Overtaking obstacles into oncoming traffic

[Timothy Bucktu]

If I'm driving down a road and there is, lets say, a parked car in 'my' lane, I'll slow down or stop to let any oncoming traffic go, before carrying on around said object.
Obvious, right?
What I won't do, is go around the offending obstacle, and just assume the person coming in the opposite direction is going to slow down or take avoiding action to let me go.

I get this. I'm sure most PH'ers get this...so why am I seeing more and more people just completely ignore this simple bit of common sense?
If the obstacle is in your path, you wait till it's clear before going around. You don't carry on and force others to take avoiding action if their lane is clear. It's their right of way, not yours.

Similarly...let's say you're already committed to overtaking a row of parked cars. If you approach from the opposite direction, it's clear the person coming the other way is in your lane, but they are committed and have nowhere to go...you don't force your way through just because 'your' lane is otherwise clear.

Rant over.

[Actual]

I observe the priority and courtesy rules as described and assume the worst from the other driver. Sometimes I wish I drove a snotter so it wouldn't matter to me if I smashed up the selfish pricks who seem to be seeking a head-on smash.

If a car is possibly a person's most expensive possession I just can't understand peoples willingness to smash them up just because.

[OutInTheShed]

In the real world, people give and take a bit, or nobody would get anywhere.

[GasEngineer]

OutInTheShed said:

In the real world, people give and take a bit, or nobody would get anywhere.

Yes but as in the 2 posts above; many will only take and don't think the giving part applies to them.

[borcy]

People like to think they've 'won', in hurry, parcels to deliver and so on. I don't think it's anything new.

[HocusPocus]

A polite thank you acknowledgement wave tends to calm things. Perfect drive yet to be driven by any of us.

[MikeM6]

I think the rules are fairly clear, but just to add there are also wider roads with cars parked where you could very easily both pass without conflict, however I do see many drivers struggle to judge the width of their cars and wait (which is fine) or get panicky when they have commited to passing and the other car carries on, before realising their was plenty of space for both anyway. They might be getting rather irate before realising.

[Simpo Two]

I think many drivers are becoming less aware because most driving now consists of simply following the car in front at 29mph. That's all you need to do, and it's 'safe' because you're doing 29mph. Then the brain switches off because it has nothing to do.

[Riley Blue]

Of all the minor driving misdemeanours that happen daily this is one of those that bothers me the least, certainly not enough to rant about it. Life is too short to get wound up by such things.

[zarjaz1991]

I don't really mind, I'm completely placid on this one. I'll often flash the opposing vehicle through even if they have priority, assuming it's safe to do so (yes I'm aware you aren't supposed to flash, sue me!)

I'm rarely in any sort of hurry these days, others often are so I'll help them if I can.

To be honest I'm pretty placid on most driving matters these days. Some people are pricks, some people are aggressive, some people are incompetent. I just do my thing and let them do theirs, I don't care.

Scott

[GasEngineer]

HocusPocus said:

A polite thank you acknowledgement wave tends to calm things. Perfect drive yet to be driven by any of us.

I usually give an ironic nod and wave of thanks to the "offender" who has forced me to stop. Also muttering "" helps.

[ThingsBehindTheSun]

People in big SUVs who think they are more important and therfore just bully their way through. Just another example of how all courtesy when driving has gone out the window for a percentage of people who think they can bully other people.

Same people will be driving six inches from your bumper when you are doing the speed limit or just pull in front of you when pulling out from a junction or roundabout.

These are the same people who are unable to pull into a road so will do a scandi flick before pulling in coming into your lane and then cutting the junction and ending up partially in the other lane when pulling in.

It's all part of the me, me, me society we have now.

[zarjaz1991]

ThingsBehindTheSun said:

People in big SUVs who think they are more important and therfore just bully their way through. Just another example of how all courtesy when driving has gone out the window for a percentage of people who think they can bully other people.

Same people will be driving six inches from your bumper when you are doing the speed limit or just pull in front of you when pulling out from a junction or roundabout.

These are the same people who are unable to pull into a road so will do a scandi flick before pulling in coming into your lane and then cutting the junction and ending up partially in the other lane when pulling in.

It's all part of the me, me, me society we have now.

Agreed. Though, I still see more polite, generally good driving than I see the above. Obviously the above is very noticeable when it happens. But most people are still decent and courteous on the roads.

Scott

[Pica-Pica]

I don't see this very often. Most people behave sensibly and courteously.

[zarjaz1991]

Pica-Pica said:

I don't see this very often. Most people behave sensibly and courteously.

Agreed. We tend to knock our country's driving standards but actually overall I think we're pretty good.

Scott

[Wheel Turned Out]

Moving obstacles like cyclists and tractors seem to generate it most in my experience. I understand it's frustrating to follow them, but if a couple go past before you get there coming the opposite direction, everyone seems to want to go whether there's space or not.

Not the end of the world, but it is a bit irritating.

[Simpo Two]

Wheel Turned Out said:

Moving obstacles like cyclists and tractors seem to generate it most in my experience. I understand it's frustrating to follow them, but if a couple go past before you get there coming the opposite direction, everyone seems to want to go whether there's space or not.

Not the end of the world, but it is a bit irritating.

'Back in the day' cyclists used to think 'Oops, I'm holding up a load of traffic' and pull over to let them past. But not any more. So you have a rolling hazard instead.

[ThingsBehindTheSun]

Pica-Pica said:

I don't see this very often. Most people behave sensibly and courteously.

Try driving in London, on busy streets with 20 limits and lots of buses continually stopping and blocking the road. Half the people are driving big SUVs which are too big for the roads, hence the reason they feel they need to swing into the other lane so they can get enough lock on.

Any gesture such as putting up your hands in a "WTAF" as they force you to stop will be met with a torrent of abuse.

[Riley Blue]

ThingsBehindTheSun said:

Pica-Pica said:

I don't see this very often. Most people behave sensibly and courteously.

Try driving in London, on busy streets with 20 limits and lots of buses continually stopping and blocking the road. Half the people are driving big SUVs which are too big for the roads, hence the reason they feel they need to swing into the other lane so they can get enough lock on.

Any gesture such as putting up your hands in a "WTAF" as they force you to stop will be met with a torrent of abuse.

An everyday story of city folk...

[PorkInsider]

OutInTheShed said:

In the real world, people give and take a bit, or nobody would get anywhere.

Yes, but you "give" when it's not your priority and "take" when it is.

It's simple enough.