[Closed] Aggresive drivers on single lane roads. Options?

I'd likely just pull in slightly, will only be one loser, just don't take the chance.

TBH 1ft out from the verge is closer than I would be riding. Stay about 2-3 foot out and they won't think there is room to squeeze past.

If they do barge past you then bang the roof with the flat palm of you hand. Sounds incredibly loud inside the car and they will stop thinking they have hit you - or if they're a total twonk they will speed off thinking they have hit you!

Either way, they will hopefully learn a lesson.

I've started taking a couple of single lane roads on my way home - they drop me down the back of the hill, so can be going pretty damn fast. I cover the brakes all the way down and if a car comes the other way I move over and let them pass. I've not yet had a single car (or van) not slow down to make it at least feel safer.
So, you've just met an arsehole. You probably won't see the same arsehole again, so move on 🙂

[i]Stay about 2-3 foot out and they won't think there is room to squeeze past.[/i]

Really? I'm a "it's my right to the road as much as you" type of rider, but I wouldn't expect cars to stop for me coming the other way. Pretty much the same as if I'm [u]driving[/u] down a single lane and a car comes the other way. If they stop cool, if they don't I do.

I'd agree with this ^

Bit of give and take on those sorts of roads. If they can stop for me going uphill that would be appreciated though...

Really? I'm a "it's my right to the road as much as you" type of rider, but I wouldn't expect cars to stop for me coming the other way. Pretty much the same as if I'm driving down a single lane and a car comes the other way. If they stop cool, if they don't I do.

That is how I would interpret the Highway Code. I could of course be technically wrong.

I use the 1mtr rule always.

Agressive drivers on single lanes feel superior to cyclists, most are considerate and will at least slow down, sadly that leaves the nobs who feel threatened by your presence.

Fact of life right there.

Stay safe, enjoy your rides.

Was it a 4x4 or SUV by any chance?

If it's more convenient for me to allow another vehicle to pass that's what I do.

So, if I'm on a bike I always get out of the way rather than make a car reverse to find a layby.

Rule 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.

Not sure it's cut-and-dried in the code. The 'Don't be a Dick' rule probably applies though.

Think very carefully before doing anything remotely aggressive like shouting etc. You are probably in the middle of nowhere with no witnesses.

I shouted an expletive at a very aggressive driver on a narrow country lane. Massive road rage incident from drunk driver ensued during which I was lucky not to be punched (I was manhandled). No bystanders to moderated behaviour.

Number one priority must be to stay safe.

[i] 'Don't be a Dick' rule probably applies though.[/i]

This. There are dicks. Beware of dicks. Especially if they could injure you.

I don't demand RoW in such situations, but I at least expect the driver to slow so we can pass at a safe speed.

This is seriously aggresive and dangerous behaviour. but I can't be arsed to report to the Police as they will do nothing.

It was at commuting time, so there's a high likelihood of it happening again on same road. I'd report even if you have no reg details.

its coz top gears back on innit 😉

Stand up on the pedals, move over a bit but put a big wobble on, as if you are about to fall off.
This will normally ensure you get a bit more space.

So, if I'm on a bike I always get out of the way rather than make a car reverse to find a layby.

So is it too much to expect the oncoming driver to just pull up against the verge to allow you to pass. I agree on your point on having to reverse.

Rule 155
Slow down when passing pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders.

I tend to take the attitude of self preservation. Its great taking the "I have right of way" approach, but not much use when you dead.

I just regard everyone in a car/van/truck as someone who wants to kill me and ride accordingly.

It was at commuting time, so there's a high likelihood of it happening again on same road. I'd report even if you have no reg details.

This is seriously aggresive and dangerous behaviour. but I can't be arsed to report to the Police as they will do nothing.

police have spoken to a couple of drivers i've reported to them. seems to work best if you report to the relevant neighbourhood PC.

I have to ride a lot of single lane country roads for my commute, often with high hedges and poor road surfaces.

when it comes to position on the road, what i always ask in my mind is "what is the line of sight to me", so at what point would a car coming from behind or from the front see me? If i am on a long straight road with a good line of sight, then i'll move closer to verge but still a good couple of feet, potholes and road surface permitting, if there are a lot of bends and line of sight is poor, then i'll position myself closer to centre of road.

Be courteous is the main thing, i have ridden with people who say "i must ride 1.5m from the edge", then wonder why the 1 mile backlog of cars behind them is getting annoyed, but on flip side don't ride in the gutter.

On single lane roads, be practical, whoever gets to the "passing place" first be the one to give way, i'm not going to ride past an obvious place to pull over and keep riding, just because i'm the bike.

At the end of the day, if you wave thanks to people, ride in a controlled and sensible manner then most people are good BUT there will always be idiots (near me it seems to be DPD and Tesco delivery drivers)

[i]So is it too much to expect the oncoming driver to just pull up against the verge to allow you to pass. I agree on your point on having to reverse.[/i]

So this happens a lot with different drivers? Or just the one dick?
I've never had it, so I must be lucky I suppose.
Does he really need to pull over, or is there room if you just go closer to the verge/hedge?

In the middle of nowhere? You'll be needing a shooter. Have a word with Big Vern he'll see you right. Body back in the car and set light to it. Cushty.

I think there is only one action and that is to give way. We don't want to do that but as someone else said, there is only one outcome if you get hit by the car and its a bit late for 'you were in the right' discussion. How much is the delay to you to stop? Take the moral high ground and be comfortable that you have set the example and you're not bothered. Give him a friendly wave too (not the single digit wave!) as if you are happy that you have given way.

Ride further out. Use a flashing front light too, that way he can't claim not to have seen you.

Be prepared to give way of course - I'm not suggesting you ride into the fornt of him but he'd slow down for a horse or oncoming car so make yourself that width.

Similarly, he's unlikely to drive into you just to make a point!

In an ideal situation, you both just pull over and slow a little, at low speed 1ft is plenty of room to pass each other safely.

The OP described a potholed verge though which makes this somewhat more difficult - chances are the driver does not know or realise that is the case. In a situation like that I tend to make my default riding position right down the middle of the road - it makes it clear there is no way past. When the verge becomes safe again then I move back into the side.

I had it this morning, too. There's a single track lane on my extended commute which gets used as a cut through (in one direction) by self important holes to bypass the queue at a T-junction emerging onto an A-road. About 4 blind corners and full height hedgerows. Very few passing places.

Poor bloke in a Porsche Cayenne didn't want to get his tyres dirty this morning and had no intention of giving way or even slowing. Nearly took his wing mirror off and i was about an inch from the verge. Only one out of six cars actually stopped 😥

Practice pulling your water bottle out of the cage and throwing it in one swift movement at their windscreen. They go apeshit. A tractor did it to me in the summer and was very scary when I realised if I didn't pull off the road he wasn't going to stop and would have driven over me. Had enough time to reach down and throw bottle sideways at his window. Funnily enough his brakes did work after all but I wimped out of a possible violent confrontation and rode off without a bottle..

There is one very big difference here. An oncoming car when cycling on a single lane road is technically on your side of the road and should therefore give way. Two cars on a single lane road, neither have right of way.

I'm fairly sure that is purely your construct

Even if it is true the fact that i have never heard of it suggests that a driver, head on, you meet might not have heard of it either

I think it is worth saying that car, van, motorbike lorry, tractor or bike if we all stayed our safe or preferred distance from the curb or road edge on single track roads then they would be full of rusting hulks and be permanently unpassable

As much as folk talk of riding defensively and holding your ground my recent club riding experience is not positive.

A Porsche Cayenne on road round to foot of Garburn last Wednesday night nearly led to an altercation, Postierich may have had a word with him and the driver changed his mind when he saw several riders pitch up. He was hoofifng it down the road and tried to squeeze passed one rider unaware that several more were round the corner.

Several farmers around Coniston this weekend drove as though we weren't there. It was icy and there was very little room. I would like them to have at least lifted off the throttle...

Driving in a reinforced steel box means you have a level of impunity and complacency to other lesser protected road users.

I do find it staggering reading these examples. Are we dealing with people who could happily mow you down and then shrug shoulders leaving you dying on the road side or the classic example of people thinking differently whilt inside their little steel container, but if they did run you over reality of what they had done would hit.

It is a good question but I don't really want to test the theory as being hit by cars really hurts.

Worse than that - it could damage your bike.

I think some drivers don't really appreciate how intimidating their speed is up close to an approaching cyclist, on a narrow road.

My commute is 90% narrow lanes, so I have stopped riding home from work in the dark now, because of this, as it's hard to see the edge of the road under the glare from car headlights.

There's a couple of lanes on my commute where there's little room for vehicles to pass. I tend towards treating each case individually depending on which way the wind is blowing, position of the moon, alignment of the stars etc. But I'm fairly lucky they're not busy lanes and most people that do use them are considerate.

It's a single lane road. There is no "my side" or "their side" unless it is a single lane road with white lines down the middle...

You are both in the same lane and both have to obey the same rules.

Rule 1 - don't be an arsehole
Rule 2 - if rule 1 fails, don't get hurt

I would generally slow down and tuck in (expecting the driver to do the same). If they don't, I'd stop and then follow up with some naughty words.

My commute is 90% narrow lanes, so I have stopped riding home from work in the dark now, because of this, as it's hard to see the edge of the road under the glare from car headlights.

Ironically, I find riding such roads at night much safer. Firstly, you can see things coming from much further away due to the pool of light and they can see you too.

Secondly, most bike lights now are brighter than even a main beam car light and I've had drivers pull right off the road and stop before now - they usually think it's an oncoming tractor!

It's not just cyclists either, pedestrians too. Walking down a narrow lane in the Peaks yesterday and saw an approaching Landrover. The road was fairly straight but with big high verges so I stood to the edge as much as I could. Landrover driver didn't even lift (or wave thanks) and instead just carried on past with very little room at 30-40mph. One tiny slip and I'd have been under his wheels. Visibility was good, I was wearing red and there was no reason he'd not have seen me in good time.

Would have been nice if he'd have just lifted off the throttle a little, might have been a lot less intimidating being passed closely at 10mph or so. Complete ignorant w*nker of the highest order!

I've not really got any experience of the specific issue with single-track roads, but whenever I have used them, the instinct is always to be prepared to stop and move over - out of pure self preservation.

There are a lot of really bad drivers around, though - and increasingly less coppers to sort them out.

When riding (I only ride twice a week for leisure - no commuting) I often have non-serious but revealing interactions with these idiots.

Mainly it involves people desperate to squeeze past - I doubt they need that extra five seconds on a Saturday morning, but there you go. I now ride a good 2 feet out from the edge of the road - you cannot overtake me safely without crossing the centre line. Strangely, having to put themselves into oncoming traffic focusses their minds a bit. I have had one ludicrous woman fly up behind me, overtake, pull in and nearly hit me to avoid the van she was playing chicken with. There was no other traffic coming the other way. She could have overtaken five seconds later. But she was driving a white BMW with a personalised number plate, so I guess she is so important that five seconds of her time is worth more than my life.

There are other examples, though - racing up to overtake me, thirty yards before a junction - why?

When driving myself there are also the ones who bimble along at 40 mph on a clear, straight road with a 60 mph limit before driving into a village with a 30 mph limit and just cruising on through at 40 mph!

Although we all like to talk of what we 'would' have done, or the one time we did actually swing a leg at a car door and hit it, the overriding concern has to be your own safety - a negligent driver being convicted is not going to un-injure or un-kill you. If you have to be a bit bolshy to 'manage' other road users I would also consider this to be looking after your own safety.

Highway code says...

154
Take extra care on country roads and reduce your speed at approaches to bends, which can be sharper than they appear, and at junctions and turnings, which may be partially hidden. Be prepared for pedestrians, horse riders, cyclists, slow-moving farm vehicles or mud on the road surface. Make sure you can stop within the distance you can see to be clear. You should also reduce your speed where country roads enter villages.
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.

[i]brighter than even a main beam car light [/i]

1975 Mini maybe.

There is a narrow country road (about 1.5 lanes wide) near us that goes up a hill for several hundred yards that we have used for many years for hill repeat training. We never had (or witnesed) any problems until a couple of years ago the council in their infinite wisdom decided to make it safer and put in stretches of width restrictions in the name of "traffic calming".

These tend to alternate with wider passing places every 50-80 metres or so and right of way is obvious depending on which side the width restriction is. We don't usually have much problem on the bikes and tend to let cars coming up behind us go as soon as we reach a passing place and give way to cars coming the other way when necessary.

However, there's almost never a ride goes by when we don't witness one numpty or another in a car who just can't wait for drivers coming the other way. It's really amusing at times because you get Mexican stand-offs where drivers who should give way carry on down the restriction and then the driver coming the other way also keeps going. They generally meet in the middle and we ride past laughing.

We had a woman in a Mercedes once who should have given way and had to back up about 50 metres or so. She was so inept though she kept turning the steering wheel the wrong way and ended up backing into a hedge that she couldn't get out of. Oh how we laughed!

Far from being traffic calming it just makes drivers more and more irate and probably the cause of other incidents further down the line as they rush to get home to take it out on their wife and/or kids.

I do hundreds of miles every year on singletrack roads and always find that rising close to the verge only encourages oncoming drivers to think they can squeeze past. Riding in the centre of the road causes them to think twice and while I'm always prepared to pull over I don't do so until absolutely necessary. Of course there are still idiots that won't stop at the passing place between you and them, but aggressive road positioning does ensure that they slow down to a crawl as they pass.

A couple of weeks ago on my way to work a car caught me on a narrow lane with a few sharp bends separated by 20 to 30 metre sections, then it opens out into a normal 2 lane width. I held my position a metre or so from the verge on my side thinking it would be dangerous for them to pass, the car kept coming closer and then did a James bond style pass with 2 wheels riding up the embankment on the other side of the road heading toward a blind bend. 20 seconds later they'd have had a whole lane width to do it on. Funny thing was they got held up by a farm vehicle going into a gate and I got right onto their tail again but decided it was safer not to pass.

Secondly, most bike lights now are brighter than even a main beam car light and I've had drivers pull right off the road and stop before now - they usually think it's an oncoming tractor!

Far from being traffic calming it just makes drivers more and more irate and probably the cause of other incidents further down the line as they rush to get home to take it out on their wife and/or kids.

Cycling home tonight I was more worried than I've been for quite some years. It appears that even though I was wearing a reflective jacket, had 2 back lights (one flashing the other solid - a dynamo rear lamp) and a nice Dynamo front lamp I had 3 cars attempting to pass where there wasn't space and one who objected to me being in the road and doing a properly considered punishment pass by slowing down, driving alongside me then veering across the centre line then pulling right into the kerb - where I would have been if I hadn't realised that he was a homicidal lunatic.
They're all out tonight.

It's not just cyclists, though - I use about 5 miles of country roads as part of my daily commute by car and, just about every single day, somebody coming the opposite way simply cannot wait 5 seconds for me to clear a narrow section and will drive into it too, causing us both to have to stop/fold mirrors in/drive halfway up a bank. (Which usually takes many times longer than if they'd just waited)

There really are some mentalists out there, and they're probably breeding, too.

I just regard everyone in a car/van/truck as someone who wants to kill me and ride accordingly.

This, unfortunately, is the rule I apply when walking, cycling or indeed driving. Just assume everybody is going to do something highly erratic or life threatening and you'll be okay.

I go with the approach of riding a bit further out well in advance when you see oncoming traffic, such that you obviously can't both carry on as you are.

Then, most drivers will slow down and move over as much as possible, and you can gradually move back over, probably further in than originally positioned, and pass with a cheerful wave.

Otherwise, you have a clear sign that the driver is one of the sociopathic variety, so you still move over in the same way but are better prepared for the option of diving into the hedge/ditch if necessary.

My regular local loop involved a few miles of single track road with passing places, some of which has banked sides making it virtuallly impossible to move far enough over to let anything other than a small car pass.
Never really had too many problems and in fact I use the psssing places to let traffic overtake me - most drivers take time to acknowledge this gesture too.

However was out with my son on Saturday morning when the local Morrisons delivery driver came towards us, drove straight past the only passing place between us so ultimately our only option was to turn round and ride back to the last gateway and let him past. From his reaction I don't think it was aggressive, I think some people just aren't very good drivers... which is a worry when it's their job.

I go with the approach of riding a bit further out well in advance when you see oncoming traffic, such that you obviously can't both carry on as you are.

Then, most drivers will slow down and move over as much as possible, and you can gradually move back over, probably further in than originally positioned, and pass with a cheerful wave.

Otherwise, you have a clear sign that the driver is one of the sociopathic variety, so you still move over in the same way but are better prepared for the option of diving into the hedge/ditch if necessary.

This.

I have a theory that a lot of people essentially regress to toddler stage when they get in their cars, and they need clear, assertive leadership about how to behave. Give them that, I they often meekly comply. Let them get scared cos they're not sure what to do and you get panic and tantrums. Honestly - I've been on the receiving end of what can only be described as a tantrum many times - once it even ended in a sulk - pursed lips and everything 🙂

I go with the wave pre-emptively - as soon as they see me. It's a polite way of saying 'stay where you are, I'm here already' - most people reciprocate. But as John says you know pretty quickly if you're dealing with a psycho and because you've started the interaction early, you give yourself extra time to take avoidance action...

I treat it exactly the same way that I would if I was driving...
If there is space to pull over and let the other vehicle past then I do so (there's always space to let the other vehicle past if you're on a bike)

If you treat it any other way then expect confrontation

I'm with yunki.

At the end of the day we all have to share an inadequate amount of space. A bit of give and take and a heaped tablespoon of "it's not worth being dead over".

It doesn't stop the deliberately homicidal (inadequate?) but it does help reduce the effect of the oblivious (and goodness knows there's enough of them).

[i]I'm with yunki.[/i]

No! You're with ME, cos I said that on the first bloody page 😆

there's always space to let the other vehicle past if you're on a bike

Got screamed at for being a dangerous idiot on the wrong side of the road as I avoided a flooded section that I know is hiding some severe potholes the other morning. Driver then undertakes me through the flood before stuffing it into what sounded like one of the bigger holes. It also sounded expensive.

@Scaredypants, I suspect you needed a new set of pants after that!! Looks terrifying!

I've just been advised to report an elderly driver to the DVLA by my local police. He pulled out from my right and basically drove at me the other day; claimed he saw me. If he did then he's not fit to drive anymore. If he didn't see me then he's not fit to drive anymore.

I do tend to ride aggressively and rarely have cars force me into the verge as a result, but there are occasions you can tell the driver won't entertain consideration. I'm worth more dead than alive, currently, but I'm quite enjoying life at the moment!

I guess we'll all need to have GoPros or similar when riding on the road to capture the action.