Wrong way during traffic jam on A34

imulsion

Hi all,

Recently there was a very serious accident on the A34. I was driving to see family when I was caught in the standstill traffic this caused. We were stuck completely motionless for around 40 minutes before some cars started coming the wrong way back to the previous junction, making their way through the gap between the lanes of parked cars. Assuming they were following directions from police, I joined the convoy. Once back at the junction I turned off. Police at the junction were closing the road and not attempting to stop or redirect the convoy of vehicles I was part of. 

I returned home today to find an NIP alleging offences of Inconsiderate Driving and Driving without due care and attention. Naturally I will return the completed form to the police station, in the meantime I have two questions:

1. What should I do when prosecuted?
2. What is the likely outcome for me?

I am fully taxed, insured etc. I have held my licence for roughly 8 years, have no points and no previous convictions. Squeaky clean in other words.

Many thanks for any and all advice. 

Hoenir

Plead guilty and accept the punishment. 

MikeJXE

You broke the law what do you expect ?

imulsion

MikeJXE said:

You broke the law what do you expect ?

Fair point. I'm not trying to "weasel out of it", just merely trying to establish my options especially given the mitigating circumstances. Having never committed an offence I'm not overly familiar with motoring law.

Hoenir said:

Plead guilty and accept the punishment. 

This was my instinct. What is the punishment likely to be? My gut feeling is a fine of a few hundred pounds and 3 points, is this a reasonable expectation?

Hoenir

Here's the table

https://www.highwaycodeuk.co.uk/penalty-table.html

imulsion

An unlimited fine? Does that not seem harsh?

MikeJXE

imulsion said:

MikeJXE said:

You broke the law what do you expect ?

Fair point. I'm not trying to "weasel out of it", just merely trying to establish my options especially given the mitigating circumstances. Having never committed an offence I'm not overly familiar with motoring law.

Hoenir said:

Plead guilty and accept the punishment. 

This was my instinct. What is the punishment likely to be? My gut feeling is a fine of a few hundred pounds and 3 points, is this a reasonable expectation?

You don't have any options other than pleading guilty 

FP and 3 points probably 

learn a lesson 

imulsion

What does FP mean? No need to be quite so condescending either - we all make mistakes and errors of judgement.

MikeJXE

No one is being condescending just stating a fact 

Fixed Penalty 

imulsion

MikeJXE said:

No one is being condescending just stating a fact 

Fixed Penalty 

I'd say "learn a lesson" is a pretty condescending thing to say, and it's certainly not a fact. I'll leave the thread here.

maman

Just in case you're still reading @imulsion, I'd suggest that you do plead guilty but, if you have the opportunity, explain the extenuating circumstances in that you joined the convoy of cars removing themselves from the scene of the accident assuming that police at the front had directed them to do so.