Was I in the right?

[A.J.M]

Driving down a wide road heading to a local park this morning, car ahead had a L plate in and had its brake and reverse light on. The driver was going to attempt a reverse park behind a parked car on the street.

I slowed and stopped giving plenty of space for the learner to do their manouver and park up.
While doing this, a car behind me overtook myself and the reversing car while they were carrying out the reverse. 2 more cars followed this car past me and the reversing car.

I waited till they had reversed before driving forward, I parked up further down the road and the driver drive past, with woman examiner with hi vid jacket on.

Was I in the right for stopping and waiting or overtake like the 3 other cars?

Curious for others people's outlook on this.

[BJG1]

If there was space to pass safely I'd have just overtaken. Would also make an allowance for them being a learner, so do it slowly or do what you did if there wasn't loads of space (where I'd otherwise just go for it). Don't think there's a right or wrong answer here.

[SebastienClement]

I would have waited, as you did, by the sound of it. Especially where a learner is concerned.

[10 Pence Short]

You were in the right for stopping and waiting. Make a signal to the leaner/instructor to let them know that is what you are doing. Learners are taught to sit and wait if there's any traffic coming from behind.

[D1bram]

Sounds like you were being considerate. Unfortunately most others aren't as demonstrated here.

[paranoid airbag]

My two cents: erring on the side of caution initially is always a good idea, so yes, you were. The attitude is more important than the technicalities .

If it then becomes clear that the learner isn't going to do something stupid and you can safely go, they (and you) would probably prefer it if you went.

[Motorrad]

I suspect I'd have overtaken the learner if it was safe to do so/they hadn't commenced the maneuver yet and another car wasn't already waiting for them.

As you were behind them I'd have waited patiently.

[MethylatedSpirit]

It's possible that the sheer size of your car blocked the view of the poor people behind you!


Your fault

[kambites]

I'd certainly have waited through simple courtesy - similar sort of thing to holding a door open for someone or giving up your seat for an elderly person; I'm not overly surprised that others didn't bother, though.

Edited by kambites on Tuesday 29th April 14:59

[GrizzlyBear]

I would do exactly the same, also having cars rushing past them might have unsettled the learner. We were all learners once, I am sure we all would have appreciated drivers being considerate. Unfortunately the UK is becoming an increasingly selfish place.

[ModernAndy]

Use that Disco properly and just drive over them!

[Snowboy]

I probably would have stopped and waited.
Depends on the width if the road, the other traffic and, to be honest about it, what sort if mood I was in at the time.

[A.J.M]

I waited as it took the whole of 15 seconds for them to do the reverse.
The sun was out, I liked the song that was on the radio and I had my sunglasses on so was in a very good relaxed mood.

I know there will be no true right/wrong but it's always nice to hear how others would have read the situation and reacted to it.

[Mave]

I normally would do the same as you. Certainly wouldn't overtake you.

[zip929]

When I see an L plate I give them plenty of space and time as they normally require copious amounts of both.
Plus my Mrs is an ADI so I have to behave myself.

[MrBarry123]

I would have quickly manoeuvred myself into the space they were aiming for, thus avoiding the need to park further down the road.

In reality... I would say you did the right thing - especially where the other driver is a learner.

[evoivboy]

if the front passenger was wearing a high vis jacket it was probably there test!

[Dog Star]

SebastienClement said:

I would have waited, as you did, by the sound of it. Especially where a learner is concerned.

Generally speaking I wait, but in certain circumstances I lose patience, not with the learner driver but with the instructors. My parents live on a quiet residential estate (where I grew up) that is, unfortunately on a test route. Sometimes they're queuing up to do reverse-round-corners, 3 point turns etc. It's ridiculous and IMO very inconsiderate to the residents (drives them mad). I tend to just (where safe) drive past. I'd never get there otherwise.

[sebhaque]

I normally stop and if the brake lights don't flicker off within a few seconds, I signal and (when it's clear) go round. I'm not one for signalling like the idiots who indicate past a parked car do, and truth be told if it was a non-learner I wouldn't bother indicating - but I'd stop for a few seconds, if the learner commits to the move then I'll watch and rate their attempt or if they haven't moved then I'll indicate to let them know I plan on going past and get on with it.

The street corner next to my house is a popular corner for learners reversing and consequently we do get a fair few parallel parkers around here too. The local instructors plainly recognise the locals' cars and I would say 80% of the time it's them deciding whether the learner is capable enough to do the parallel park in a "real-life scenario" with a car waiting, or if they'll struggle and would rather wait for a clear bit of road.

As an anecdote there was utter carnage a few months ago when two very new learners were at opposite ends of the road and somehow met each other at the only two oppositely parked cars on the road, so one of them had to reverse. To make it worse, someone pulled out of the side road blocking one learner in, and as the other was making a mess of reversing back and left to allow the traffic to come through. I was standing on the pavement talking to my neighbour when this scenario unfolded - which was topped off when an ambulance on B&Ts turned into the road behind the reversing learner. At one point everything except the ambulance was reversing, including my neighbour and I, as we expected the ambulance to take to the pavement to get past the stand-off.

[Riley Blue]

I live on a test route so often see some 'interesting' manoeuvring. If I'm driving and I see a car with L plates parallel parking, doing a three-point turn or reversing round a corner I usually stop or give them extra room thinking, "I was a learner once." - showing a little consideration costs me nothing.