Is it illegal to reverse from a side road to a main road?

[Marcellus]

I had a situation last night in West London (SW13) where I was driving down a typical side road in that area with cars parked both sides of the road and the road wide enough for one car.

I was about 3/4s of the way down the road when I saw two vehicles turn in from different directions and head towards me.

So, I stopped and as there were 2 of them the sensible thing fro me to do was reverse looking for a parking space so I could drop into it, let them pass and then continue on my way.

I reversed all the way to the start of the road where the cars parked on my passenger side stopped (there was a garage door) but there were cars still parked on the drivers side.

I reversed far enough that the cars could pull round me and then turn on to the main road and my rear bumper was just shy of the white lines.

The 1st car, who was a taxi thanked me and went on his way,

But the 2nd one pulled right up to my car, bumper to bumper and started all sorts of trouble; frantically gesticulating at me, revving engine, leaning on horn, reversing and then driving toward me to jump on the brakes inches from bumper, even threatening to set their dog on me (have you seen how ferocious lap dogs are in Barnes??) and wishing me a painful premature death!!

Apparently, I should have got out of her way by reversing all the way out the road on to the main road at the end giving her a clear passage to go on her merry way.

I will acknowledge, I was early for where I was going so in no rush and perhaps just a tad antagonistic (when she started to take my photo I did ask her to make sure she got my left side ad it showed less of my double chins, when she threatened to call the police offered her the use of my phone etc etc etc) but the by standers who came out the the bar where this was happening to see what all the noise was about were in agreement that she did have plenty of room to drive round and continue on her way and.. (this is the point of the topic) "that it would in fact be illegal for me to reverse from a side road onto a main road" so is it?

(as it happened she did eventually pull round me very aggressively manner (full right lock lots of revs, poor clutch control) and in doing so caught her side mirror on my thigh which caused it to flick in and break the mirror!!

[rallycross]

I think it might be, if not it probably should be as its a bloody dangerous thing to do reverse into fast moving traffic, no thanks.

[Pothole]

Dunno about illegal, but the HC says this:

201
Do not reverse from a side road into a main road.

Ignore the silly woman. She hadn't a clue and escalated because she was embarrassed she couldn't get through the gap.

[BobSaunders]

Report her on 101. She sounds a little unhinged and will protect you from potential comeuppance.

[ging84]

never illegal to reverse safely out onto a main road

[mph1977]

last time this came up - there is no specific law , however it could be DWDCA ...

[Pothole]

Whatever the law it's not up to stupid, shouty woman to tell another road user what risk they should take to enable her to manoeuvre her way badly around south west London, is it?

[Jim1556]

If you were 3/4 the way down the road, why not carry on and let them wait for you? Genuine question...

[Marcellus]

There were two coming towards me, nothing behind me so sense of give and take and thought i'd find a gap to reverse into.

[dacouch]

Here's how you solve it.

https://pbs.twimg.com/tweet_video/B5Aio0qCIAEFCsM....

[Mr Taxpayer]

Marcellus said:

(as it happened she did eventually pull round me very aggressively manner (full right lock lots of revs, poor clutch control) and in doing so caught her side mirror on my thigh which caused it to flick in and break the mirror!!

So she hit a pedestrian? Hard enought to break the mirror? Imagin what that would have done to the pedestrian!!! And there were witnesses? Time to call m'learned personal injury friends

[Cat]

ging84 said:

never illegal to reverse safely out onto a main road

It would be an offence if by doing so you reversed further than was required for the safety or reasonable convenience of the occupants of the vehicle or other traffic.

Cat

[handpaper]

Not illegal, I do it at least once a week.
If it's busy I get someone to stop traffic for me; if not I proceed slowly and watchfully, with hazards flashing and reverse beeper sounding.
The Law is quite flexible if there is no other option and you can do it safely. I passed the wrong side of a traffic island (pedestrian crossing) last month to make room to turn left into a narrow road. I made sure to wave my thanks to the policeman who stopped to let me perform this unorthodox manouevre.

[Pothole]

handpaper said:

Not illegal, I do it at least once a week.
If it's busy I get someone to stop traffic for me; if not I proceed slowly and watchfully, with hazards flashing and reverse beeper sounding.
The Law is quite flexible if there is no other option and you can do it safely. I passed the wrong side of a traffic island (pedestrian crossing) last month to make room to turn left into a narrow road. I made sure to wave my thanks to the policeman who stopped to let me perform this unorthodox manouevre.

Huge irritant. Hazard flashers are not required for reversing. In fact, when reversing and turning, they are confusing!

[handpaper]

Pothole said:

Huge irritant. Hazard flashers are not required for reversing. In fact, when reversing and turning, they are confusing!

If there's a possibility of confusion, I'll use an indicator instead. In the scenario above, it's usually quite obvious which way I'm going; the trailer is pointing that way before it even crosses the line!

[Pothole]

handpaper said:

Pothole said:

Huge irritant. Hazard flashers are not required for reversing. In fact, when reversing and turning, they are confusing!

If there's a possibility of confusion, I'll use an indicator instead. In the scenario above, it's usually quite obvious which way I'm going; the trailer is pointing that way before it even crosses the line!

By your own admission, it's usually quite obvious which way you're going...because your REVERSING lights are lit. Why do you need to be using hazards as well? Why do you not comply with the Highway Code?

116
Hazard warning lights. These may be used when your vehicle is stationary, to warn that it is temporarily obstructing traffic. Never use them as an excuse for dangerous or illegal parking. You MUST NOT use hazard warning lights while driving or being towed unless you are on a motorway or unrestricted dual carriageway and you need to warn drivers behind you of a hazard or obstruction ahead. Only use them for long enough to ensure that your warning has been observed.
Law RVLR reg 27

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Marcellus said:

I had a situation last night in West London (SW13)

SW13 is Barnes. It's illegal to describe anywhere south of the river as West London. Got to be South West, South or South East London.

It is also illegal to describe anywhere north of the river as being South, a law frequently ignored by football commentators who, when at Stamford Bridge or Craven Cottage (both SW6, Fulham, and north of the river) often say "welcome to South West London".

And if it's not illegal, it bloody well should be.

[Marcellus]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

Marcellus said:

I had a situation last night in West London (SW13)

SW13 is Barnes. It's illegal to describe anywhere south of the river as West London. Got to be South West, South or South East London.

It is also illegal to describe anywhere north of the river as being South, a law frequently ignored by football commentators who, when at Stamford Bridge or Craven Cottage (both SW6, Fulham, and north of the river) often say "welcome to South West London".

And if it's not illegal, it bloody well should be.

Technically you're right.. but as a true saaaf Londoner this SW13 place may as well be Hounslow or Heathrow it's that far West!!

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Marcellus said:

TwigtheWonderkid said:

Marcellus said:

I had a situation last night in West London (SW13)

SW13 is Barnes. It's illegal to describe anywhere south of the river as West London. Got to be South West, South or South East London.

It is also illegal to describe anywhere north of the river as being South, a law frequently ignored by football commentators who, when at Stamford Bridge or Craven Cottage (both SW6, Fulham, and north of the river) often say "welcome to South West London".

And if it's not illegal, it bloody well should be.

Technically you're right.. but as a true saaaf Londoner this SW13 place may as well be Hounslow or Heathrow it's that far West!!

Well as a true West Londoner, Barnes is South West London.

[7mike]

Marcellus said:

But the 2nd one....etc

Anyone who drives LGVs / PCVs deals with this sort of thing pretty much on a daily basis. Drivers who can not / will not read the road and who have bugger all ability to judge space. Having dug themselves into a hole, it is everyone else's responsibility to sort it out for them. Occasionally, it dawns on these characters that it really will have to be them to do the backing up, and it can be quite painful to watch!