To think some drivers are totally selfish

Rosie51

I think, as with so many of this type of post, the goalposts constantly moved. If the OP had stated they arrived at the petrol station exit, saw the approaching car, stopped and waited to see what the car would do, and was then expected to wait until the car could exit and join the main road replies would be different. Instead we had the whole her husband would reverse..... if she was there first why would any vehicle have to reverse, they'd simply not advance as far? Then we had the vehicle was too far advanced into the exit when it shouldn't be...but if her husband would have reversed in that situation then he would have been in the same position in the exit as the quoted vehicle that would have needed a reverse manoeuvre operation. It was impossible for the OP to pass behind the vehicle because of a wall that would prevent safe passage, but that wall was no obstacle to a vehicle going into reverse. It all becomes very confused, and the outcome is that nobody really understands the logistics, and it just appears the OP doesn't think their passage should be hindered in any way. We all have to co-exist, sometimes pedestrians have to wait for motorists, and sometimes (probably quite correctly and more frequently) motorists have to wait for pedestrians. Lighten up and go with the flow, then we all get where we're going safely.

Great post!

I’m not a very good driver; lacking in confidence etc. But what I try to do in all circumstances is try to keep the traffic moving. Eg if I’m on a main road will leave gaps so that people can move out of side roads ( which I realise I’m supposed to do but not everybody does). In this instance I would have reversed back if safe to do so because I was holding up the pedestrian. Imo it would have been common courtesy to do so.

grumppa

I find that many pedestrians are unaware of the changes to the Highway Code, and wait for the cars whose drivers are waiting for them. I also find that more and more pedestrians, especially the young, launch themselves across the road without looking left and right.

On the positive side, courtesy between drivers on narrow suburban roads seems to be on the increase.

More a matter of self preservation, you really cannot rely on the driver having seen you in time any distraction puts you in peril.
It may well be the driver entirely at fault but you still have a broken leg and that’s no consolation.

I think, as with so many of this type of post, the goalposts constantly moved. If the OP had stated they arrived at the petrol station exit, saw the approaching car, stopped and waited to see what the car would do, and was then expected to wait until the car could exit and join the main road replies would be different. Instead we had the whole her husband would reverse..... if she was there first why would any vehicle have to reverse, they'd simply not advance as far? Then we had the vehicle was too far advanced into the exit when it shouldn't be...but if her husband would have reversed in that situation then he would have been in the same position in the exit as the quoted vehicle that would have needed a reverse manoeuvre operation. It was impossible for the OP to pass behind the vehicle because of a wall that would prevent safe passage, but that wall was no obstacle to a vehicle going into reverse. It all becomes very confused, and the outcome is that nobody really understands the logistics, and it just appears the OP doesn't think their passage should be hindered in any way. We all have to co-exist, sometimes pedestrians have to wait for motorists, and sometimes (probably quite correctly and more frequently) motorists have to wait for pedestrians. Lighten up and go with the flow, then we all get where we're going safely.

Maybee I agree. If I am sitting in a queue and the bleeps from behind start, I ask why I cannot fly over the cars ahead of me. So many people are unreasonable and will not wait their turn.

grumppa

I find that many pedestrians are unaware of the changes to the Highway Code, and wait for the cars whose drivers are waiting for them. I also find that more and more pedestrians, especially the young, launch themselves across the road without looking left and right.

On the positive side, courtesy between drivers on narrow suburban roads seems to be on the increase.

We were about to pull off a main road into a side road today; indicated left and slowed down. But it was obvious that a young lad walking along the pavement was going to walk straight across the road without even looking. So we virtually stopped until it was obvious that he had seen us ( I think someone walking behind hm shouted to him).But blow me, the car behind started bipping us in anger. What did he expect us to do: mow the lad down? It put is in a grumpy mood for quite a while afterwards. I just don’t understand people.

I find that many pedestrians are unaware of the changes to the Highway Code, and wait for the cars whose drivers are waiting for them. I also find that more and more pedestrians, especially the young, launch themselves across the road without looking left and right.

On the positive side, courtesy between drivers on narrow suburban roads seems to be on the increase.

Oh dear. I did try to wind this up. So is it ok to make a big fuss about me making a big fuss, or to be unreasonable about me being unreasonable?
If people want to carry on asking me to justify this or to simply call me a silly old trout, or words that effect, am afraid I won’t be around to give grist to the mill.
Anyway it really is past my bedtime. Anyone got a problem with that? No? Good. Night night then.

I can't picture it being easy for her to reverse but too difficult for you to go behind her. I think I need a diagram.

Tizliz

Rosie51

I've not seen any reference to that Highway Code change but as I was taught that pedestrians always have priority I always do anyway. An exit from a garage forecourt is not a junction, and I'm sure had the OP been about to cross the exit before the woman was positioned there in her car, she'd have given way. Expecting her to reverse is a bit much I think.

Highway Code changes to boost pedestrians' safety ...
The 2022 Highway Code changed rules for pedestrians and other road users to give pedestrians priority at junctions. The changes were made to improve safety for vulnerable road users.
New rules
Drivers must give way to pedestrians, cyclists, and horse riders when turning into or out of a junction
Drivers must also give way to pedestrians who are waiting to cross at a junction
Drivers must give way to pedestrians who have started crossing the road
Drivers must not cut across cyclists, horse riders, or horse-drawn vehicles when turning

This doesn’t apply to the situation the OP was in. A great deal of fuss about absolutely nothing.

Out here in the country we drive mainly on minor roads and country lanes. We get used to looking far ahead and noticing what’s coming. I am very considerate and if I see a pull in or gate way I do so to let another vehicle through on a narrow road.

Some drivers and, I have to say, mainly women, do not look ahead and never pull in for anyone. I met two women on Sunday who passed two pull ins and ploughed straight on until they came to me with nowhere to pull in. My friend was with me and we were both signalling to them to reverse into a pull in. They looked at us as if we were in the wrong. We just sat there until they did! 🤣

Tizliz

They changed the Highway Code fairly recently and now cars must give way to pedestrians at junctions. Think this has bypassed some drivers.

But this wasn't at a junction......it was a petrol station exit

Rosie51

Astitchintime I hadn't refreshed the page and you've already made the point about crossing behind.

No problem Rosie and it is good to know that someone was of the same mind as me

Rosie51

I've not seen any reference to that Highway Code change but as I was taught that pedestrians always have priority I always do anyway. An exit from a garage forecourt is not a junction, and I'm sure had the OP been about to cross the exit before the woman was positioned there in her car, she'd have given way. Expecting her to reverse is a bit much I think.

Highway Code changes to boost pedestrians' safety ...
The 2022 Highway Code changed rules for pedestrians and other road users to give pedestrians priority at junctions. The changes were made to improve safety for vulnerable road users.
New rules
Drivers must give way to pedestrians, cyclists, and horse riders when turning into or out of a junction
Drivers must also give way to pedestrians who are waiting to cross at a junction
Drivers must give way to pedestrians who have started crossing the road
Drivers must not cut across cyclists, horse riders, or horse-drawn vehicles when turning

Well, though it will make no difference, I pulled up to the side of the exit before the car did, I saw it coming and so stopped where I stayed until given the all the clear by the driver to cross.
Which of course in this instance didn't happen.
Maybe a fuss about nothing, in which case are an awful lot of threads that could take this accolade alongside mine.
Anyway is over and done with and will know better than to expect a common courtesy next time.
Cheerio and have a nice evening.

A lot of fuss about absolutely nothing. 🤷‍♀️

also the car had its nose right across the part of the exit that ran across the pavement, there was no need to move forward so much. that would seem to me to be the natural position to be in for joining the main road. Do you really expect a driver to stay on the garage forecourt, where presumably visibility of the road is more limited, until there's a big enough gap in traffic to join the main road? You've said in the same circumstances your husband would have reversed back so presumably he too would have been in that position on the exit .
OP you've posted in AIBU but seem very put out that some of us won't condemn the driver for not reversing back onto the forecourt to allow you to cross.

Last comment in reply to Tizliz

I've not seen any reference to that Highway Code change but as I was taught that pedestrians always have priority I always do anyway. An exit from a garage forecourt is not a junction, and I'm sure had the OP been about to cross the exit before the woman was positioned there in her car, she'd have given way. Expecting her to reverse is a bit much I think.

Ladyripple

Dangerous to reverse on a garage forecourt! You are being unreasonable.

I beg to differ. The forecourt was empty at the time, and the exit was some distance from any pumps etc., also the car had its nose right across the part of the exit that ran across the pavement, there was no need to move forward so much. My DH would naturally pull back a bit in this situation, as would other drivers I know. Would have been much more dangerous if I had been in a rush and risked wheeling the pram around the front of the car possibly into oncoming traffic, which of course I would never do.
I find it odd that you can make this assumption without actually being there but hey ho if I was the one being unreasonable in your opinion so be it.

They changed the Highway Code fairly recently and now cars must give way to pedestrians at junctions. Think this has bypassed some drivers.

Drivers are in their own bubble and often don’t consider others, sometime it is deliberate more often they’re not thinking.

My own pet hates are overtaking on the inside, overtaking on roundabouts and bikers weaving through traffic.

Dangerous to reverse on a garage forecourt! You are being unreasonable.

Very happy to say I live in a town where drivers regularly allow pedestrians to cross. Might add many of these pedestrians are jaywalkers but.....we don't discriminate!

Of course there are some towns, eg Aberdeen, where it seems to be against the local by-laws to use indicators at all...

Not just Aberdeen. We always joke that indicators must cost more for some cars so people do without them 😁 Mind you, headlights seem to be going the same way - it staggers me how many cars we see with just one headlight, and no lights at all in foggy conditions.