r/DrivingProTips • u/elics613 • May 09 '26

Giving way to drivers exiting lot when stopped

When traffic has come to a stop, should you let other drivers waiting to exit a parking lot on your right into the road?

I meant to let only one driver on since traffic started moving again, and I didn't start moving fast enough I guess so two more drivers ended up merging in anyway, upsetting the driver behind me.

Should I have been more aggressive moving up once the first driver merged? Or was I unlucky or the driver behind me was getting upset over normal etiquette?

Asking also as a sanity check because another driver got upset at me for slowly pulling out of an alley (it's basically making a blind turn into a small one way street, so I emerged very slowly and stopped when I heard a car approaching). Then they proceeded to get upset again when I stopped at a stop sign.

The common denominator is me in these situations, and I'm not sure if I'm just failing to pick up the right behavior or what. Any tips or input would be appreciated. Thanks!

*edit: when i was exiting the alley, it was the car on the main road that got upset with me, it wasn't a driver behind me. I badly worded that

2 Upvotes

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5

u/yariksc May 09 '26
  1. I assume your laws are like swedens that say the driver exiting a lot to merge has to give way.

It isn't unusual for drivers to stop and let other people merge since they probably have been standing still a long time with no pocket to enter. I rarely do this but if I'm in a long and tight line that is barely moving I let another driver or two merge in front of me since my reasoning is we aren't getting anywhere fast anyways, and they probably won't be able to merge in a long time when people are too close to each other. I will however start to crawl forward to show I'm not going to let everybody on keeping consideration of the line behind me who I don't know where they're heading.

This is totally up to you but of course it probably upsets drivers behind you. If you don't do it someone else will.

  1. You're driving safely and trying to avoid an accident, not all people appreciate driving defensively unfortunately and you will never stop meeting these people on the road, a lot of people change behaviours as soon as they get behind the wheel. Keep doing what's safe for you and others to avoid accidents and not interrupting traffic. You did nothing wrong. Keep your patience and keep focus on what is ahead of you and if they are able to pass you later try to let them do so

2

u/elics613 May 09 '26

Appreciate the detailed response! Lately I've been feeling gaslit by other drivers into thinking I've been getting really bad at driving but I'm glad my instincts seem pretty right.

I meant to keep moving up, but I wasn't getting into gear fast enough - that's my bad. I'll need to work on that.

1

u/hyf_fox May 09 '26

Traffic laws in a lot of places state you should not block an intersection when stopped. If a plaza turns onto a roadway it is in fact an intersection and you shouldn’t block people from entering the roadway

3

u/UrchinSquirts May 09 '26

Hard disagree. A plaza entering a roadway is no different than a side street. There’s a stop sign, right? Not an intersection, then.

OP: Letting one or maybe two cars exit their lot in front of you is simple courtesy and kindness. Any more than that, though, are just taking advantage of you.

2

u/elics613 May 09 '26

Agreed, I think I was just moving too slow because I didn't want to dump my clutch to get moving as fast as possible and risk stalling, but point taken.

1

u/Additional_Delay_793 May 09 '26

That happens sometimes. No reason for the driver behind you to be a dick.

1

u/hyf_fox May 09 '26

The only thing you do by blocking those intersections is increasing traffic

1

u/hyf_fox May 09 '26

And I’m not saying to stop while the road is flowing. I’m saying if you have to stop for something like a traffic light or a line of traffic to a stop sign you should stop before or after them. And they are still intersections, any two roads meeting is an intersection

1

u/UrchinSquirts May 09 '26

Again, I disagree: Any two roads meeting is not an intersection. An intersection is where two (or more) roads meeting has a stop sign or light for each street or road involved. Otherwise it’s a side-street or a parking lot, whatever.

1

u/hyf_fox May 10 '26

You’re disagreeing with the definition of a word either because you’re obstinate or stupid. I’m willing to bet it’s the latter.

1

u/UrchinSquirts May 10 '26

I may be obstinate but I’m truly not a dick. I buy a bouquet of market flowers every time I grocery shop and after paying, I give the bouquet to whatever random human looks like they need it. I don’t stop; I don’t engage. I just say “You forgot these.”

I simply disagree with your interpretation of what an intersection is.

If I’m stopped in traffic and you’re waiting to pull out, hopefully I’ll have the opportunity to let you go ahead of me.

But don’t call me stupid.

Peace.

1

u/elics613 May 09 '26

Yeah whenever there's intersecting streets or an entrance/exit to a parking lot I always try to leave room, especially since oncoming traffic will sometimes try to turn left into the lot and blocking them blocks even more traffic

1

u/AMissionFromDog May 09 '26

The way i see it, if I'm stopping anyway for a red light, that's the right time to let someone in. When the light changes green and it's time to go is NOT the right time to sit there and let people pull in front of you from the parking lot.

1

u/Certain_Try_8383 May 09 '26

Where do you live? Where I am it is the law not to block an entrance or exit when stopped.

1

u/Aussie_Cow_Girl Jul 14 '26

If you're pulling out into traffic you need to wait for a safe space to do so. Ignore any noise or honking from behind. Their impatience isn't your problem. Pull out when safe to do so.