Is a car "perfectly entitled" to turn left around cyclist

Question

(I'm in the UK so we drive on the left)

This morning a driver pulled up alongside me (to my right) at a junction. As soon as a gap came available, I pulled out to turn left and he did the same, coming within a couple of feet of me as we turned. I verbally objected (what the ..?). He confronted me a little further down the road, and insisted he was "perfectly entitled" to turn left around a cyclist who is also turning left.

Is this correct? This was from a single lane road, turning into another single lane road.

Answer 1

The UK Highwaycode states:

Using the road: Turning left Rule 182

Use your mirrors and give a left-turn signal well before you turn left. Do not overtake just before you turn left and watch out for traffic coming up on your left before you make the turn, especially if driving a large vehicle. Cyclists, motorcyclists and other road users in particular may be hidden from your view

It seems quite clear to me that the driver should not have pulled up to the right of you, which is essentially an overtaking manoeuvre, if he intended to turn left, no matter what you were planning.

Answer 2

Highway code rule 163

give motorcyclists, cyclists and horse riders at least as much room as you would when overtaking a car

He wouldn't overtake a car as it was turning left, so he shouldn't overtake a cyclist; 2ft is not an adequate safe margin.

Answer 3

In addition to the two answers citing the Highway Code - the key words are 'perfectly entitled'. The answer is 'No'. The HC does not have the force of Law in the UK, but infractions of the Code will be taken into account if a driver's actions result in an accident or an intervention by the Police. Drivers have a duty of care to other road users, and overtaking without leaving sufficient clearance puts other road users (in this case - you) in danger. It's worth noting that a number of the cycle fatalities on London's roads over the past few years have occurred at junctions where the cyclist was attempting a left turn and was 'overtaken' by another vehicle.

The solution for the cyclist is to move to a 'control' position in the centre of the lane about 5 to 10 metres out from the junction, thus forcing following vehicles to remain behind. Do not wait at the kerb edge or creep up on the inside of waiting traffic. This is why many junctions have marked cycle space in front of the lane. You maintain the 'control' position all the way around the turn, returning to a normal riding position of around a metre out from the Kerb when it is safe to do so.

The 'control' position is taught by Bikeability instructors as part of the Government recognised cycle instruction programme offered in UK schools. It's not just for kids, it works, use it.