When moving off, must you give way to a driver making a U-turn?

Explanation

Yes, you must give way to him.

In the picture you are stopped at the kerb with the left indicator on, about to move off; the car ahead is reversing along the carriageway, its path shown by the white line and arrow on the asphalt. The governing rule ignores direction of travel: a driver moving off must give way to vehicles that are already in motion, and reversing is motion. So he completes his manoeuvre first, then you pull out.

The safety logic matters more than memorising it: a reversing driver has almost no view to the sides — all his attention is behind the car. If you pull out from the kerb at that moment he neither sees you nor has time to react. You, by contrast, are fully stopped, have a clear view, and waiting costs you a few seconds. The law always puts the decision on the driver who can wait more cheaply and safely.

The exam trap: because reversing is risky and its driver must ensure the manoeuvre is safe, many conclude "so he must give way to me". The two duties do not conflict — he is responsible for the safety of his own manoeuvre, but that responsibility gives you no priority. You are moving off, and moving off ranks lowest.

• "No" is tempting because reversing feels like an odd, low-status manoeuvre. But the legal test is not direction of travel; it is who is already moving and who is only starting off.

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