Is it legal to drive the wrong way around a roundabout?!
Discussion
Just followed a Sainsbury's lorry down our local high street - only to see him put his hazards on, turn a sharp right and drive the wrong way around the (full sized) roundabout at the end to reach exit 3 to pull into a loading bay. Caused some alarm to other traffic and pedestrians.
I parked up and nipped over to ask him what the hell he was playing at. "It's perfectly legal for me to drive the wrong way around a roundabout with my hazards on to access a loading bay."
Really?!
I parked up and nipped over to ask him what the hell he was playing at. "It's perfectly legal for me to drive the wrong way around a roundabout with my hazards on to access a loading bay."
Really?!
Roundabout in question here, approached from this direction:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/JrWPK1uL8rkVJzaZ8?g_st=ic
Loading bay where the Disco Sport/AO lorry are parked on Spring Hill.
Sainsbury's lorry in question was a 12 tonner, so no tractor unit.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/JrWPK1uL8rkVJzaZ8?g_st=ic
Loading bay where the Disco Sport/AO lorry are parked on Spring Hill.
Sainsbury's lorry in question was a 12 tonner, so no tractor unit.
A quick search suggests that neither the police nor the courts are big fans of it.
Reported for driving without due care and attention:
https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2021-03-23/wo...
Convicted of dangerous driving (with a ban imposed):
https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/derby-news/d...
Reported for driving without due care and attention:
https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2021-03-23/wo...
Convicted of dangerous driving (with a ban imposed):
https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/derby-news/d...
Milkyway said:
Give Sainsburys head office a call
( Send them the link)
Perhaps they have their own rules... their reply might be interesting.
I do have dashcam footage and I do have the guy's reg. ( Send them the link)
Perhaps they have their own rules... their reply might be interesting.
Edited by Milkyway on Wednesday 9th August 23:22
I am however not really in the business of causing someone to lose his job. Even if he was a t
t. Life is difficult enough as it is. lobster940 said:
I do have dashcam footage and I do have the guy's reg.
I am however not really in the business of causing someone to lose his job. Even if he was a tt. Life is difficult enough as it is.
Maybe don’t give them any specific details... just a general enquiry. I am however not really in the business of causing someone to lose his job. Even if he was a t
t. Life is difficult enough as it is. 
( No time or dates mentioned).
lobster940 said:
I do have dashcam footage and I do have the guy's reg.
I am however not really in the business of causing someone to lose his job. Even if he was a tt. Life is difficult enough as it is.
Worth doing it as he clearly thinks it's OK when it isn't. Perhaps a career change is what is needed...I am however not really in the business of causing someone to lose his job. Even if he was a t
t. Life is difficult enough as it is. Looking at the Google maps link, I think I'm with the driver. You can quite easily see whether it's safe to turn or not, so while it might be technically illegal, I'm not convinced that taking the awkward route around the far side of the roundabout rather than the easy immediate right benefits anyone, and would certainly be much more difficult in anything longer than a car.
I too am with the truck driver, I think, but for technical reasons. The "roundabout" signs are not quite correct for a roundabout, hence my inverted commas - it is not 100% accurate to describe it as a roundabout. They are 610 "keep left" arrows, rather than the 606 "must proceed in the direction shown by the arrow". There is nothing strictly illegal about him turning right there, as long as he keeps left at the "first" keep left arrow on the approach island. The central "roundabout" island "keep left" signing is there to prevent people going to the right of the island to head down Kirkdale. In fact, he doesn't even need hazards - simple indicator use will do.
There is a sign on the eastbound approach that indicates that the arrangement is a roundabout - but that is inconsistent with the actual signing on the road, and there is no such sign on the approach in question. It's a bit of a mish-mash in general, and someone should have their wrists tapped at the local council.
Also, I agree that he would struggle to access the loading bay in a long rigid vehicle.
OP, don't report him.
(Traffic/highways engineer here).
There is a sign on the eastbound approach that indicates that the arrangement is a roundabout - but that is inconsistent with the actual signing on the road, and there is no such sign on the approach in question. It's a bit of a mish-mash in general, and someone should have their wrists tapped at the local council.
Also, I agree that he would struggle to access the loading bay in a long rigid vehicle.
OP, don't report him.
(Traffic/highways engineer here).
Edited by SteveStrange on Thursday 10th August 08:28
lobster940 said:
Milkyway said:
Give Sainsburys head office a call
( Send them the link)
Perhaps they have their own rules... their reply might be interesting.
I do have dashcam footage and I do have the guy's reg. ( Send them the link)
Perhaps they have their own rules... their reply might be interesting.
Edited by Milkyway on Wednesday 9th August 23:22
I am however not really in the business of causing someone to lose his job. Even if he was a t
t. Life is difficult enough as it is. I have reported a supermarket delivery driver who repeatedly blocked the entrance to our driveway (with about 40 properties at the other end) as he simply told me "tough s
t" when I told him to move as he was blocking access to a whole "estate", plus leaving my car sticking out onto a 50mph A road. Supermarket gave me a stock response...... I haven't caught him doing it since mind you, but then drivers change all the time.Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff