Single track roads - question about pulling over (giving way)
 

What happens if you are on a single track road and another car is approaching and the closest pull over spot is nearest to you, BUT it's behind you? I read that it's polite to back up and into the space and let them have the right of way, but what are the chances that while you are backing up, somebody comes up behind you?

When I drove in the U.K. in 2005, we put 1,600 miles on the car in the U.K. and Scotland (from Comrie to Glencoe and then on to Inverness, for example) and actually never had this problem, but we'll be on Skye this summer and I've heard there are more of the single track roads than I experienced. Thanks!

Well in that situation one of you has to back up. If you are sure there is nothing behind you then yes you back up to the nearest passing place. If there is a car behind you then the other driver should back up unless the passing bay is big enough for two vehicles.

Dear Hetismij,

I understand that part of what you do, my question is based more on what happens if, while you are backing up, somebody all of a sudden comes up behind you? I'm thinking it could scare the bejesus out of both of us! ;)

Agree with the previous poster and if you see a car coming towards you when you are near a passsing place, it's polite to wait. Always pass on the left, i.e. if the passing place is on your right hand side, wait on the left side of the road opposite the passing place leaving room the the oncoming car to pull into it.

Your second senario is only likely on a narrow road with blind bends - where no-one should be going fast enough to come up on you all of a sudden. If it's safer for the other driver to back up, let them.

Normally on mountain roads, the car going up has the right of way but it is a matter of common sense : whoever is closest to a parking space stops and let the other car go.

I always figured the person on the outside of the mountain road (edge) should not have to back up, so if I'm on the inside (close to the mountain) I will back up.

When will you be in Skye? We'll be there in late June for 4 days, staying in Edinbane :)

<i>I always figured the person on the outside of the mountain road (edge) should not have to back up, so if I'm on the inside (close to the mountain) I will back up</i>

How is that determined on a <b>single</b> track lane?

1. Mountain roads and Skye aren't terms ever used in the same sentence.

2. The Rules (#155-156 of the Highway Code:
155 Single-track roads. These are only wide enough for one vehicle. They may have special passing places. If you see a vehicle coming towards you, or the driver behind wants to overtake, pull into a passing place on your left, or wait opposite a passing place on your right. Give way to vehicles coming uphill whenever you can. If necessary, reverse until you reach a passing place to let the other vehicle pass. Slow down when passing pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders.

156 Do not park in passing places.

3. The overriding rules. Use your common sense and (even more importantly) acknowledge anyone who's stopped, slowed down or in any other way shown courtesy, and forget about who's got what rights. If the Highway Code is contrary to common sense in a specific situation, common sense wins every time.

4. Don't worry about people driving at 100 mph behind you. They won't.

Thanks for the replies - they are very helpful!

GreenDragon - we'll be there August 9-15 in a self-catering rental in Portree. I'll keep an eye out for your trip report and see how you enjoyed it.

Those things scare me to death, I void them at all costs.

But you could be on the outside or inside of a single-track road just by which direction you are going. At least the driver will be on one side or other of the car--near the outer edge or near the mountain. I don't know if that's what GreenDragon meant, but I can see that it may be more comfortable to back up if you are sitting on the side closest to the mountain.

&quot; Mountain roads and Skye aren't terms ever used in the same sentence&quot;.

Of course not but I figured it might be helpful for the OP to know a little more about the rules involved. After all, she might want to drive in Switzerland on her next holiday.

As indicated, common sense prevails over rules.

Yup, that's what I meant... even if it's single track, one person 'should' be on the right side, and the other the left, even if there isn't enough room for two bikes to pass eachother :)

1. Use common sense.

2. Be courteous.

3. Don't be afraid.

Those work for me on all roads in all countries, including all the narrow roads in the UK and Italy.

hi, twin,

i drive round single track roads all the time, admittedly mostly without the added bonus of a cliff edge. Most locals have a knack of using parts where the road widens, so that we aim to arrive at those sections simultaneously. we then wave graciously at each other.

the problems arise of course when in the summer the emmets arrive and don't understand how to guage their speed so as to make backing up unnecessary. Even worse, they don't know anything about mutual waving.

:S-

regards, ann

ps i't not just polite to back up, it's essential that someone does if you want to get home before midnight. you just have to wait til you see the whites of their eyes.