Build out right of way.

[Skifledanabit]

Hi all,

Something has been bugging me for the last week.

I went for a ride after work last week and I ended up coming across a build out (pictured)



as I was approaching, a chap in a BMW comes around the corner from the give way side and tries forcing his way through the width restrictions. He stops with his wing mirrors just beyond (my side) of the posts and says that because he's over halfway through, I should give way to him. He also claims I was speeding (very poor road surface with gravel/sand all over).

From the sign, I have priority but is his claim correct that as he claims he is already halfway through, I should give way to him?

I know there's no point in being "dead" right but it has irked me somewhat as he probably nails it through there all the time and is only a matter of time before he collides with someone head on or kills a more vulnerable road user.

Also, not sure if it's relevant at all but the gate on the offside was also fully open.

Thoughts?

[JM]

The sign at his side says; give way to oncoming vehicles.

No mention about being half-way first.

[TooMany2cvs]

He's a fkwit.

[Pica-Pica]

Now, I am guessing that if a box van had come through, and then an obscured small car at normal speed with a little old lady, you would have no argument about she was just over half-way through? You would not contend that would you? Would you stay still and refuse to move?

Why did the driver stop? Because you had stopped and refused to let him move through? It all sounds like an unnecessary stand-off.

We have all had this and similar situations, most are resolved with a bit of give and take, sometimes with a muttering under the breath. Others can’t resist a confrontation.

[Centurion07]

I always take these to mean if you don't have priority and can't get through without causing oncoming traffic to slow then you should stop.

I don't think there's anything definitive written down anywhere, is there...?

I always love this one too:

Skifledanabit said:

He also claims I was speeding...

So, you saw me coming, took a good enough look to ascertain my speed and STILL decided to plough on through despite signage telling you it's YOU that has to give way?!

Edited by Centurion07 on Thursday 2nd August 18:45

Edited by Centurion07 on Thursday 2nd August 18:46

[Centurion07]

Pica-Pica said:

Now, I am guessing that if a box van had come through, and then an obscured small car at normal speed with a little old lady, you would have no argument about she was just over half-way through? You would not contend that would you? Would you stay still and refuse to move?

She'd be in the wrong as she just barrelled on through behind the van without being able to see if it was clear for her to do so or not.

[Skifledanabit]

Pica-Pica said:

Now, I am guessing that if a box van had come through, and then an obscured small car at normal speed with a little old lady, you would have no argument about she was just over half-way through? You would not contend that would you? Would you stay still and refuse to move?

Why did the driver stop? Because you had stopped and refused to let him move through? It all sounds like an unnecessary stand-off.

We have all had this and similar situations, most are resolved with a bit of give and take, sometimes with a muttering under the breath. Others can’t resist a confrontation.

He didn't exactly give me much chance to react to his actions. If I've got right of way, I'm expecting to just carry on through as normal, not for him to try and force his way through. I was forced to stop (quickly but safely) on the poor road surface which gave him no room to move through. Having a vehicle behind me didn't help matters much either, no reverse gear and no room to reverse, unlike him.

I would expect that little old lady to confirm there was no oncoming vehicles approaching before pulling through the give way.

In answer to your question, I would also expect road users to obey the rules of the road and give way when they are required and not argue when they're in the wrong.

He called the police by the way, who, judging by his reaction afterwards told him he was in the wrong.

[paintman]

Skifledanabit said:

a chap in a BMW

Whilst I'm sure there are many BMW drivers that are entirely normal the marque just seems to attract far more than its fair share of fkwits.
I'd suggest you've met one of the latter.

[defblade]

I've said before and will again, I hate these set-ups with a passion. Forcing traffic moving in opposite directions to share the same piece of tarmac is always going to end badly just from accident and/or poor human judgement, before you even get on to total selfish knobjockeys. And it will always be the 2 wheeled traveller who comes off worse.
We specifically voted for the bloke here who who said he would get the one down the road taken out, and it was then removed and replaced by a hump, so well done to him. So it might be worth chasing your local councillor on the same level - these things are inexcusable death traps.

[donkmeister]

Skifledanabit said:

He called the police by the way, who, judging by his reaction afterwards told him he was in the wrong.

How long were you all sat there?!?!

I hate these things with a passion too. Near me they did a build-out intended to allow 2-way traffic but make people slow down a bit as it narrows. It's wide enough for a car and a bus, but recently an angry dad in a Kia decided his SUV was bigger than a bus so swung out to the middle of the road and put his hand on the horn. I could have had a stand-off but instead I chose to use his now lower speed to ensure that he was fully cogniscent that I regarded him to be a lady's parts of shame and gesturing that he may enjoy a cup of gold blend. Not endearing behaviour but at least everyone could get on with their day and no police were involved.

[PAULJ5555]

JM said:

The sign at his side says; give way to oncoming vehicles.

No mention about being half-way first.

Is this oncoming vehicles that you can see, maybe BMW man did not see him until it was too late to slam on the brakes so just thought tough i'm coming through as I'm lined up and closer.


What happens when your going through and an oncomming vehicle pulls off their driveway, or curb side or from round a bend/junction. do we have to stop and reverse.

I drive through one of these everyday for the last 13 years.

[PAULJ5555]

Skifledanabit said:

Hi all,






Thoughts?

As per the picture a car is coming through, what happens when the black car on the left joins the highway from their drive hidden behind the hedge and takes priority, do you then stop half way through and reverse?. There was no cars visable when you started the maneuver?

[48k]

[pedant]
You both have right of way.
The oncoming vehicle has priority.
[/pedant]

One of the main roads through my village has five of these in a row - three with priority in one direction and two in the other. Essentially turning the road in to one big game of chicken. Which is worse than not having them at all.

[donkmeister]

PAULJ5555 said:

As per the picture a car is coming through, what happens when the black car on the left joins the highway from their drive hidden behind the hedge and takes priority, do you then stop half way through and reverse?. There was no cars visable when you started the maneuver?

This is where this sort of thing falls over, as it relies on a modicum of common sense... Common sense dictates the person on the drive waits until the car has cleared, and the person driving through keeps an eye on the car perched, waiting to pull out of the drive.

But, a lot of people prefer to engineer conflict so they can feel a bit better about themselves.

[PAULJ5555]

donkmeister said:

PAULJ5555 said:

As per the picture a car is coming through, what happens when the black car on the left joins the highway from their drive hidden behind the hedge and takes priority, do you then stop half way through and reverse?. There was no cars visable when you started the maneuver?

This is where this sort of thing falls over, as it relies on a modicum of common sense... Common sense dictates the person on the drive waits until the car has cleared, and the person driving through keeps an eye on the car perched, waiting to pull out of the drive.

But, a lot of people prefer to engineer conflict so they can feel a bit better about themselves.

By the looks of the size of the black 4x4 and the size of the pavement and the angle of the hedge the black 4x4 would already be on the highway before the driver can even see if the road is clear.

[PF62]

The most ridiculous one of these I had to suffer was one installed where neither direction had right of way. For the first couple of days there was utter bewilderment as drivers sat both sides waiting for the other to move.

Then after two days neither driver would wait for the other; a legal game of chicken.

It was changed to the normal one direction having priority after having some very near misses.

Back to the OP's question, there are number of these near me where the sight lines mean that you have to commit yourself to going through the non-priority side without being able to see far enough if someone was coming the other way at a normal speed.

My view is 'tough'. I have done my best and if you want to moan the council is that way.

[Green1man]

Skifledanabit said:

. If I've got right of way, I'm expecting to just carry on through as normal, .

I don’t think it’s reasonable in these scenarios to just assume you can barrel through without consideration for oncoming traffic. I don’t know this particular junction but a couple of these I do know (hump back bridges) visibility is poor in both directions and the give way side can only see maybe 20 meters over the bridge, fine if both sides proceed with caution but don’t assume that you won’t be made to slow by oncoming vehicles.

[Solocle]

PF62 said:

The most ridiculous one of these I had to suffer was one installed where neither direction had right of way. For the first couple of days there was utter bewilderment as drivers sat both sides waiting for the other to move.

Then after two days neither driver would wait for the other; a legal game of chicken.

It was changed to the normal one direction having priority after having some very near misses.

Back to the OP's question, there are number of these near me where the sight lines mean that you have to commit yourself to going through the non-priority side without being able to see far enough if someone was coming the other way at a normal speed.

My view is 'tough'. I have done my best and if you want to moan the council is that way.

My approach one time when committed was to floor it as soon as an oncoming vehicle came into view (over the crest of a hill ). I cleared the obstacle without making them slow down. Downside? They were probably doing 30 in a 20 zone and to get out of their way I hit 40 (from 20).

[4rephill]

Green1man said:

Skifledanabit said:

. If I've got right of way, I'm expecting to just carry on through as normal, .

I don’t think it’s reasonable in these scenarios to just assume you can barrel through without consideration for oncoming traffic. I don’t know this particular junction but a couple of these I do know (hump back bridges) visibility is poor in both directions and the give way side can only see maybe 20 meters over the bridge, fine if both sides proceed with caution but don’t assume that you won’t be made to slow by oncoming vehicles.

+1

Just because you have priority doesn't mean you shouldn't approach the restriction with caution.

Reading this statement:

Skifledanabit said:

........If I've got right of way, I'm expecting to just carry on through as normal.....

it sounds as if the the OP is as pig headed as the BMW driver, with a: "I've got priority so f#@k anyone coming the other way, I'm not slowing down for them!" attitude.

That attitude will one day lead to an avoidable, unnecessary head on collision - Hardly worth it IMO, just to prove a point!

Edited by 4rephill on Saturday 4th August 18:12

[silverfoxcc]

If you want some fun, go to Bray and go south out of the village where there is a bridge showing the priority sign. Unfortunately the non priority mod follow like sheep andyou have to wait until the road is clear (20+ is my record count) before you can proceed

also applies on the small link road by Sindlesham Mill and this includes a blind hump back bridge one car wide

Such fun