Who should 'give way' ?

[vivandorron]

I hold the view that, if one is on a hill in a country lane, it is the vehicle going up that should reverse (roll backwards) to let the other one pass.

What, if any, is the recognised procedure.?

Ron.

[ChuckFickens]

The traditional way is uphill has right of way, but it's only a historic leftover, there is nothing in the highway code about it.

[Halifaxmum]

I don't know the official highway code, but I thought that priority was given to the car going up-hill? (In the absence of any other reason for priority)

[ChuckFickens]

OH,OK


Yes there is.... I didn't think there was...

Rule 155
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.

[BAKERS DOZEN]

Not law but I was taught to give way to the one going UP the hill.

[Postdog]

I'd agree that you give way to the uphill driver too, but now thinking about it, it would probably be easier to go (roll) down than reverse up.

[vivandorron]

Postdog...That's what I think and have always done such.

Ron

[joggerjayne]

Car going DOWNHILL has priority.

Why?

Because it's harder to control a vehicle that's going downhill, so the other vehicle (which is easier to control) should cede priority.

[ChuckFickens]

Better tell the highway code that.

As far as I'm aware it goes back to the days when vehicles needed to keep momentum going up hills and if they stopped they'd have great difficulty starting again, whereas a vehicle going down hill is pretty easy to get going again.

[joggerjayne]

I'm not changing my mind Chuck.

[ChuckFickens]

Well, being as your female shall we re-evaluate your stance in about 3 minutes ? :)

[joggerjayne]

ha ha ... but nope ... not changing my mind.

[vivandorron]

Sorry joggerjayne... I can't really comprehend your reply. Surely a car going backwards downhill is harder to control than a vehicle which is proceeding forwards downhill. My past actions have been on the basis (as indicated by Postdog) that it is easier to roll a car backwards downhill than to reverse uphill.

Ron.

[ASSAM]

When i was knocked off my bike i said to Akeel did you see that i had right of way.
He said yes Assam but he was driving a bus.

Always give way to a big vehicle.

[joggerjayne]

"it is easier to roll a car backwards downhill than to reverse uphill"

Yes, VandR ... so you should give priority to the car coming downhill !

[SlackAlice]

vehicle going uphill has priority, it may not have sufficient power to restart. It is also more difficult to do a hill start, than simply releasing brakes to continue downhill.

[ChuckFickens]

As I mentioned, I pretty sure this one is a historical leftover in the highway code.

The code was first published in 1938, and at that time getting most vehicles moving on a steep hill was all but impossible (anyone else on here driven a traction engine?) and trying to back a 10ton + vehicle with wooden brakes down a hill was not a safe thing to do.

Early heavy vehicle drivers would always ensure their route up a steep hill was clear before starting it and would often place a man at the top of the hill to ensure that nobody tried to come down the hill at the same time and if anyone turned up at the top of the hill they were required to give priority to the uphill travelling vehicle.

[vivandorron]

I think joggerjayne is putting forward the best argument and, it may distress us chaps that she is a woman driver. Having said that, I would want it to be kept a secret that, personally, I think Viv is a better driver than I am and women are involved in less accidents than men who, have a macho attitude behind the wheel.

Ron

[R1Geezer]

Historically it was the guy going down that gave way simply because in the days of horses it was a lot easier to get going again going down hill. No one has actually got to give way. There is no such thing as "right of way". except on those traffic calming things where one way "has priority".

[gadgetgeek]

When at home in Devon the general rule seems to be the biggest car / lorry / tractor gets the right of way regardless of up or own!

[ChuckFickens]

"I think joggerjayne is putting forward the best argument"

What, Better than the highway code when it comes to "recognised procedure"?