What happens if you use Police sliproad?
Discussion
TLDR is it actually illegal for someone who isn't Police to use a "Police only" exit from a motorway? What about the crossovers they have between certain motorways? I ask because I saw someone do just this 
On Friday afternoon I was joining the clockwise M25 from the M40. Traffic was especially heavy (it's the M25 on a Friday afternoon</obvious>) due to accidents and somewhat surprisingly Google Maps suggested I take an unnumbered junction, circled in red, that dumps you straight onto a backroad.
To anyone who has driven on a British motorway it's pretty obvious you're not meant to use it; you have to cross the hard shoulder and the alignment is wrong. But, the car in front of me (presumably also being guided by Google) hesitated for a moment, then crossed the hard shoulder and left the motorway.
Once you've passed the "End of Motorway Regulations" sign a "Police Patrol Vehicles Only" sign comes into view, which to obey would mean reversing back onto the hard shoulder.
I chuckled at the audacity of the car in front's manoeuvre but as he was getting on with his journey and I was sat with thousands of other cars on the M25, I started to wonder if it was actually illegal or just something that so few people would do that they've never bothered with legislation (like the backdoor routes out of certain services).
On Friday afternoon I was joining the clockwise M25 from the M40. Traffic was especially heavy (it's the M25 on a Friday afternoon</obvious>) due to accidents and somewhat surprisingly Google Maps suggested I take an unnumbered junction, circled in red, that dumps you straight onto a backroad.
To anyone who has driven on a British motorway it's pretty obvious you're not meant to use it; you have to cross the hard shoulder and the alignment is wrong. But, the car in front of me (presumably also being guided by Google) hesitated for a moment, then crossed the hard shoulder and left the motorway.
Once you've passed the "End of Motorway Regulations" sign a "Police Patrol Vehicles Only" sign comes into view, which to obey would mean reversing back onto the hard shoulder.
I chuckled at the audacity of the car in front's manoeuvre but as he was getting on with his journey and I was sat with thousands of other cars on the M25, I started to wonder if it was actually illegal or just something that so few people would do that they've never bothered with legislation (like the backdoor routes out of certain services).
donkmeister said:
(like the backdoor routes out of certain services).
afaik *all* services have backdoor routes and some are very useful. Also afaik it's technically illegal to take them, some have many scary signs... The one at London Gateway to sneak onto the A1 from the M1 had signs for a while more or less saying 'we are going to enforce this soon' and then they disappeared on the allged date, so I'd be curious about the answer to that too to piggy back off your question.
Gretna Services it's very useful when using the A75 but want KFC.
There's a similar little exit on the dual carriageway which would be convenient for my old house.
Alas, it has a gate, which appears to be padlocked and possibly alarmed.
Am I right in thinking the 'police only' or 'maintenance only' signs are not of the correct format to prohibit anyone else?
I imagine of too many people start (ab)using these facilities, it will be cheap enough to install some cameras.
Alas, it has a gate, which appears to be padlocked and possibly alarmed.
Am I right in thinking the 'police only' or 'maintenance only' signs are not of the correct format to prohibit anyone else?
I imagine of too many people start (ab)using these facilities, it will be cheap enough to install some cameras.
Somewhatfoolish said:
donkmeister said:
(like the backdoor routes out of certain services).
afaik *all* services have backdoor routes and some are very useful. Also afaik it's technically illegal to take them, some have many scary signs... The one at London Gateway to sneak onto the A1 from the M1 had signs for a while more or less saying 'we are going to enforce this soon' and then they disappeared on the allged date, so I'd be curious about the answer to that too to piggy back off your question.
Gretna Services it's very useful when using the A75 but want KFC.
I'm sure many of them now have restrictions preventing access to unauthorised traffic, but without this the default position is probably still that they are legal to use.
I know several people who used Police/Works exits on the M26 as they all got tickets for the offence.
There is a commonly used exit at Farthing Corner Services on the M2. The services used the private parking company to police it and issue invoices. That didn't last long until someone constantly disabled the cameras and the signs went missing. Without the signs they couldn't enforce anything.
There is a commonly used exit at Farthing Corner Services on the M2. The services used the private parking company to police it and issue invoices. That didn't last long until someone constantly disabled the cameras and the signs went missing. Without the signs they couldn't enforce anything.
There is a similar rear entrance (as there at many) at the M4 Reading Services. Sometimes the access gate is up, some times down. The taxi's used to use it regularly for pick up and drop offs from the hotels, but there is plenty of signage to suggest it is 'emergency access only'.
About 3 weeks ago, there was a major accident West Bound just after the services and traffic was a night mare. A mate of mine who was in the services at the time spotted a motorway cop and asked if they could use the rear exit and low and behold, with a shrug of his shoulders, he told him to fill his boots....which he and many others were already using.
However, I appreciate that is quite an unusual example due to the circumstances and I guess in such a situation, they may actually need to use such an exit to release trapped vehicles. In the case of the situation the OP has described, I would suggest that you will be contravening several rules of the road by using such an entry/exit roadway.....and that whilst you might 'get away' with it.....if a copper spotted you or indeed you caused an accident by using it (a real possibility when you think about it), I think you'd get the book thrown at you.
About 3 weeks ago, there was a major accident West Bound just after the services and traffic was a night mare. A mate of mine who was in the services at the time spotted a motorway cop and asked if they could use the rear exit and low and behold, with a shrug of his shoulders, he told him to fill his boots....which he and many others were already using.
However, I appreciate that is quite an unusual example due to the circumstances and I guess in such a situation, they may actually need to use such an exit to release trapped vehicles. In the case of the situation the OP has described, I would suggest that you will be contravening several rules of the road by using such an entry/exit roadway.....and that whilst you might 'get away' with it.....if a copper spotted you or indeed you caused an accident by using it (a real possibility when you think about it), I think you'd get the book thrown at you.
Edited by MattyD803 on Monday 16th May 08:52
Somewhatfoolish said:
donkmeister said:
(like the backdoor routes out of certain services).
afaik *all* services have backdoor routes and some are very useful. Also afaik it's technically illegal to take them, some have many scary signs... The one at London Gateway to sneak onto the A1 from the M1 had signs for a while more or less saying 'we are going to enforce this soon' and then they disappeared on the allged date, so I'd be curious about the answer to that too to piggy back off your question.
Gretna Services it's very useful when using the A75 but want KFC.
Somewhatfoolish said:
afaik *all* services have backdoor routes and some are very useful.
Also afaik it's technically illegal to take them, some have many scary signs... The one at London Gateway to sneak onto the A1 from the M1 had signs for a while more or less saying 'we are going to enforce this soon' and then they disappeared on the allged date, so I'd be curious about the answer to that too to piggy back off your question.
Gretna Services it's very useful when using the A75 but want KFC.
Not all services. Winchester used to, but doesn't any more.Also afaik it's technically illegal to take them, some have many scary signs... The one at London Gateway to sneak onto the A1 from the M1 had signs for a while more or less saying 'we are going to enforce this soon' and then they disappeared on the allged date, so I'd be curious about the answer to that too to piggy back off your question.
Gretna Services it's very useful when using the A75 but want KFC.
I've used the Gretna back entrance. Completely fine, no signs stopping you. But more an issue at the time were the lack of "chopsticks" signs indicating the start of the A74(M) northbound, when I wanted the B7076 north (I had to follow signs for A74(M) south). No biggy, they're parallel, right? Weeelll...
In contrast the emergency access further up had the required signs.
Most recently it was Trowell Services that I snuck into. Again, no rules broken
Regarding those little turnings, driving on the hard shoulder is illegal, so it should be pretty clear that you can't use them legally to exit the motorway. Although there are some with full blown slip roads, like M40 J7.
Now, try seeing that non-reflective sign when the gate is left propped open and it's 3am... No indication that you're under motorway regulations. I'd say that that slip is unlawful, but not illegal, to use, as the signage doesn't comply with requirements, so cannot be enforced.
Or like here, where if the gate is open every man and his dog can wander onto the motorway, if they're not driving a motor vehicle.
OutInTheShed said:
There's a lot of staff at services, many of those will use the 'back door'.
Maybe staff parking is only connected to the 'back road' sometimes though?
Another one I can easily link is Woolley EdgeMaybe staff parking is only connected to the 'back road' sometimes though?
As a lodge guest, I was in fact entitled to use the back entrance.
You have to contravene that no-entry sign at the car park, though, as otherwise it seems to be straight onto the M1.
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.
Whenever i've gone in there, the barrier is up and the intercom looks like it's not been active since the 90's.
I know that I can get into the services at St Michael Wood easy enough - it's a bit of a pig to get from one to another however - though they both lead to the same road, if you go the wrong way it can be quite a trek.
Both have similar signage and threat of cameras, no idea how active they are. But you could park on the road outside and wander in - no restrictions on that!
Both have similar signage and threat of cameras, no idea how active they are. But you could park on the road outside and wander in - no restrictions on that!
caziques said:
Many years ago I used to use Corley Services on the M6 every day to go to work and home - barriers were tried, (which a low car fitted under), then chains (wrap round the barrier).
Don't know what happened in the end - I moved to NZ
My Audi A6 needed recovery from there in 2013. AA truck arrived and used a back way from northbound services out to a local road - over the M6 by bridge then back in to the southbound services and away. It was a bit narrow for a full-on recovery truck but far quicker / easier than heading north to the next junction and doubling back.Don't know what happened in the end - I moved to NZ
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