flash them, I let them make the decision. I make sure that even if I cannot see a right turn indicator, I will check their front wheel angles for confirmation of which direction they appear to be turning.
I have to say these elements of courtesy vary widely across these isles. In North West Wales, leaving a gap would be very commonly expected, as would letting pedestrians across. In tourist season that all goes to pot with a bit more horn blowing (normally extremely rare here) - car registrations doing this, usually start with a M, B, or D; nuff said.
I have to say these elements of courtesy vary widely across these isles. In North West Wales, leaving a gap would be very commonly expected, as would letting pedestrians across. In tourist season that all goes to pot with a bit more horn blowing (normally extremely rare here) - car registrations doing this, usually start with a M, B, or D; nuff said.
Edited by Pica-Pica on Sunday 3rd March 15:30
This can sometimes cause problems. There is a set of lights near me with a side road that comes into a spot that cars queue. Now this side road is heavily used. The problem is when a large number of cars are on the side road and someone lets them out and the lights change.
You can often have a situation were one car after another comes out of the side roads and blocks traffic on the main road. Meaning that the drivers on the main road miss the lights.
You can often have a situation were one car after another comes out of the side roads and blocks traffic on the main road. Meaning that the drivers on the main road miss the lights.
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