Safe Speed Forums

Hi all

so being some what of an inexperienced driver i was wondering, apart from other road users getting impatient and angry about people not knowing what they are doing say on a big roundabouts with numbers of lanes and exists, can you get prosecuted for this. On journeys to places I've never been, particularly large cities, i find myself getting confused by the big roundabouts and some round markings and make the odd mistake. Can you get in trouble for this sort of thing? Not that I aim to carry on making the mistakes, its all a learning curve. Infact what sort of things can you get in trouble for besides speeding, mobile phones, dangerous driving etc

Sorry drivers.

Don't worry, most people will get confused by the road markings is a different city.

As you get more experience you'll get to know what to look for and how to interpret the sign-age. Use your COAST skills to read the signs and the traffic, because when the traffic is heavy you can't always see the road markings. I have found that you need to be quite assertive in bigger towns and cities, people have places to go and need to be there 10 minutes ago, so if you are looking like you are going to do something, don't dither and do it.

You'll not beat local knowledge, but observing what is going on will close the gap.

As long as you obey the usually road signs and traffic regs, no body can prosecute you for being lost, or not knowing where you are. Yet...

Thanks adam, yeah my assertiveness hasn't developed yet and when it does I will certainly aim to make it safe, becasue as we all know some people think they own the place and do all sorts of silly things.

Advice to me from my dad on driving/cycling - "better to be a live coward than dead hero " - in other words - giving way costs nothing - making a point can cost NCB .So if in doubt -give way .

_________________
lets bring sanity back to speed limits.
Drivers are like donkeys -they respond best to a carrot, not a stick .Road safety experts are like Asses - best kept covered up ,or sat on

The lane markings (direction arrows, destination marks) are advisory and you can't be prosecuted for taking the wrong lane but you could be prosecuted if your driving was dangerous.

If you get in the wrong lane then take your time, don't be rushed by other people who know where they are going and if all else fails be prepared to go the wrong way and turn around.

A decent satnav system which tells you which lane to use might also help.

Add to Homer's - if you get to a roundabout ,uncertain of which exit - AFAIK it's not illegal to get in inside lane and go round once or twice to see which exit to choose .Alternatively , if forced get off and if not correct route -U turn somewhere safe ,rejoin roundabout and take another exit .At road junctions ,if wrong laned - do the same - it only cost you a few minutes not to get involved in a fracas- but time costs little -as opposed to NCB -as per my last post .

_________________
lets bring sanity back to speed limits.
Drivers are like donkeys -they respond best to a carrot, not a stick .Road safety experts are like Asses - best kept covered up ,or sat on