Dealing with single track lane & wont reverse drivers
Discussion
In the last few months I've been using a 'single track lane with passing places' road.
Quite shocked at the number of drivers acting abhorrent if they encounter an oncoming car. Common reactions are instantly throwing their hands up and shaking their heads. 9/10 one party needs to reverse <10 meters to a passing place but some take the view that they won't (can't reverse) and at times expect a queue of cars to back up rather than them.
How do you deal with it?
My approach of taking the higher ground and just reversing doesn't seem to be working as these people for some reason then put their window down to shout obsenities and explain how I've somehow ruined their day!
Quite shocked at the number of drivers acting abhorrent if they encounter an oncoming car. Common reactions are instantly throwing their hands up and shaking their heads. 9/10 one party needs to reverse <10 meters to a passing place but some take the view that they won't (can't reverse) and at times expect a queue of cars to back up rather than them.
How do you deal with it?
My approach of taking the higher ground and just reversing doesn't seem to be working as these people for some reason then put their window down to shout obsenities and explain how I've somehow ruined their day!
SV_WDC said:
My approach of taking the higher ground and just reversing doesn't seem to be working as these people for some reason then put their window down to shout obsenities and explain how I've somehow ruined their day!
Wind your window down, wave, smile and thank them for being such a pleasant human being. It'll annoy them no end!It's the lack of observation too, much of the time you can spot headlights and pull in and wait. Or people bunch together not allowing suitable passing space. No patience is a major issue.
A couple years ago, I reversed maybe 100m up a hill in Cornwall, only to find there was an adequate passing place just around the corner, where the oncoming car has stopped. Beggars belief.
A couple years ago, I reversed maybe 100m up a hill in Cornwall, only to find there was an adequate passing place just around the corner, where the oncoming car has stopped. Beggars belief.
We went to Devon for a week a few months ago. I seemed to spend more time driving backwards than forwards 
Luckily I am fairly good at it, whereas it seems an awful lot of people can't reverse for toffee and end up veering wildly from one side of the road to the other.
I had one a while ago, when I was driving up a very steep narrow road in our village. An angry older chap in a large SUV came charging over the brow of the hill and ignoring the passing place, charged up to our front bumper. He instantly started shouting at me to reverse, when I had nowhere to go and cars already behind me. I shrugged, which he took as an affront to his masculinity and he got out and opened my door and started shouting in my face.
My wife started filming him, so he went back to his car and sat there, still not moving. In the end, the queue of cars behind me reversed quite a way back, so I could reverse too and Mr Angry could go racing past. We called the Police when we got home and submitted the camera footage. Mr Angry got a visit from the Police, with some words of warning and had to write a letter of apology to us.
Luckily I am fairly good at it, whereas it seems an awful lot of people can't reverse for toffee and end up veering wildly from one side of the road to the other.I had one a while ago, when I was driving up a very steep narrow road in our village. An angry older chap in a large SUV came charging over the brow of the hill and ignoring the passing place, charged up to our front bumper. He instantly started shouting at me to reverse, when I had nowhere to go and cars already behind me. I shrugged, which he took as an affront to his masculinity and he got out and opened my door and started shouting in my face.
My wife started filming him, so he went back to his car and sat there, still not moving. In the end, the queue of cars behind me reversed quite a way back, so I could reverse too and Mr Angry could go racing past. We called the Police when we got home and submitted the camera footage. Mr Angry got a visit from the Police, with some words of warning and had to write a letter of apology to us.
Cats_pyjamas said:
It's the lack of observation too, much of the time you can spot headlights and pull in and wait. Or people bunch together not allowing suitable passing space. No patience is a major issue.
A couple years ago, I reversed maybe 100m up a hill in Cornwall, only to find there was an adequate passing place just around the corner, where the oncoming car has stopped. Beggars belief.
Many years ago I did something similar but reversing about 200m on a single-track lane with a few corners, in order to let the opposing car avoid reversing literally 10m. The other driver did try a few times, but was unable to drive backwards in a straight line for two car lengths.A couple years ago, I reversed maybe 100m up a hill in Cornwall, only to find there was an adequate passing place just around the corner, where the oncoming car has stopped. Beggars belief.
Dashcam footage of people failing to do simple manoeuvres should be taken into account for insurance premium purposes.
SV_WDC said:
In the last few months I've been using a 'single track lane with passing places' road.
Quite shocked at the number of drivers acting abhorrent if they encounter an oncoming car. Common reactions are instantly throwing their hands up and shaking their heads. 9/10 one party needs to reverse <10 meters to a passing place but some take the view that they won't (can't reverse) and at times expect a queue of cars to back up rather than them.
How do you deal with it?
My approach of taking the higher ground and just reversing doesn't seem to be working as these people for some reason then put their window down to shout obsenities and explain how I've somehow ruined their day!
What really grinds my gears is that the offending party is 99% (in my experience) in a large SUV with 4 wheel drive... So, what exactly is stopping them from pulling further to the side or on the verge? The rest of us with standard vehicles aren't going to have the same capability.Quite shocked at the number of drivers acting abhorrent if they encounter an oncoming car. Common reactions are instantly throwing their hands up and shaking their heads. 9/10 one party needs to reverse <10 meters to a passing place but some take the view that they won't (can't reverse) and at times expect a queue of cars to back up rather than them.
How do you deal with it?
My approach of taking the higher ground and just reversing doesn't seem to be working as these people for some reason then put their window down to shout obsenities and explain how I've somehow ruined their day!
Lotobear said:
This also tends to be a problem where I live.
But what really pisses me off is those in a huge 4x4 who expect me to stick two wheels in the muddy verge while they maintain at least 300mm of tarmac on their side.
Literally this.But what really pisses me off is those in a huge 4x4 who expect me to stick two wheels in the muddy verge while they maintain at least 300mm of tarmac on their side.
I think this behavior is symptomatic of two things: both poor driving standards and a reflection of our society as a whole - specifically, the pervasive "it's anyone else's fault but mine" approach.
Many drivers genuinely struggle with reversing. And, predictably, they seem entirely unable to grasp that this is their own fault; instead, they instantly conclude it must be yours for simply being in their way.
Many drivers genuinely struggle with reversing. And, predictably, they seem entirely unable to grasp that this is their own fault; instead, they instantly conclude it must be yours for simply being in their way.
It's a regular occurrence where I live, and is much worse when 'tourists' are around. Years ago it wasn't too much of an issue but now it seems to be that (1) people can't see further than about 3-metres in front of their car, (2) have no ability to judge the width, (3) cannot reverse. Their reversing ability is further compromised by never looking over their shoulder and relying on mirrors or cameras, often then turning the steering wheel the wrong way. Quite amusing to watch
The total dimwits who simply follow satnav whilst towing their caravan, or in their newly-acquired large motorhomes, are even worse.
Several years ago, whilst on foot, I saw a couple with their new car and new caravan arrive at a low tunnel / bridge, on a single track road. There would have been, just, sufficient room to get through if they kept to the centre line. I intended to offer assistance once I reached them but just before that point the passenger alighted, ran to the far side of the bridge and waved the driver on. Instead of gently moving forward, he simply moved off quite quickly. The car cleared the bridge. The caravan didn't, the front nearside roof corner catching the curved edge of the bridge and splitting the roof join. He carried on through.
When I spoke with him he said that he was just following the satnav (there was a low bridge sign that he'd passed) but, fortunately, there was an alternative route that he would be able to use for his return. I can only assume that, not being able to reverse, panic set in and it was a case of 'keep going'.
As to the original point, it is annoying when you reverse hundreds of metres and find they'd passed a passing place only 20 metres or so beforehand. However, it's usually quicker / easier to do that than wait whilst they struggle, assuming they even made a mental note of the passing place at the time. I suspect they just stare ahead and it doesn't even register with them.
The total dimwits who simply follow satnav whilst towing their caravan, or in their newly-acquired large motorhomes, are even worse.
Several years ago, whilst on foot, I saw a couple with their new car and new caravan arrive at a low tunnel / bridge, on a single track road. There would have been, just, sufficient room to get through if they kept to the centre line. I intended to offer assistance once I reached them but just before that point the passenger alighted, ran to the far side of the bridge and waved the driver on. Instead of gently moving forward, he simply moved off quite quickly. The car cleared the bridge. The caravan didn't, the front nearside roof corner catching the curved edge of the bridge and splitting the roof join. He carried on through.
When I spoke with him he said that he was just following the satnav (there was a low bridge sign that he'd passed) but, fortunately, there was an alternative route that he would be able to use for his return. I can only assume that, not being able to reverse, panic set in and it was a case of 'keep going'.
As to the original point, it is annoying when you reverse hundreds of metres and find they'd passed a passing place only 20 metres or so beforehand. However, it's usually quicker / easier to do that than wait whilst they struggle, assuming they even made a mental note of the passing place at the time. I suspect they just stare ahead and it doesn't even register with them.
Red9zero said:
We went to Devon for a week a few months ago. I seemed to spend more time driving backwards than forwards Luckily I am fairly good at it, whereas it seems an awful lot of people can't reverse for toffee and end up veering wildly from one side of the road to the other.
I think that's often the crux of it, people are rubbish at reversing and in turn make a massive deal out of it. Luckily I am fairly good at it, whereas it seems an awful lot of people can't reverse for toffee and end up veering wildly from one side of the road to the other. I tend to find people in really rural areas where having to give way is more of a common thing, are a bit better. Where my mum lives, right on the edge of zone 6 there is a country lane that requires giving way at various points and people are hopeless or just completely avoid giving way where they can.
Bill said:
I've had someone ask me to reverse their car for them as they were incapable of doing it for circa 5m.
I've offered and been refused. Windows up, doors locked, stare straight ahead. Meanwhile a queue forms. A car towing a caravan, a campervan and various cars and she just sat there with her back wheel a few feet from the passing place. It was over 20 mins before we got underway. Cars accumulating behind her also had to reverse some distance. Chap behind me with the caravan unhitched and a few of us helped push it back to the next passing place. Drivers at the back were warning others as they arrived. This was on the narrow Drumbeg single track near Lochinver, fortunately on a lovely sunny day. I'd have been totally pissed off had it been raining.
I've met quite a few tourists on these roads who are genuinely incapable of reversing and probably an equal number who just refuse to do so. It must drive the locals crazy.
I've had to live with this since moving to the country back in 2019 and living on a single track lane which leads to a dead-end and no passing places, so you could end up reversing for 1/2 mile or so.
Luckily there are only 4 properties on the lane so it's not something that happens often, but trying to keep the peace it's a bit of give and take. However, when it's suddenly a delivery driver etc it becomes a huge annoyance as they simply ignore the fact that you are already on the lane. I've had a few issues like this and if they are coming down it's easy as they expect me to move, but I simply get out and explain I live a few 100 yards up the lane and I'll just park up head home and make a cuppa, or they can reverse back up the lane and let me past.
Luckily there are only 4 properties on the lane so it's not something that happens often, but trying to keep the peace it's a bit of give and take. However, when it's suddenly a delivery driver etc it becomes a huge annoyance as they simply ignore the fact that you are already on the lane. I've had a few issues like this and if they are coming down it's easy as they expect me to move, but I simply get out and explain I live a few 100 yards up the lane and I'll just park up head home and make a cuppa, or they can reverse back up the lane and let me past.
When in those situations I elect to do the reversing unless it's a very simple manoeuvre for the other driver.
It puts me in charge of the situation.
Avoids confrontations.
Allows me to chose the passing point.
Nothing worse than the other car backing up to a useless place to try to pass.
Re. Devon, I remember Waze once took me down a seemingly endless single lane where both wing mirrors were slapping leaves.
If I had met another vehicle, one of us would have had to reverse about half a mile.
It puts me in charge of the situation.
Avoids confrontations.
Allows me to chose the passing point.
Nothing worse than the other car backing up to a useless place to try to pass.
Re. Devon, I remember Waze once took me down a seemingly endless single lane where both wing mirrors were slapping leaves.
If I had met another vehicle, one of us would have had to reverse about half a mile.
I've had an interesting experience in Devon a few months back, in the campervan (I'd foolishly assumed the main road that wasn't the M5 would be at least wide enough for 2 vehicles to pass). I'd come up behind a few cars trying to squeeze into a field entrance so a tractor could go past, so I reversed a good 300 yards to the previous passing place, and wedged the van about a foot in the hedge/bank. The tractors (two as it turned out, with huge trailers) managed to pass with half an inch to spare by effectively mounting the other bank. I was glad to get back onto something wider after that!
Thankfully the van is a doddle to reverse thanks to the massive mirrors.
Thankfully the van is a doddle to reverse thanks to the massive mirrors.
There is a lane near us which is clearly signed at both ends with the “no vehicles apart from access” sign along with the fact that it is single track with no passing places. It is used as a rat run/avoid the congestion very frequently.
We walk along it almost every day and it amuses us when two vehicles meet and there is either a Mexican stand off (usually a resident who refuses to reverse) or one has to reverse which is often undertaken very badly!
The other issue is the speed at which some cars drive along it when there are places where the is no visibility round a bend - only seen one accident although we do worry about getting knocked over at times. It is surprising how few people will actually slow down to pass us, despite the fact that we always get as close to the edge as possible which at certain places is quite tight when it is a Van.
It is almost as if people don’t have any common sense or common courtesy these days .
We walk along it almost every day and it amuses us when two vehicles meet and there is either a Mexican stand off (usually a resident who refuses to reverse) or one has to reverse which is often undertaken very badly!
The other issue is the speed at which some cars drive along it when there are places where the is no visibility round a bend - only seen one accident although we do worry about getting knocked over at times. It is surprising how few people will actually slow down to pass us, despite the fact that we always get as close to the edge as possible which at certain places is quite tight when it is a Van.
It is almost as if people don’t have any common sense or common courtesy these days .
Freakuk said:
I've had to live with this since moving to the country back in 2019 and living on a single track lane which leads to a dead-end and no passing places, so you could end up reversing for 1/2 mile or so.
Luckily there are only 4 properties on the lane so it's not something that happens often, but trying to keep the peace it's a bit of give and take. However, when it's suddenly a delivery driver etc it becomes a huge annoyance as they simply ignore the fact that you are already on the lane. I've had a few issues like this and if they are coming down it's easy as they expect me to move, but I simply get out and explain I live a few 100 yards up the lane and I'll just park up head home and make a cuppa, or they can reverse back up the lane and let me past.
I've done exactly that, locked the van, left it where it was and gone on foot.Luckily there are only 4 properties on the lane so it's not something that happens often, but trying to keep the peace it's a bit of give and take. However, when it's suddenly a delivery driver etc it becomes a huge annoyance as they simply ignore the fact that you are already on the lane. I've had a few issues like this and if they are coming down it's easy as they expect me to move, but I simply get out and explain I live a few 100 yards up the lane and I'll just park up head home and make a cuppa, or they can reverse back up the lane and let me past.
our lane is single track, I get this most days, half way along there is a bend with a passing place, or either end of the lane you can pass,
last week I was 50yds from the end when a young woman who keep her horse at a neighbours decided to set off towards me,
we met at 25yds,
horses dont have a reverse so she had to squeeze past me,
in scotland the other year, on the nc 500 I met an old guy who drove past the passing place by a carlength and expected me to reverse 500yds back,
explained my camper has a kettle and comfy seats, how long can you wait?
took him 3 attempts to go back a carlength,
last week I was 50yds from the end when a young woman who keep her horse at a neighbours decided to set off towards me,
we met at 25yds,
horses dont have a reverse so she had to squeeze past me,
in scotland the other year, on the nc 500 I met an old guy who drove past the passing place by a carlength and expected me to reverse 500yds back,
explained my camper has a kettle and comfy seats, how long can you wait?
took him 3 attempts to go back a carlength,
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