Emergency lay-bys

[Drawweight]

They are refreshing all the A1 lay-bys near me, new kerbing etc.

There’s always been blue signs on the lead up to them saying Emergency Lay-by. but they’ve put up smaller ones in the lay-by themselves

Are you actually breaking a particular law if you stop there if it’s not an emergency?

Change drivers, fill your screen wash, have a picnic etc.

[Super Sonic]

From the highway code:
"Emergency areas are located along motorways with no hard shoulder or where the hard shoulder can be used as an extra lane (see Rule 269) and MUST only be used in an emergency.
They are marked by blue signs with an orange SOS telephone symbol and may have orange surfacing.
271
You MUST NOT stop on any carriageway, emergency area, hard shoulder, slip road, central reservation or verge except in an emergency, or when told to do so by the police, traffic officers, an emergency sign or by red flashing light signals.
Do not stop on any part of a motorway to make or receive mobile telephone calls, except in an emergency.

272
You MUST NOT pick up or set down anyone, or walk on a motorway, except in an emergency.

Laws RTRA sect 17 & MT(E&W)R reg 15"

You can be fined £2500, three points on your licence or posibly a ban.

[s p a c e m a n]

Those rules are for motorways, the A1 isn't a motorway (apart from the bits that are)

[paul_c123]

Do you have a pic?

Also, is that section a designated clearway?

Edited by paul_c123 on Sunday 1st March 16:59

[Super Sonic]

s p a c e m a n said:

Those rules are for motorways, the A1 isn't a motorway (apart from the bits that are)

The signs being blue and saying 'emergency layby' would imply it's a motorway section.

[littleredrooster]

Super Sonic said:

s p a c e m a n said:

Those rules are for motorways, the A1 isn't a motorway (apart from the bits that are)

The signs being blue and saying 'emergency layby' would imply it's a motorway section.

I penned a reply then deleted it when I realised the OP had only mentioned 'A1'. However, I don't think A1 and 'Emergency Layby' go together. Parking signs on dual-carriageways are blue, however.

[Drawweight]

Definitely just dual carriageway and not motorway. When they’ve refreshed them there are small emergency use only actually in the lay-bys. Unfortunately street view isn’t up to date

[paul_c123]

Drawweight said:

Definitely just dual carriageway and not motorway. When they ve refreshed them there are small emergency use only actually in the lay-bys. Unfortunately street view isn t up to date

Do you have a pic of the layby?

Or to put it another way..........do you need to cross a solid white line to get into and out of the layby?

[Landlubber]

Is it not an urban motorway?

[paul_c123]

Landlubber said:

Is it not an urban motorway?

What is "it"? The A1? What is an urban motorway?

[Doesitdrive]

I use the A1 a lot, I only see the big white P on a blue sign with a distance given.

Can't say I have ever noticed " Emergency Lay by" .

It would not surprise me if things have changed though, no money in free parking.

If they can find a way to fine the motorist more , they will.

What about truckers needing legally enforced breaks ?

[HelterSkelter]

I assume its the same/similar type of layby as this one near me on the A46. It looks like a normal layby with double yellows and it's had the blue sign in it for more than 15 years.

[The Gauge]

Doesitdrive said:

What about truckers needing legally enforced breaks ?

Sec 112 of The Highway Code permits truckers to slow down sufficiently on approach to a lay-by to be able to sling a bottle of warm Truckers Tizer out of the window.

[Drawweight]

paul_c123 said:

Drawweight said:

Definitely just dual carriageway and not motorway. When they ve refreshed them there are small emergency use only actually in the lay-bys. Unfortunately street view isn t up to date

Do you have a pic of the layby?

Or to put it another way..........do you need to cross a solid white line to get into and out of the layby?

Don’t have a pic of the lay-by but the signs are pretty much as in the post above. A broken line to enter the lay-by and no lines at all while in it.