Entering one way at the wrong end

SarahBDE

Hi you clever lot. I thought I try this forum first as it's been so helpful with a previous issue. While travelling recently and driving in an unknown area, I was looking for a place to park near a green space to let my dogs out for a wee (it was a long drive). I spotted somewhere and turned into the side street. As soon as I'd turned, I realised it didn't look right - I parked up and walked back down to where I'd turned. It was a one way street and I'd entered it at the wrong end! I took pictures of the sign and are immediately and while I am not sure if there were cameras, I want to be prepared IF I get a letter with a fine. The turn was directly after a traffic light. If a left turn was not allowed there, I'd have expected to see one of those sign with a left arrow with a strike through. The no entry sign at the street was slightly turned to the side - had I come from the opposite direction, I would have easily seen it. Coming from the direction I came from, I could not see the sign from the car. As mentioned, I am entirely unfamiliar with the area, though I understand that ignorance is no defence. What are the likely outcomes in this scenario? 
Thank you so much!

born_again

SarahBDE said:

Hi you clever lot. I thought I try this forum first as it's been so helpful with a previous issue. While travelling recently and driving in an unknown area, I was looking for a place to park near a green space to let my dogs out for a wee (it was a long drive). I spotted somewhere and turned into the side street. As soon as I'd turned, I realised it didn't look right - I parked up and walked back down to where I'd turned. It was a one way street and I'd entered it at the wrong end! I took pictures of the sign and are immediately and while I am not sure if there were cameras, I want to be prepared IF I get a letter with a fine. The turn was directly after a traffic light. If a left turn was not allowed there, I'd have expected to see one of those sign with a left arrow with a strike through. The no entry sign at the street was slightly turned to the side - had I come from the opposite direction, I would have easily seen it. Coming from the direction I came from, I could not see the sign from the car. As mentioned, I am entirely unfamiliar with the area, though I understand that ignorance is no defence. What are the likely outcomes in this scenario? 
Thank you so much!

Sadly unfamiliar is not a defence.
So did you return to car & move once you were aware or stay parked after spending time finding out & taking pictures?

Outcome.. A few nervous days watching the post box 🤷‍♀️

DullGreyGuy

SarahBDE said:

Hi you clever lot. I thought I try this forum first as it's been so helpful with a previous issue. While travelling recently and driving in an unknown area, I was looking for a place to park near a green space to let my dogs out for a wee (it was a long drive). I spotted somewhere and turned into the side street. As soon as I'd turned, I realised it didn't look right - I parked up and walked back down to where I'd turned. It was a one way street and I'd entered it at the wrong end! I took pictures of the sign and are immediately and while I am not sure if there were cameras, I want to be prepared IF I get a letter with a fine. The turn was directly after a traffic light. If a left turn was not allowed there, I'd have expected to see one of those sign with a left arrow with a strike through. The no entry sign at the street was slightly turned to the side - had I come from the opposite direction, I would have easily seen it. Coming from the direction I came from, I could not see the sign from the car. As mentioned, I am entirely unfamiliar with the area, though I understand that ignorance is no defence. What are the likely outcomes in this scenario? 
Thank you so much!

There should be a no entry sign (red circular sign with a white horizontal bar) which I believe is all thats legally required. Arguably a no right turn is superfluous if the road on the right is no entry 

If you were caught then generally it's £100 and 3 points. 

Car_54

DullGreyGuy said:

SarahBDE said:

Hi you clever lot. I thought I try this forum first as it's been so helpful with a previous issue. While travelling recently and driving in an unknown area, I was looking for a place to park near a green space to let my dogs out for a wee (it was a long drive). I spotted somewhere and turned into the side street. As soon as I'd turned, I realised it didn't look right - I parked up and walked back down to where I'd turned. It was a one way street and I'd entered it at the wrong end! I took pictures of the sign and are immediately and while I am not sure if there were cameras, I want to be prepared IF I get a letter with a fine. The turn was directly after a traffic light. If a left turn was not allowed there, I'd have expected to see one of those sign with a left arrow with a strike through. The no entry sign at the street was slightly turned to the side - had I come from the opposite direction, I would have easily seen it. Coming from the direction I came from, I could not see the sign from the car. As mentioned, I am entirely unfamiliar with the area, though I understand that ignorance is no defence. What are the likely outcomes in this scenario? 
Thank you so much!

There should be a no entry sign (red circular sign with a white horizontal bar) which I believe is all thats legally required. Arguably a no right turn is superfluous if the road on the right is no entry 

If you were caught then generally it's £100 and 3 points. 

If spotted by the police, yes.

If it was caught by the council in a "decriminalised" area it's a Penalty Charge Notice (£180, reduced to £90 for quick payment as I recall) but no points.

LeafGreen

Personally I think you'll probably be OK, there can't be many locations where cameras would pick up on that kind of thing.  Can you remember exactly where it was to look at google street view?

Mildly_Miffed

Another vote here for "you missed the signage while distracted"...

Streetview will confirm it.

The vast majority of one-ways are not CCTV enforced, outside of city centres.

Okell

@SarahBDE -  when you get a PCN go over to FTLA - they specialise in decriminalised local council tickets.  (Civil penalty charge notices)

Civil penalty charge notices (Councils, TFL and so on)

Don't register with a hotmail email address.

Make sure you read the sticky thread named "READ THIS FIRST - BEFORE POSTING YOUR CASE"

Nasqueron

LeafGreen said:

Personally I think you'll probably be OK, there can't be many locations where cameras would pick up on that kind of thing.  Can you remember exactly where it was to look at google street view?

Depends also on the area, witnesses etc. I will always film and report people I see going the wrong way down a one way street near us, it's a 20 limit and they always race up in case someone turns down which is a risk for pets, kids etc. Hoping the points or driver's course cost is enough to make them think that saving 2 minutes not going the long way isn't worth it

jimjames

born_again said:

SarahBDE said:

Hi you clever lot. I thought I try this forum first as it's been so helpful with a previous issue. While travelling recently and driving in an unknown area, I was looking for a place to park near a green space to let my dogs out for a wee (it was a long drive). I spotted somewhere and turned into the side street. As soon as I'd turned, I realised it didn't look right - I parked up and walked back down to where I'd turned. It was a one way street and I'd entered it at the wrong end! I took pictures of the sign and are immediately and while I am not sure if there were cameras, I want to be prepared IF I get a letter with a fine. The turn was directly after a traffic light. If a left turn was not allowed there, I'd have expected to see one of those sign with a left arrow with a strike through. The no entry sign at the street was slightly turned to the side - had I come from the opposite direction, I would have easily seen it. Coming from the direction I came from, I could not see the sign from the car. As mentioned, I am entirely unfamiliar with the area, though I understand that ignorance is no defence. What are the likely outcomes in this scenario? 
Thank you so much!

Sadly unfamiliar is not a defence.

Unfamiliar isn't but if the sign is turned so that it's not visible from a specific direction then that might be. Dashcam footage would probably help.

finbaar

You'll be fine. Not fined. There'll be no cameras and no evidence of this. Relax

LightFlare

finbaar said:

You'll be fine. Not fined. There'll be no cameras and no evidence of this. Relax

Tend to agree - we all make mistakes and in reality a good percentage of drivers knowingly break the law every time they do a journey (speeding)

Best thing is to learn from the situation and move on