What happens if you use Police sliproad?
Discussion
wpa1975 said:
I know the ones for Sedgemoor services on the M5 as I have cycled that way many times.
We were tempted once to get a coffee on a ride from the costa but not sure if it is legal or not so decided to leave it.
It looks like it's probably illegal. In practice, they really dgaf, the whole reason for the prohibition is to prevent it from being an unofficial motorway junction, which hopefully won't be an issue!We were tempted once to get a coffee on a ride from the costa but not sure if it is legal or not so decided to leave it.
The counterpoint is that if you do end up on the motorway due to the typically rubbish signage at services, you don't really have a leg to stand on.
williamp said:
So whats the actual crime you'd be comitting?? Which law covers these?
(As part of my fantasy euromillions I have always wanted my own junction, just for me, just to my house...)
I don't know about the Police sliproads but in the case of the access roads into/out of Services I've read elsewhere that no crime is committed although there may be a civil case for trespass if you are using the road without authorisation. (As part of my fantasy euromillions I have always wanted my own junction, just for me, just to my house...)
Inky81 said:
Newport Pagnell services southbound used to have similar access road which was great for avoiding the traffic to/from MK at rush hour. No idea if it's still there.
Both northbound and southbound have access roads that come out on to Little Linford Lane which a friend of mine reckons is very handy when the M1 is busy.Was in a taxi coming out of London up the M11 late one evening a couple of years ago. M25 east (to go home to Essex) was closed, so the driver had little other choice to take the west sliproad onto the M25 and go all the way to the first junction with a roundabout and head back the other way. A few hundred yards along the M25 from that M11/M25 junction is an emergency service sliproad, which he took without warning.
He got to the top of the exit ramp and turned right to head over the bridge and back down the other side and there was traffic womble Discovery hiding away near the top of the ramp back down on the M25 to head east (red marker below). Traffic womble was blocking the sliproad so there was no way the taxi driver was getting round it. They just gave him a very stern talking to and explained why 'normal' motorists shouldn't take those sliproads.
He got to the top of the exit ramp and turned right to head over the bridge and back down the other side and there was traffic womble Discovery hiding away near the top of the ramp back down on the M25 to head east (red marker below). Traffic womble was blocking the sliproad so there was no way the taxi driver was getting round it. They just gave him a very stern talking to and explained why 'normal' motorists shouldn't take those sliproads.
In that example, there is absolutely no 'getting away' with passing the no entry signs to pull off such a manoeuvre......that is asking for a fine minimum....plus crossing the hard shoulder (twice) for something other than an emergency....I reckon a copper would be looking at giving you a court summons for that.....and if you ask me, the reality of doing on the M25 is nothing short of dangerous. The normal junctions/slip roads are full of enough idiots....imagine you ended up with loads of cars peeling off/on to the motorway in those sort of locations.....
BrokenSkunk said:
I have a feeling that it is illegal to join or leave a motorway other than by an officially recognised slipway. So technically using the motorway services back entrances is illegal.
Damned if I'd know where to look in the legislation to prove it though.
The access road merely gets you in to or out of the services. The services are not part of the motorway.Damned if I'd know where to look in the legislation to prove it though.
To leave or join the motorway you would be using the official slip road for the services.
eldrich said:
Keele services used to be great for getting on/off M6 until they installed automatic bollards - now can only be done on a motorbike.
I worked at the services when at uni up the road and was a nice walk downTried to get out of Fleet services a while ago, on the M3, and cameras up
48k said:
The access road merely gets you in to or out of the services. The services are not part of the motorway.
To leave or join the motorway you would be using the official slip road for the services.
Nice try, but apparently not.To leave or join the motorway you would be using the official slip road for the services.
A quick google found a Pepipoo thread saying it's S17 of the RTRA 1984, DLVA code MW10 Contravention of Special Roads Regulations (excluding speed limits) 3 points.
I scanned S17 it seemed to be about the powers to introduce restrictions on special roads rather than the restrictions themselves.
Don't get me wrong, I don't see the problem in using a motorway services backdoor entrance, it's perfectly safe. But apparently the same rules apply to using it as to using any un-numbered junction (you can see why they'd make using those illegal.)
EDIT: Got
Edited by BrokenSkunk on Monday 16th May 18:06
BrokenSkunk said:
Nice try, but apparently not. There's no 'end of motorway restrictions' sign at entrace to the services and no start of motorway sign at the exit.
A quick google found a Pepipoo thread saying it's S17 of the RTRA 1984, DLVA code MW10 Contravention of Special Roads Regulations (excluding speed limits) 3 points.
I scanned S17 it seemed to be about the powers to introduce restrictions on special roads rather than the restrictions themselves.
Don't get me wrong, I don't see the problem in using a motorway services backdoor entrance, it's perfectly safe. But apparently the same rules apply to using it as to using any un-numbered junction (you can see why they'd make using those illegal.)
The motorway services clearly aren't under motorway regulations. Sure, signage can be sA quick google found a Pepipoo thread saying it's S17 of the RTRA 1984, DLVA code MW10 Contravention of Special Roads Regulations (excluding speed limits) 3 points.
I scanned S17 it seemed to be about the powers to introduce restrictions on special roads rather than the restrictions themselves.
Don't get me wrong, I don't see the problem in using a motorway services backdoor entrance, it's perfectly safe. But apparently the same rules apply to using it as to using any un-numbered junction (you can see why they'd make using those illegal.)
te, but still.And your second assertion is outright contradicted by a photo I posted earlier. Remember I'd just cycled into these services without passing a prohibitive sign.
Oh, and what else? There was no start of motorway sign at the northbound exit.
But that doesn't mean that the services are under motorway regulations. It means that the highways people are s
t at putting up signs. It also means I could have ridden onto the A74(M) and almost certainly not been liable to prosecution - it's under motorway regulations, but the signage was missing.Here's the footage - you can see absolutely no controls on entering the services, and you can also see the sign missing (at 1:01:01).
You can also take a virtual stroll down it On Street View to confirm, which is 2 months before my filming date.
Edited by Solocle on Monday 16th May 18:20
BrokenSkunk said:
48k said:
The access road merely gets you in to or out of the services. The services are not part of the motorway.
To leave or join the motorway you would be using the official slip road for the services.
Nice try, but apparently not. There's no 'end of motorway restrictions' sign at entrace to the services and no start of motorway sign at the exit.To leave or join the motorway you would be using the official slip road for the services.
Also, how do you think all the staff and deliveries get to the services if they are not allowed to use the back entrance? That's what the road is there for!!
48k's explanation is spot on.
alex98uk said:
I've used the rear access many a time for Leigh Delamere services on the M4. The entrance clearly states that a barrier is in operation and only access is for hotel users and staff.
Whenever i've gone in there, the barrier is up and the intercom looks like it's not been active since the 90's.
The Westbound barrier has not been in operation since my wife has been working there ( so at 5 years now ) and there is no barrier on the Eastbound side. There are cameras but have never received a ticket on any of the vehicles we have owned including ones that have not be registered on the car park system. From time to time have even exited off one side to get to the other side services if only to avoid the rat run through the village and narrow lanes.Whenever i've gone in there, the barrier is up and the intercom looks like it's not been active since the 90's.
NikBartlett said:
The Westbound barrier has not been in operation since my wife has been working there ( so at 5 years now ) and there is no barrier on the Eastbound side. There are cameras but have never received a ticket on any of the vehicles we have owned including ones that have not be registered on the car park system. From time to time have even exited off one side to get to the other side services if only to avoid the rat run through the village and narrow lanes.
Maybe the cameras are there just to clock your exit for the ANPR 
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