Illegal 'U' turn

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Tue 29 Nov 2011 19:10
Illegal 'U' turn - bathtub tom

HJ's Saturday column relates a tale of a motorist being penalised by a council, not the police, for doing a 'U' turn.

Since when have 'U' turns been illegal (unless signposted)?

The motorist claims to have reversed into a driveway and then set off in the opposite direction. How on earth can anyone be penalised for doing that?

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Tue 29 Nov 2011 19:22
Illegal 'U' turn - RT

One-way street?

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Tue 29 Nov 2011 19:44
Illegal 'U' turn - bathtub tom

One-way street?

Then I'd suspect the offence would be 'driving the wrong way down a one-way street' and be enforced by police.

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Wed 30 Nov 2011 17:58
Illegal 'U' turn - tmjs

I assume this happened in London...

This site:

www.lgo.org.uk/publications/fact-sheets/complaints.../

Says "Moving traffic contraventions are enforced in London under the London Local Authorities and Transport for London Act 2003."

That act is here:

www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/2003/3/contents/enacted

I think the relevant bit is "Penalty charges for road traffic contraventions".

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Wed 30 Nov 2011 19:50
Illegal 'U' turn - bathtub tom

Thanks for that tmjs.

I can see the local authority can issue the penalty, but I still don't understand how they interpreted the manouvre as described as a 'U' turn.

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Fri 2 Dec 2011 16:25
Illegal 'U' turn - concrete

I agree with bathtub, when I read the article I though how on earth is a safely executed 3 point turn described as a 'U' turn. Surely a 'U' turn is a complete 180 turn in one movement, which on a busy road can be considered careless. I would be inclined to resist this and offer a defence. Best of luck. Concrete

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Fri 2 Dec 2011 23:20
Illegal 'U' turn - Bromptonaut

If the motorist says 'no offence' he can appeal to an independent tribunal, the Parking and Traffic Adjudication Service. Using the press instead is either misguided or hook wriggling.

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