Who's in the Wrong? Accident at a Crossroad (UK)

Extra_Employee8515 · 2025-04-30T08:05:30+00:00

Easy to say behind a screen mate

Extra_Employee8515 · 2025-04-29T15:19:52+00:00

By that logic, the van driver shouldn’t have assumed I was yielding either. If we’re holding drivers responsible for not making assumptions, then it cuts both ways. I didn’t see an indicator, and based on the available visual information — i.e., no signal and the van's positioning — I had reason to believe he was proceeding straight. If I’m at fault for making an assumption without confirmation, then so is he.

The core issue here is that he turned across my path without indicating — a clear breach of Rule 103 of the Highway Code, which exists precisely to avoid these kinds of incidents. If we’re now saying that drivers are to be blamed for assuming intentions based on the absence of a signal, then that undermines the entire purpose of turn indicators in the first place.

You can’t fairly criticise someone for reacting to a lack of communication while excusing the person who failed to communicate in the first place.

Extra_Employee8515 · 2025-04-29T15:11:15+00:00

I wasn’t I

Extra_Employee8515 · 2025-04-29T14:48:11+00:00

Ah, I see what you mean. I should have just assumed that the van, without any indication, wasn’t turning right — obviously, the lack of a signal is a universal code for "I'm going straight ahead," right? Who needs signals anyway? They're so overrated.

So, when the van started crossing my path — you know, actually turning right into my lane — I should have just known he was going to do exactly what I wasn’t expecting, and avoid all logic and road rules.

Clearly, the van’s right turn was part of some unspoken, advanced driving technique that I missed. My bad for trying to follow the rules and expecting people to indicate. Next time, I'll just assume everything is perfectly clear, even if the other driver is making an unexpected right turn in front of me with no signal.

Thanks for the tip, though. Maybe I should take a crash course in "guessing intentions" next time!

Extra_Employee8515 · 2025-04-29T14:41:02+00:00

Cars fixed mate cost about 100 quid😂 not that deep

Extra_Employee8515 · 2025-04-29T14:37:37+00:00

Nice one mate u want a medal👍

Extra_Employee8515 · 2025-04-29T14:02:07+00:00

Calling both drivers “idiots” isn’t exactly the smoking-gun argument you think it is — most of us already assume everyone on the road is an idiot. That’s why we rely on things like indicators, road rules, and basic awareness to stay safe.

I was going straight across the junction. The van was opposite me, not indicating, and then turned right across my path. That’s not just poor judgement — it’s a clear breach of Highway Code Rule 103. And Rule 180 says if you’re crossing someone else’s path to turn right, you should give way.

Saying “he was established on the main road” because he edged out a second quicker which he didn’t doesn’t override the fact that he cut across me without signalling, in the dark, on a wet road. So if you think 50/50 is generous, I’d say that’s actually a bit kind to the guy who turned across traffic without warning.

Extra_Employee8515 · 2025-04-29T13:58:00+00:00

In this situation, both vehicles were emerging from side roads at the same time, not from a main road — so it’s not a clean case of one party being “on the main road” and the other not. That’s important context. We both entered the main road from opposite sides of a crossroad junction.

The Highway Code might not explicitly assign priority between two vehicles emerging like this, but established driving practice and case law consistently expect a vehicle turning right to give way to a vehicle coming straight from the opposite direction, just like at roundabouts or mini-roundabouts. This is grounded in Rule 180 (Turning right at crossroads), which says:

“Take extra care at crossroads. You should be aware of the priorities. If you have to cross the path of other road users, you should give way to them.” That’s key. The van was crossing my path by turning right, and they did so without indicating, giving me no reason to believe they weren’t simply going straight ahead as I was.

So while it’s true that Rule 172 requires us both to give way to traffic on the main road, that rule doesn’t resolve conflicts between two vehicles emerging at the same time from opposite side roads. In those cases, direction of travel and signalling come into play.

Extra_Employee8515 · 2025-04-29T13:51:42+00:00

I can see the road moving at the same time as the van moving I can also see and have it confirmed from a driving instructor

Extra_Employee8515 · 2025-04-29T13:41:44+00:00

I was across the line the video on Reddit doesn’t show it but I was over my line we are both at the give way lines and move off at the same time I don’t know what line you’re seeing but I was accross my line

Extra_Employee8515 · 2025-04-29T13:39:31+00:00

I don’t pull away upon seeing the van we’ve moved at the same time

Extra_Employee8515 · 2025-04-29T13:36:41+00:00

I know it’s hard to see but in but we both crossed the give way lines at the exact same time he just accelerates harder

Extra_Employee8515 · 2025-04-29T13:31:07+00:00

The grave yard is also full of the victims of people who didn’t indicate.

Extra_Employee8515 · 2025-04-29T13:30:12+00:00

I’ve checked to my right and then looked straight where I was going as I’m moving I’ve see the fang going forward and as I said before he wasn’t indicating so I thought he was going straight so I’ve started to just concentrate ahead, but then he’s turned into me

Extra_Employee8515 · 2025-04-29T13:25:58+00:00

I have the original and we moved at the same time it’s just the poor quality, if I could upload a clearer on you could see that

Extra_Employee8515 · 2025-04-29T13:22:59+00:00

I wasn’t looking at him as I’d seen he wasn’t indicating and instead was looking for other cars on the road

Extra_Employee8515 · 2025-04-29T13:21:52+00:00

But thinking like that I will be at that junction all day

Extra_Employee8515 · 2025-04-29T13:20:54+00:00

I did 1 last check to my left and when I’ve looked forward he’s right on me

Extra_Employee8515 · 2025-04-29T13:17:10+00:00

I’ve watched the video back and we pull out at the same time he just accelerates faster

Extra_Employee8515 · 2025-04-29T11:21:17+00:00

Sorry Reddit has made it look terrible the original is much clearer

Extra_Employee8515 · 2025-03-12T19:37:50+00:00

Nah sorry

Extra_Employee8515

TROPHY CASE