Am I required by law to give way to people who are parallel parked and are trying to get in my lane?

Question

Was stopped in traffic at night several cars behind a red light. A car parked on my right side slightly up ahead was signalling to get in front of me with its wheels turned out, getting ready to go in front of me when the light turned green.

There was one problem though. I don't like SUVs. This car was an SUV. I don't like SUV drivers either or the whole SUV mentality. So when the light turned green, and I saw the SUV start to move, I floored my little Mitsubishi, doing a little swerve to avoid the big ugly, and got in front of it. The SUV got in behind me.

Next light was red and I had to stop. After a few moments, the SUV turned on its high beams in order to make me uncomfortable. Typical SUV driver behavior. I retaliated by flipping a switch to adjust my rear view mirror in order to shine the light right back into the eyes of the people in the SUV. It mustuv worked, because then they turned it off. Got a head rush from my victory. It felt good.

If SUV had hit, whose fault is it?

Answer 1

No, you do not have to giveway, but sometimes good manners should prevail. But like you said I also cannot stand SUV/Pick Up drivers. They are loud, rude, bullies and ignorant. I know this is stereotyping, but unfortunately because of a few, the majority are tarred with the same brush.

Also around here, no one says thank you for letting them into traffic. So I will not give way to anyone!!!!!!

Answer 2

how about some common courtesy

Answer 3

If you had hit him you could have well been charged with reckless driving and been found at least partly responsible, rightly so regardless of who was supposed to be where - you cute little move put you where you weren't reasonably supposed to be yet - in his path.  You are supposed to maintain safe speed and distance when you see someone merging or entering traffic.

Of course that doesn't matter to you, you drive on how your demons command you, not by following good sense.  

Do you hate little old ladies and kids too?  Driving like that with your head full of hateful crud puts alot of innocents at risk.  You ought to do something about your road rage before you kill somebody, including perhaps yourself.  Playing near-contact sports with SUVs and Pickups in a mushrat like you drive is going to get your head cut off by somebodys bumper one day -

If you don't get yourself shot first by one of those horribly offensive SUV or pickup drivers you hate so much, everybody knows how violent and hateful they all are, every one of them - this one only left you alone because you cowed him with your Cracker-Jack box mirror trick...

...and I'm sharpening my bumpers and mushrat guards now that I know who you are - hahahahahah!!!!!!!!!!!! ; )

Seriously - grow up.

Answer 4

no you dont have to. it would have been the suv's fault. and i applaud you on your victory. i hate the suv driver mentalitly too. they think they own the roads.

Answer 5

Well, it would have been the SUV's fault as the person on the rodaway has the right of way.  Either way what you did still makes you the A$$hole.  I happen to drive a UV Notice I left the S  off as it is a Utility Vehicle built for a purpose and used for a purpose there is no Sport (also known as SoccerMom) about it.  Although since Soccermom Urban Vehicles became a popular rage people who do need them for the purposes they were originally designed and built for can no longer afford them.

Answer 6

Every driver has a duty and responsibility to operate their vehicle in a safe and courteous manner and to avoid accidents. It's known as defensive driving. If you were to call your insurance agent, and tell them who you are, I'm sure they would find your story interesting.

Please drive safely.

Answer 7

*sigh* First of all, no there is no law that says that you have to do anything if someone want to get out while they are parallel parked. Its all about just being nice. And it seems to me that you were not very nice. In fact  you were down right mean.

No. I do not drive an SUV. Not all SUV drivers are @$$holes.

You just think so. But if I was that driver, that is what I would be thinking about you.

If you took their SUV away and you took your car away, no one would know what type either of you drive. It is all about stereotyping. Be a better person and let someone out the next time. Just be NICE.

Answer 8

You are not required by law to let that car go in front of you, you are on the road, so you have the right of way, but it would just be a polite gesture to do so if you are at a stop light and already stopped.

Answer 9

You should be less concerned about suv's.  Your emotions could have led to an accident. It was no victory remember  pride comes before a fall

Answer 10

No you are not legally required to give way to someone who is parallel parked.  If you two were to collide, I would believe it would be the SUV's fault.  It's the SUV's drivers responsibility to make sure they are merging correctly into the main flow of traffic.

I would have to say your maneuver was a bit mean, but I feel your pain!  I drive a Sentra and I do hesitate to let SUVs or other large vehicles in front of me.  When they are in front of me, I cannot see a thing ahead.  All I see is the back of their tailgate.

I have really dark tinted back windows, so flipping the high beams on me wouldn't have worked at all.  But I just take it the SUV driver was just a little irked they didn't get their way.