Reversing the wrong way out of a one way road

dacouch

ben500 wrote: »

Illegal to drive wrong way down a one way street irrespective of the direction the vehicle is pointing it is the direction of travel that causes the offence.

I thought it would be illegal, it looked like they were on duty as there were two people in the car. I watched them and they stopped and paused for a while before performing the reverse so it looked like they thought about what they were doing.

Hopefully it will all be on their camera / cameras so will be recorded....He who lives by the sword, dies by the sword...

I think I will make a trip up to the council offices an make an official complaint about it (I made a note of the reg number an the time).

System

How far can you manoeuvre before it is classed as driving? You can not state that you can only move in one direction in a one way street. Manoeuvring is allowed. The problem comes in defining what is a manoeuvre and what is driving.

prowla

You are allowed to reverse on the road, so reversing down the one-way street is no different.
But I reckon the "no entry" onto the main road applies regardless of which way the car is pointing.

DirectDebacle

dacouch wrote: »

The other day I watched one of the local councils camera cars (The Smart Cars that enforce traffic offences etc). Drive into a one way road and then reverse approx 30 yards out of the one way road onto a main road.

What are the legalities of this as I'm tempted to report it to the relevant people at the local council as it will be devine justice. I'm hoping they will even have filmed themselves doing it.

Cheers

Without knowing the road layout it is difficult to be precise but based on the information above it is possible that one or more of the following offences have been committed;

1. Failing to comply with a traffic sign

2. Unnecessary reversing

3. Driving without reasonable consideration for other road users

4. Driving without due care and attention

5. Dangerous driving.

All of the above would be dependant upon the circumstances at the time.

For example if they drove into the one way road to find it impassable for some reason, then there would be a reasonable excuse for reversing against the traffic flow back the way they came and no offences would have been committed.

Generally speaking it is not an offence to reverse from a minor road into a major road, though it is not recommended as stated in the Highway Code.

How far can you manoeuvre before it is classed as driving? You can not state that you can only move in one direction in a one way street. Manoeuvring is allowed. The problem comes in defining what is a manoeuvre and what is driving.

Commonsense dictates that if you were reversing against the flow of traffic into a parking space then that manoevure, under most circumstances, would not be deemed as an offence.

If you are behind the wheel of a vehicle and manoevuring it then you are driving it.

darich

prowla wrote: »

You are allowed to reverse on the road, so reversing down the one-way street is no different.
But I reckon the "no entry" onto the main road applies regardless of which way the car is pointing.

the difference is that on a "normal" road you can drive in both directions.
on a one way street that is prohibited