Wrong Lane

[Bahco]

I got pulled over by an unmarked police car on Thursday and was given a nice Fixed Penalty Notice by the kind policeman!

I had no idea what I had been pulled over for until he reminded me that instead of queuing behind approx 10 cars at the lights I had gained an advantage by proceeding in a northerly fashion in the lane reserved for turning right.

I had no idea that this was an offence and thought I was making use of both lanes so reducing congestion! I told the policeman this but it cut no ice and would not exercise discretion and give me a £30 ticket.

Not endorsable but be warned of trying to beat the queues like me!

 

[kirkgas]

so you sneaked up the filter lane, did you then indicate to get back in and someone let you in, hardly crime of the century but it is annoying if i was behind you trying to turn right and you were holding me up, so pay the cash haha

 

[RedHerring2]

I think the case of 'excercising discretion' is in the eye of the beholder.
For instance, if you are a stranger to the area and the arrows in the road or on signs are late into the lane head, then discretion could be used.
But, on the other hand, if you're obviously local and familiar with the roads, or the arrows in the road are well positioned, then there's simply no excuse. Intentionally jumping the queue could be reasonably assumed, especially if it's a regular occurence, either by you or others at that junction.

I, for one, have been angered many times by typical queue jumpers at these type of junctions. Ususally, they drive 'fast cars' and hope that their acceleration will allow them to escape an incident.
I've been cut up by these queue jumpers who over-estimate they're acceleration ability compared to others. Only my willingness to brake has avoided an incident.
I drive a beat-up old 4X4 with a big winch on the front so a minor incident such as this would hardly leave a dent in my vehicle but I don't want the hassle, delay or cost involved in an insurance wrangle.

While I'm having a rant I might as well add;
I have a big winch with an appropriate winch carrier on the front, perhaps a quarter of a tonne of metal, including a tow ball. Yet it's amazing how many motorists assume that either I'm travelling at a snails pace, they can accelerate before I reach them or they can't judge speed 'cos they seem determined to commit suicide by pulling out in front of me.
Yet I still have full NCD.

 

[RedHerring2]

I had no idea what I had been pulled over for ......

I had no idea that this was an offence

Moreover, perhaps it's time you re-took your test or at least re-read your Highway code.

 

[Adam_151]

Was it a dual carriageway?

In my mind the situation is different if the road is a dual carriageway and you just use the free-flowing lane until you need to get in lane to go where you want to go. As opposed to a single carriageway which splits into separate lanes close to the juntion purely for the purposes of directing into different directions


Indeed most days I do the former and I go down the outside lane of one where the nearside is crawling along much slower due to turn offs and junctions for industrial and trading estates.

 

[Mw Roofline]

Thing that I hate is two lanes at the lights and right lane is both straight on and turn right. You go in the right lane thinking the car infront has every intention of going straight and as the lights turn he bangs his right indicator on AARRGGHHH!

 

[Bahco]

Was it a dual carriageway?

The road did widen at that point for 2 lanes but the road markings did indicate that the lane was only for right turns.

I'm sure this post will help someone in the future.

Remember.............. there is no mercy from the police and they will book you without a second thought if you have commited an offence!

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

It sounds like the road was clearly marked, so I have no sympathy.

 

[Diyisfun]

So many right turns or even left turns have a filter light that goes green BEFORE the straight ahead, therfor you wanting to go straight & cant hold up traffic behind you.
But so many road markings are so close to the traffic signal you are in the wrong lane before you know it.

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

But so many road markings are so close to the traffic signal you are in the wrong lane before you know it.

That is very true and quite annoying, but unfortunately your in the wrong lane, unless the road is quiet and you can easily re-manoeuver your vehicle in to the correct lane, without causing hinderance. You go right!

 

[crockett]

The other old favourite is when there is a queue of traffic at a roundabout wanting to go straight on, but no one in the right turning lane. So drivers will go along the right hand lane, and go all the way around said roundabout in order to go straight on. Fair play, and perfectly legal I think

Bahco, you got busted, my friend. Take it on the chin. With all the money you've saved through not smoking (well done) I'm sure you'll have no problems paying

 

[^woody^]

You should not have accepted the penalty.

"Gaining an advantage" is not a road traffic offence is it? Nor is mistakenly being in the wrong lane

 

[^woody^]

The other old favourite.....drivers will go along the right hand lane, and go all the way around said roundabout in order to go straight on.

That's me

 

[Bahco]

"Gaining an advantage" is not a road traffic offence is it? Nor is mistakenly being in the wrong lane

Failing to comply with directional arrows painted on the road is an offence. It makes you think twice when you are driving having had a ticket!

 

[^woody^]

Failing to comply with directional arrows painted on the road is an offence.

I don't think it is.

The charge would have to be be something else if anything at all. The point is going up a lane and then realising that you are in the wrong lane is not a road traffic offence, and if you then subsequently indicate to move in to the nearside lane (as opposed to cutting someone up) then you have not done anything wrong