How do I indicate correctly in this scenario?

Bruno1982

I want to reverse into a driveway on a housing estate. Driving into the estate, I go straight ahead for some distance and the driveway is on my left. However, directly opposite is a right turn and the ‘main’ road continue straight on. So it’s on the continuous part of a t-junction.

If the house next door hasn’t parked along the keen, I indicate left and pull in there and then reverse back into the driveway. However, often there is a car parked along the kerb so I need to either stop on the road alongside, or I need to pull out to the right slightly and then swing back in when reversing. In this scenario, I find I am often confusing any car following behind me. If I indicate left, they don’t expect me to then reverse and are often immediately behind and so blocking the drive I want to reverse into. If I want to pull out right before my reverse, obviously indicating left doesn’t communicate this, but indicating right means they tend to think I’m taking the t-junction right and they are startled when I come to a full stop and again often too close to me. Not indicating at all somehow seems least confusing but feels wrong. Any ideas?

FunkyDa2

Try the hazard lights(seriously)...

Silent Running

Bruno1982 wrote: »

I want to reverse into a driveway on a housing estate. Driving into the estate, I go straight ahead for some distance and the driveway is on my left. However, directly opposite is a right turn and the ‘main’ road continue straight on. So it’s on the continuous part of a t-junction.

If the house next door hasn’t parked along the keen, I indicate left and pull in there and then reverse back into the driveway. However, often there is a car parked along the kerb so I need to either stop on the road alongside, or I need to pull out to the right slightly and then swing back in when reversing. In this scenario, I find I am often confusing any car following behind me. If I indicate left, they don’t expect me to then reverse and are often immediately behind and so blocking the drive I want to reverse into. If I want to pull out right before my reverse, obviously indicating left doesn’t communicate this, but indicating right means they tend to think I’m taking the t-junction right and they are startled when I come to a full stop and again often too close to me. Not indicating at all somehow seems least confusing but feels wrong. Any ideas?

Would it not be the same as parallel parking? Indicate left as that's where you intend to go.

Bruno1982

Well yes it is parallel parking I suppose. But somehow it manages to create confusion in a way that normal parallel parking wouldn’t - I guess because people don’t see a free parking spot alongside.

If the kerb immediately before the driveway is clear, I can pull alongside there and let following traffic pass before I move, but it often has a car parked there also.

Hazard lights might be the answer - I didn’t even think of that!

FunkyDa2

Bruno1982 wrote: »

Well yes it is parallel parking I suppose. But somehow it manages to create confusion in a way that normal parallel parking wouldn’t - I guess because people don’t see a free parking spot alongside.

If the kerb immediately before the driveway is clear, I can pull alongside there and let following traffic pass before I move, but it often has a car parked there also.

Hazard lights might be the answer - I didn’t even think of that!

Put the hazard lights on as you slowly come to a stop...:)

Allinall

Hazard lights when reversing on a main road.

I have a similar parking scenario, and usually pull in to the left before my driveway and wait until there are no cars coming to reverse in.

Obviously on a busy road this may not be practical.

Jacovs

Indicate left, pull in behind the car at the kerb, let anyone behind you pass, when its clear you swing out right and then reverse in.

Edit, I see there could be car at kerb before and after your driveway.

Isambard

here's a radical idea, wind down your window and wave on the cars behind you whilst stopping, indicating left all the time. As soon as you stop, engage reverse and the other drivers will cop on to what you are doing. You can even stop a little short to make sure you have room to pull forward if a clown stops on your arse before reversing.

They don't teach hand-signals any more I'm guessing.

Del2005

If its a busy road the best option might be to drive in and then change the car when it's quite, I know a few people who have to do this.

Otherwise indicate left and then hazards before you stop and reversing lights should get it through. But the person driving forward has the right of way so you might need to move on if they get too close and won't/can't reverse.