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A traffic conundrum

(7 Posts)
Baggs Fri 27-Oct-23 11:02:48

Imagine a small town road with speed bumps near the primary school. Just after the speed bumps end there is a left turn that goes behind a few houses and leads to a medical centre and day care centre. At the top of this road there are two lanes but this soon narrows to a single lane that enters the medical centre car park.

Always at the top of this little road, right next to the junction, there are cars parked on the left hand side. Usually two and sometimes three. This means in effect that the entire road is single track. So someone turning into the smaller road has to use the 'wrong' side of the road.

Now imagine that someone dropping off a passenger at one of the afore-mentioned houses has reversed into the small road without parking properly so the entire road is blocked for someone turning left from the main road. This car cannot be seen until the car turning off the main road has got round the parked cars that are too near the junction.

My question is: who has right of way? Should the driver off the main road reverse back into the main road because they are on the 'wrong' side of the road. Or should the road-blocker reverse out of the way?

Note: the 'main' road is often essentially single track too because of parked cars.

welbeck Fri 27-Oct-23 11:24:23

we need a diagram. as they say on MN.
maybe take it up with the council, for better road markings, priority etc.

welbeck Fri 27-Oct-23 11:25:28

sounds like it should be one-way.
or is it a cul-de-sac.

growstuff Fri 27-Oct-23 11:35:19

I live in a road like this. Cars turning off the main road often have to drive on the wrong side because there are parked cars. I must admit that I usually give way, even though strictly speaking I have right of way.

AGAA4 Fri 27-Oct-23 11:49:19

This is a common problem. My DD lives on a road with parking on both sides making just one lane for traffic.
You should never reverse onto a main road. Those on the minor road should make way if a car is parked on the corner.
This happened to my elder DD and the badly parked car was reported and moved.

NotSpaghetti Fri 27-Oct-23 12:30:23

It doesn't really seem to matter in real life what is "correct" on roads like these - invariablyit'sme who gives way!

- it is important to know though in case there's an accident and someone wants to apportion blame...

I think I'd contact the council and ask for someone to come and look at it with regards to safety.
Have you got a contact for your local pcso? They may take a look too.

NotSpaghetti Fri 27-Oct-23 12:31:05

Badly parked cars - yes. Should be reported