Did I commit an offence? [motorway on-ramp]

[Hawk]

Hi all,

Took a wrong turn on to an on-ramp of a motorway. We didn't pass the blue "motorway" sign. Did a u-turn under the motorway and used the off-ramp to get back to the junction I needed to be at.

I was stopped dramatically by a furious traffic officer who suggested that we had committed an offence, but once explaining our mistake we were let on our way.

Had an offence in fact been committed?

Cheers

 

[MattHB]

Did you turn on the on-ramp? I can't work it out from what you've said. If you did then I expect the ramp was one way.

 

[speedygoo]

yeah colour me confused!

 

[campbellab]

I thought police were supposed to be cool calm and collected. Raging about a minor traffic incident worries me!

 

[Vapin' Joe]

If you crossed a solid white line it was an offence, otherwise U Turns are quite ok unless there is a sign specifically prohibiting it.

 

[ianrauk]

google map of the road so we can see.

 

[Rural halfwit]

In short yes, careless cycling in that without due care and attention(wound up nearly on the motorway!) better a flea in the ear than a summons! (it's a 'less serious' traffic offence than if you did it in a car). Hope that makes sense.

 

[Hawk]

http://goo.gl/maps/N1TWI

Route:

The sliproad was one way, but there was one the other way that we WALKED our bikes across to:
http://goo.gl/maps/cQ7lb

(we walked under the motorway's carriageway, just where you can see the top of a bus on that streetview)

 

[black'n'yellow]

By the sound of it, the only offence was one of stupidity - which fortunately is not a criminal offence....

 

[Hawk]

It was an easy enough mistake to make, we were aware that "if we went left" we'd end up on the M8 westbound. So we went right at the Y-junction, and ended up heading for the M8 east

 

[redcard]

What a bizarre route!

 

[MattHB]

At least the hospital was close if you hadn't been so lucky

 

[Hawk]

I don't think we were in danger at any point tbh. Cycling on 70mph limit roads isn't that risky imo [promise I'm not trolling]

 

[Grizzly]

View from road. As you can see you were well mast the blue M8 signs, so yes you were on the motorway which is an offence.

I'm not sure about the road you cycled back down, but it is one way traffic and you were going against the flow, and not just metaphorically. I'd take the telling off and be thankful that you are still alive, that area is notorious for RTAs'.

 

[Grizzly]

I don't think we were in danger at any point tbh. Cycling on 70mph limit roads isn't that risky imo [promise I'm not trolling]

A view from above I think you are being a bit naive if you think that cycling onto this road is not that risky. Infact if my memory is correct this section is 50mph, the reason being as I have said above, its bad for accidents. For those that dont know this section of the M8 is one of the few stretches of motorway in the UK (if not the only) with on and off ramps on both sides of the carriageway.