How best to 'swing' into a narrow entrance ?

How best to 'swing' into a narrow entrance ?

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Vanordinaire

Original Poster:

3,701 posts

161 months

Wednesday 15th August 2018
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The initial message was deleted from this topic on 12 July 2019 at 23:06

Haltamer

2,453 posts

79 months

Thursday 16th August 2018
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IMO, The best way to do this without such a great fanfare would be to adopt a far right position prior to the indication:- Once the indication has begun, Drop down to the appropriate "dead slow" speed for such a manouvre (If it's that much of a squeeze) somewhat in advance, giving the opportunity for those behind to realise "He's going to try to fit in there"

I think a right indication to pull across the road would be more misleading; combined with a swing across this may cause the driver behind to think they are pulling in on the right - They could then attempt to accelerate through, With some consequences...

Similarly, Whilst hazards would convey the "I am a hazard" message quite well, they don't paint a true picture of the drivers intentions - Once agiain, if swinging right at a low speed, it could be concieved as them pulling in, as above.

Dixy

2,913 posts

204 months

Thursday 16th August 2018
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This is tosh, I live in Somerset where the lanes scratch both sides of the car as you drive down and the junctions are just as tight so using the off sideof the road is not an option, slow car fast hands and use all the lock.

jamei303

2,996 posts

155 months

Thursday 16th August 2018
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large vehicle, slowing down, tight left junction, indicating left, why would anyone think it was going anywhere other then left??

Heartworm

1,922 posts

160 months

Thursday 16th August 2018
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Sounds to be like they did everything correct. Large vehicles often go right before a sharp left.

sjc

13,883 posts

269 months

Thursday 16th August 2018
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Read the title and thought it was about swapping partners in a confined space .

Vanordinaire

Original Poster:

3,701 posts

161 months

Thursday 16th August 2018
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Dixy said:
This is tosh, I live in Somerset where the lanes scratch both sides of the car as you drive down and the junctions are just as tight so using the off sideof the road is not an option, slow car fast hands and use all the lock.
Sorry but you weren't there, the entrance he was turning into was less than a foot wider than his vehicle, little or no turning splay, the road he was leaving was around 3m per lane . There was no physical way that a front wheel steering vehicle of his size could have turned into that entrance without crossing the opposite carriageway first. I regularly drive large vehicles, LGVs,agricultural machinery etc and I can assure you that there are hundreds if not thousands of junctions around the country where this is absolutely necessary. Just looking for a few pointers on how best to do it when it is necessary.

Vanordinaire

Original Poster:

3,701 posts

161 months

Thursday 16th August 2018
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jamei303 said:
large vehicle, slowing down, tight left junction, indicating left, why would anyone think it was going anywhere other then left??
Yes, normally, but this one was pretty extreme. The lane he was turning into (I think it was a private farm track) was unsigned and practically invisible from behind him and he crossed all the way to the right hand side of the opposite lane first. As I say, everything went ok on this occasion, but if he's making that turn regularly I bet he has a few near misses.

captain_cynic

11,873 posts

94 months

Thursday 16th August 2018
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Dixy said:
This is tosh, I live in Somerset where the lanes scratch both sides of the car as you drive down and the junctions are just as tight so using the off sideof the road is not an option, slow car fast hands and use all the lock.
This.

Unless you drive a lorry or bus, there are few situations where you need to need to swing out in order to turn. Its just that people don't know how to drive and are too lazy to move their slovenly arms more than necessary to turn the wheel to full lock.

Also, I believe lorry drivers adopt a position right or centre of the road when turning before indicating (often straddling two lanes if available to ensure people don't squeeze past them)... But that's a lorry, you don't need to do it in a Chelsea tractor.

S100HP

12,645 posts

166 months

Thursday 16th August 2018
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captain_cynic said:
This.

Unless you drive a lorry or bus, there are few situations where you need to need to swing out in order to turn. Its just that people don't know how to drive and are too lazy to move their slovenly arms more than necessary to turn the wheel to full lock.

Also, I believe lorry drivers adopt a position right or centre of the road when turning before indicating (often straddling two lanes if available to ensure people don't squeeze past them)... But that's a lorry, you don't need to do it in a Chelsea tractor.
Such rubbish.

This is my parents drive approaching from the East.



When approaching from the West you turn more than 90deg into the driveway.



How do you propose I do this without crossing the white line onto the wrong side of the road? I'll give you a hint, you can't unless in a super mini.

Most people can see what you're doing, only once in 18 years of them living there have I had someone attempt to undertake me whilst turning.

captain_cynic

11,873 posts

94 months

Thursday 16th August 2018
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S100HP said:
Such rubbish.

This is my parents drive approaching from the East.



When approaching from the West you turn more than 90deg into the driveway.



How do you propose I do this without crossing the white line onto the wrong side of the road? I'll give you a hint, you can't unless in a super mini.

Most people can see what you're doing, only once in 18 years of them living there have I had someone attempt to undertake me whilst turning.
Erm.. Cant see an issue there. Its far wider than a car park I squeeze my car into every day without having to cross over to the wrong side of the road.

As has been said, slow car, fast hands.

You've got to be a pretty bad driver not to be able to get into that drive from any approach crossing over to the wrong side of the road. That shoulder is massive by UK standards.

If you think most people couldn't turn a large car into that, I must be some kind of driving god to you because I could easily get a large jaaaaag saloon into that.

Here's a left hander I sometimes take without a problem. I can consistently do this without entering the wrong side of the road on either road and there's no shoulder there to help.



Edited by captain_cynic on Thursday 16th August 11:23

S100HP

12,645 posts

166 months

Thursday 16th August 2018
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But in the real world that's a 40mph road, often with cars following. I guess you could slow down to less than walking pace and turn in (although it will still be tight to not hit the gate) or you could take it a bit quicker by crossing onto the wrong side of the road.

captain_cynic

11,873 posts

94 months

Thursday 16th August 2018
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S100HP said:
But in the real world that's a 40mph road, often with cars following. I guess you could slow down to less than walking pace and turn in (although it will still be tight to not hit the gate)
If the road is that busy that you cant slow down (no road is ever that busy and certainly doesn't look like it from Google Maps) it wont be quiet enough for you to swing out into the middle due to oncoming traffic.

Any semi-competent driver could take that turn without hitting the gate post.

S100HP said:
or you could take it a bit quicker by crossing onto the wrong side of the road.
And thank you for proving my point for me. Swinging over to the wrong side of the road is not necessary, its laziness and poor driving.

Vanordinaire

Original Poster:

3,701 posts

161 months

Thursday 16th August 2018
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I should have known you can't have a thread on PH without a stupid argument or three. Can we all just accept there are some junctions in the UK that you can't turn into in a large vehicle without swinging out first? Maybe change the large 4x4 in my original post to an eight wheel 32 tonne tipper to make it easier for the hard of thinking?
I was asking on the 'advanced driving' section of a motoring enthusiasts' forum to try and get a sensible answer. What's the best way to signal your intentions and carry out the manoeuvre when you have to swing out to make a turn?
Thanks for the first few responses, already some good advice before the arguments started.

Grayedout

407 posts

211 months

Thursday 16th August 2018
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I have to do this everyday to pull into my driveway so I always ensure a clear left signal before braking and moving to the right hand side before swinging left.

In three years I have had three drivers try to come down down the left hand side as I turn with one on the horn and gestculating wildly at me despite the very clear indication !!

randlemarcus

13,507 posts

230 months

Thursday 16th August 2018
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I have to pull out to get into the drive. Left indicator on, if there's no-one there, swing wide. If there is someone behind, and they seem sensible, slow right down, pull as far as i need to, and in. If not sensible, cancel the indicator, round the village green, and in the other way.

I reverse into my mother's archway, and for that, its indicate , brake clearly, stick on the hazards, nose into the bay opposite, then reverse off the main road. I'd estimate one in five times, someone will scoot behind me, so eyes wide open.

BaronVonVaderham

2,316 posts

146 months

Thursday 16th August 2018
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This is what the hand brake is for isn’t it?

Pica-Pica

13,621 posts

83 months

Thursday 16th August 2018
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We have had all this before. On my IAM test, I was directed down a lane to the left which cut back at a very sharp angle. I checked road ahead and behind, indicated left, pulled wide on main road and turned in. The main ‘test’ here was that I did not swing into the RH lane of the side road as it was obscured by hedges. The test and this manoeuvre were successful. I note nowadays this turning is now a no-entry as it is difficult to achieve successfully.

Dixy

2,913 posts

204 months

Friday 17th August 2018
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Can turn a MF5455 right in to hear or a full fat or a milk tanker.https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.1429787,-3.2946335,3a,75y,127.75h,83.57t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sEQFNjrTpFRJE9pP65TLMPQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
Slow down and turn the wheel as others have said anything else will give control to fools with licences

dhutch

14,198 posts

196 months

Friday 17th August 2018
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jamei303 said:
large vehicle, slowing down, tight left junction, indicating left, why would anyone think it was going anywhere other then left??
Because they are going into a narrow drive.
captain_cynic said:
Unless you drive a lorry or bus, there are few situations where you need to need to swing out in order to turn....
Unless the drive or lane is narrow.

Our drive has about 3inches either side of the wing mirrors for about four foot, and if your the second car into the two car drive it never opens out wider than this.

We reverse in, but narrow turnings are not uncommon.



Daniel