How often does this happen?

[SD1992]

I have just had a very panicked phone call from one of my mate's down in Edinburgh telling me that my other mate has just managed to drive the wrong way up a motorway

I have no idea how he managed this, but they are ok and were very lucky as the driver in the other lane held his nerve and brought the lane to a controlled stop. I think they drove up a sliproad and pulled over in a service station, shaking.

This got me thinking, how often does this actually happen?

Also, what would be the best way to deal with the driver? He is not a reckless guy by any stretch of the imagination, so he wasn't being daft. He only passed his test fairly recently so I think this is just inexperience.

I hate to think what could have happend though, someone was watching over them!

[JonnyFive]

Saw an old boy do this on the A3 down here.. Prius (As usual..) and just drove the wrong way down the sliplane. Luckily the slip lane is only 1 car wide so a car coming up the slip lane noticed and blocked the lane. He had no idea.

Shouldn't be on the road.

[Wing Commander]

Pass plus, AIM, taking the keys away from them?

I know that it is down to inexperience, but I hate that being used as an excuse for anything. If this guy isn't confident using the motorway, then he should learn the theory before just "trying it out" for real.

Hope all are ok

[JonnyFive]

I'm not sure how they do it? Surely the on/off slips are usually pretty well signed, and usually not that easy to access wrongly. Imo.

[Plotloss]

How best to deal with the driver?

Refer to him as 'one way' until the day he dies.

[attym3]

Motorway driving should be in the test. Or my brain wave there should be a separate test before you can go on a motorway, say.....6 months after you pass the first test.

Mark

[Ricky_M]

I've witnessed a Woman driving the wrong way around a busy 3 lane roundabout.

Me and the car next to me stopped traffic in two lanes and shouted at the woman to turn around, but she was flapping like mad and just drove round us flat out!

[SD1992]

I know, I have no idea how the hell he managed it. Might not have been a motorway, but was definitely at least dual carrageway that was a 70 limit so I am not sure if they went down the wrong slip road or not...

Is it true you aren't even allowed on the motorways before you pass your test? I am from the Highlands, where there are no motorways, just the A9 which is a 70 mph dual carrageway which you are allowed to drive on with L plates.

[JonnyFive]

SD1992 said:

I know, I have no idea how the hell he managed it. Might not have been a motorway, but was definitely at least dual carrageway that was a 70 limit so I am not sure if they went down the wrong slip road or not...

Is it true you aren't even allowed on the motorways before you pass your test? I am from the Highlands, where there are no motorways, just the A9 which is a 70 mph dual carrageway which you are allowed to drive on with L plates.

Yep. Only A roads until you've passed, then you can go where you like. Stupid.

Although some are unfazed by it, I just cracked on with the M25 as if it was the normal D/C I learnt on. Some are petrified of the Motorways and will avoid them at all costs. Stupid.

[SD1992]

I really don't see what is so bad about them. My Mum insists they are the most stressful things in the world and to be avoided, but when I had to do a long trip involving them I really didn't see the problem. Everything makes sense, everything comes with plenty warning, I don't see how you can possibly go the wrong way, and if you do turn off at the wrong exit it is not hard to get back on...

What is the reasoning behing learners not being allowed on them?

[JonnyFive]

SD1992 said:

I really don't see what is so bad about them. My Mum insists they are the most stressful things in the world and to be avoided, but when I had to do a long trip involving them I really didn't see the problem. Everything makes sense, everything comes with plenty warning, I don't see how you can possibly go the wrong way, and if you do turn off at the wrong exit it is not hard to get back on...

What is the reasoning behing learners not being allowed on them?

For the same reason your mother doesn't like them I guess.. Probably too daunting to a learner.

PassPlus should be mandatory, not an option. I spent 8 hours on the Motorways after I had passed my test as part of my PassPlus.

[Liquid Knight]

A Polish driver slept over in a service station car park on the M6. As I pulled up the slip road first thing in the morning the chap had woken up, forgotten what country he was in and was trying to pull on to the Motorway the wrong way. He was quite irrate that I wouldn't get out of the way until I waved and pointed at my number plate. Close one.

[Adam_W]

Musta have been pretty terrifying, as to how anyone manages it.. I cant even begin to fathom.

I avoid motorways not because they scare me but because they are boring as

[SD1992]

I can imagine it would be bloody terrifying if you did end up in a car going the wrong way!

I once saw a Polish truck go the wrong way round a major roundabout in Inverness, brought every road going off to a complete halt.

[miniman]

How can you possibly do it? The on-ramps are set up such that turning down the wrong way would normally require a three point turn.

[Ari]

miniman said:

How can you possibly do it? The on-ramps are set up such that turning down the wrong way would normally require a three point turn.

Easy, drive down an off ramp.

[rossw46]

IMO you must be daft to do it.

Regarding dealing with it,I think an instant minimum 3 year ban,and then having to take a much more strict test when the ban is up.

The potential for things to go very wrong is massive,and many innocent people have suffered because of muppets that do it.

[miniman]

Ari said:

miniman said:

How can you possibly do it? The on-ramps are set up such that turning down the wrong way would normally require a three point turn.

Easy, drive down an off ramp.

That's what I meant, probably should have said off-ramp though. To turn down an exit slip from the roundabout at the top of the slip requires dedication.

[davepoth]

miniman said:

That's what I meant, probably should have said off-ramp though. To turn down an exit slip from the roundabout at the top of the slip requires dedication.

If it's a normal motorway junction with a roundabout, it would be like negotiating a hairpin bend; I would have thought it would be hard to do that by accident.

[nobodyknows]

If it was inexperience why didn't the rest of us do it? Take his bloody keys away before he kills somebody or get him to take some well needed advanced driver training.