Emergency exits on Motorways.

[kentmotorcompany]

Another trader I know says he uses these often to enter and exit the Motorways, with no consequences.

What law/offence would this come under were he to get caught?

[MJK 24]

You'll be taken to the cleaners if spotted.

They're for Plod and VOSA.

[Sgt Bilko]

And Highways Agency vehicles.

Generally under Motorway Regs.

Possibly driving off the Carriageway using Hard Shoulder, 3 points, up to £2,500 fine

Edited by Sgt Bilko on Tuesday 25th August 19:30

[TimmyHolland]

Emergency exits?

[Amused2death]

TimmyHolland said:

Emergency exits?

Exits which are not standard motorway junctions, ie accessed via the hard shoulder rather than slip roads.

[anonymous-user]

Often marked as "Works Exit" or "Works Vehicles Only". We have to have special dispensation to use them, to stop on the hard shoulder, walk along it etc (but only for Works purposes). It's a scary place to be!

[SteveScooby]

There is normally a no entry sign at the top of the slip road, which you would have to contravene, giving you 3 points.

[Mojooo]

Opulent said:

Often marked as "Works Exit" or "Works Vehicles Only". We have to have special dispensation to use them, to stop on the hard shoulder, walk along it etc (but only for Works purposes). It's a scary place to be!

where do they normally end up - back to motorway junctions?

[flemke]

Mojooo said:

Opulent said:

Often marked as "Works Exit" or "Works Vehicles Only". We have to have special dispensation to use them, to stop on the hard shoulder, walk along it etc (but only for Works purposes). It's a scary place to be!

where do they normally end up - back to motorway junctions?

Sometimes they lead to normal public roads. I know a chap who used to use one as a short-cut to his house.

[gazza285]

Used Watford Gap services as a shortcut to Silverstone for years, is this an equally heinous crime?

If it is safe enough for works vehicles and police, why not the public?

[Don]

There's a good few service stations that have access roads out the back.

Some of these are even for "public" use. i.e. Guests of the on-site hotel (Days Inn, Travelodge etc).

You get the odd hoo-ha in the local papers about how some enterprising local has worked this out and is now saving himself a five mile round trip..but passing people's houses on the way! Shock and horror that anyone might do that...

Personally I have no compunction in using ones for the "public". They can mark it "Hotel Guests Only" as much as they like. I would not, however, consider using one intended for the Emergency Services only as the consequences are worse and there's probably a reasonably good reason for the restriction.

[bull996]

gazza285 said:

Used Watford Gap services as a shortcut to Silverstone for years, is this an equally heinous crime?

If it is safe enough for works vehicles and police, why not the public?

Because they are much more superior at driving than you and I, dont you know.

[mrmr96]

bull996 said:

gazza285 said:

Used Watford Gap services as a shortcut to Silverstone for years, is this an equally heinous crime?

If it is safe enough for works vehicles and police, why not the public?

Because they are much more superior at driving than you and I, dont you know.

I think it's more likely related to the volume of traffic. If the services back entrances and the emergency entrance/exits to m-ways were made public then there would be long jams on roads not designed to handle the volume of traffic they would see.

The services ones are unlikely to be dangerous, but the m-way ones would be very dangerous as they are not well marked from the carriageway so people would not be expecting cars to join there. Yes, it's different for maintainence and emergency vehicles as it's a training and volume thing again, plus their vehicles have flashing lights on to use when performing these manouvers.

[anonymous-user]

mrmr96 said:

bull996 said:

gazza285 said:

Used Watford Gap services as a shortcut to Silverstone for years, is this an equally heinous crime?

If it is safe enough for works vehicles and police, why not the public?

Because they are much more superior at driving than you and I, dont you know.

I think it's more likely related to the volume of traffic. If the services back entrances and the emergency entrance/exits to m-ways were made public then there would be long jams on roads not designed to handle the volume of traffic they would see.

The services ones are unlikely to be dangerous, but the m-way ones would be very dangerous as they are not well marked from the carriageway so people would not be expecting cars to join there. Yes, it's different for maintainence and emergency vehicles as it's a training and volume thing again, plus their vehicles have flashing lights on to use when performing these manouvers.

Thanks. I was going to post something a little more offensive than that.

[Don]

mrmr96 said:

bull996 said:

gazza285 said:

Used Watford Gap services as a shortcut to Silverstone for years, is this an equally heinous crime?

If it is safe enough for works vehicles and police, why not the public?

Because they are much more superior at driving than you and I, dont you know.

I think it's more likely related to the volume of traffic. If the services back entrances and the emergency entrance/exits to m-ways were made public then there would be long jams on roads not designed to handle the volume of traffic they would see.

The services ones are unlikely to be dangerous, but the m-way ones would be very dangerous as they are not well marked from the carriageway so people would not be expecting cars to join there. Yes, it's different for maintainence and emergency vehicles as it's a training and volume thing again, plus their vehicles have flashing lights on to use when performing these manouvers.

Spot on with your analysis.

[Black_Rat]

It took me 10 minutes to use one the other day, over grown, the lock was rusty and opening the barrier should gave been a 2 man job
not suitable for the public to use as a regular exit

[defblade]

Used to be able to dodge out the back of Leigh Delamere as a cut to Castle Coombe but they've put remote controlled barriers across it now....

[Don]

defblade said:

Used to be able to dodge out the back of Leigh Delamere as a cut to Castle Coombe but they've put remote controlled barriers across it now....

You can get out the back of Monmouth services (supposedly only if you are staying at the Travelodge - pah!) but the road then proceeds to go nowhere useful.

[Adamantium]

the only ones i know of near me have locked gates so pretty hard to use anyway.

[supermono]

There's one on the M25 anti-clockwise nearish the M40 I think right next to what appears to be a caravan park come prison camp. Not sure who'd go on holiday there.

Anyhow, the barrier there is broken off 99% of the time, I'm thinking it's the holidaymakers using the sliproad rather than going umpteen miles out of their way using a conventional junction.

Oh wait, here it is: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&am...

SM