Who Is Wrong In This Driving Situation?

[Friends4Never]

I got off work and was trying to turn left onto a divided highway. Two of my fellow co-workers were behind me trying to do so as well. I was waiting for both the traffic on the left and the right to be clear before I go. There is a gap in the divided highway where I could have gone when the traffic from my left was all clear. But my car is a bit longer than most, so I didn’t feel safe going into that gap because I didn’t want to misjudge the length of my car and have people on the highway potentially need to “dodge me.” So it was like a minute and a half of waiting, and I was about to go after someone oncoming was trying to turn on the road we were on. But my co-worker behind me got sick of waiting and overtook me as I was stopped and as the guy was turning onto our road. So he almost hit the guy right in front of me, almost dragging me into an accident potentially because it happened pretty much right in front of me. So I had to wait again for 30 seconds for the next batch of cars to go through and just as I was about to go, my second co-worker got sick of waiting and overtook me. So instead of fighting with him on who goes first I just stopped so he could go in front of me. SO, my question is am I obligated to go into that gap in the middle of the highway if I don’t feel safe doing so, or is it better to wait when both sides are clear at the same time which means waiting longer? I would argue I was in the right in waiting for both sides to clear, but maybe someone could say I was impeding traffic. I need some others opinions. Did I do everything right or did I do somethings wrong?

[tonyav]

Are you in the USA, Friends4Never ?. Difficult to answer because this a UK based site ( and we drive on the left ).

[Friends4Never]

Im in the usa. So its backwards for you guys I guess

[tonyav]

Yes it is.

[tonyav]

Best of luck getting it sorted out though.

[Friends4Never]

:(

[Cloverjo]

Best not to go unless you feel it’s safe.
My husband and my dad both chide me for being too cautious, but I’d rather everyone stay alive than save a few seconds of journey time.

[albaqwerty]

I'd rather be a passenger in a car with a cautious driver than one driven by impatient idiots.

[jno]

yes, be a cautious driver; if other drivers wish to risk life and limb, let them do so.

This advice works in any country.

[barry1010]

There are many reports that claim over cautious drivers cause more accidents than speeding ones.
As you were not comfortable pulling into the central refuge you could have turned right as soon as there was a gap and performed a U turn as soon as you had a safe opportunity.

[davebro]

leave work 10 minutes after your colleagues?

[Rashidsheikh]

Always follow traffic rules and drive safely.