M6 toll barrier

jumbowindows

Hi all
Unfortunately I did something last week which on reflection was really stupid...I drove up to the m6 toll barrier, the guy in front of me was taking ages and I started to think that he had broken down. I was in a hire car and worried about not getting it back on time, so I reversed back out and drove into another lane. As soon as I did this the car I had been stuck behind drove through and the thought occurred to me that I might well get in trouble for this. Reversing on a motorway seems to carry quite a hefty fine. 

Does anyone know, is this likely to be picked up by cameras? Am I likely to be get a fine, 3 points...or worse? 

Also, how long am I likely going to have to wait to find out given it was a hire car (Enterprise) they will receive any notice and I imagine take some time to name me as the driver?

Thanks in advance for all thoughts!

pramsay13

No, it won't be an issue.
Motorway rules don't apply for that stretch of road.
Maybe be a bit more patient next time.

jumbowindows

Thank you !

Supersonos

pramsay13 said:

Maybe be a bit more patient next time.

Odd comment considering the OP gave no real indication of how long they had waited, other than to say it was long enough they thought the other car had broken down. 

The OP could've waited several minutes for all we know.  How long would you suggest they wait in order to not be considered (in your opinion) impatient?

williamgriffin

pramsay13 said:

No, it won't be an issue.
Motorway rules don't apply for that stretch of road.
Maybe be a bit more patient next time.

Are you talking about the toll plaza or the road as a whole?

If you're talking about the road then motorway regs do apply.

Scrapit

Supersonos said:

pramsay13 said:

Maybe be a bit more patient next time.

Odd comment considering the OP gave no real indication of how long they had waited, other than to say it was long enough they thought the other car had broken down. 

The OP could've waited several minutes for all we know.  How long would you suggest they wait in order to not be considered (in your opinion) impatient?

Long enough to think that reversing would be ok. That, for what its worth, would be a long time.

Supersonos

Scrapit said:

Supersonos said:

pramsay13 said:

Maybe be a bit more patient next time.

Odd comment considering the OP gave no real indication of how long they had waited, other than to say it was long enough they thought the other car had broken down. 

The OP could've waited several minutes for all we know.  How long would you suggest they wait in order to not be considered (in your opinion) impatient?

Long enough to think that reversing would be ok. That, for what its worth, would be a long time.

That's still not a specific length of time and purely subjective.

ontheroad1970

pramsay13 said:

Motorway rules don't apply for that stretch of road.

I have driven there multiple times and there aren't any signs saying that Motorway rules don't apply.  Are you sure?

bengalknights

Motorway rules do apply and occasionally a traffic patrol will be stationed there to catch those speeding.
At the toll booth itself there is no set rule and you can reverse if you want to another barrier as the operator would otherwise state so.

williamgriffin

bengalknights said:

Motorway rules do apply and occasionally a traffic patrol will be stationed there to catch those speeding.
At the toll booth itself there is no set rule and you can reverse if you want to another barrier as the operator would otherwise state so.

If motorway regs apply then how come you're allowed to reverse?

Day_Of_The_Doris

williamgriffin said:

If motorway regs apply then how come you're allowed to reverse?

If you can't proceed forward because of a broken down vehicle in front of your car or a non working toll booth, would this cover it:
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1982/1163/pdfs/uksi_19821163_en.pdf

Restriction on reversing

8.  No vehicle on a motorway shall be driven or moved backwards except in so far as it is necessary to back the vehicle to enable it to proceed forwards or to be connected to any other vehicle.

as you might have to back up to allow you to then proceed forward.