Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Cycling on the motorway

171 replies

Cycling2023 · 14/06/2023 20:43

DH decided to cycle from London to St Alban's today and on his way back, was apparently very dehydrated and had a dead phone so accidently ended up on the motorway.

He called the police for their help to leave the motorway safely and they took down his name and details and said he would be sent a fine. Does anyone know how much it could be and if this would be a FPN (where it doesn't show up on DBS and CRB checks).

This is the first time he has been fined for anything so we are actually quite worried as it is all unknown to us.

Thank you and please be kind.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
Catbumps · 14/06/2023 22:41

101 is an easy to remember number which can be used to contact your local police about crimes or concerns that do not need an emergency response

concerns doesn’t mean you’re worried about what your husband’s fine will be or the state of the UK economy. It’s in reference to criminal activity. H2H @AscensionToCheese

AscensionToCheese · 14/06/2023 22:41

Boomboom22 · 14/06/2023 22:40

101 is not for inane enquiries!
It is to report non urgent crimes that don't warrant 999.

Actually, it is.
https://www.gov.uk/contact-police#:~:text=Report%20crimes%20online%20or%20by,police%20or%20make%20an%20enquiry.

You don't get to decide what's 'inane'. She's not asking what flavours of ice cream are at the local shop.

Contact the police

Contact the police by calling 999 to report emergencies or by calling 101 for non-emergencies

https://www.gov.uk/contact-police#:~:text=Report%20crimes%20online%20or%20by,police%20or%20make%20an%20enquiry.

Unexpecteddrivinginstructor · 14/06/2023 22:42

The good thing is only his ego is injured. If he was actually the second person today who had made the same mistake then I would consider whether there is a problem with that junction. Maybe the trees are overgrown or the signs too high or not clear enough. That is not to say that he doesn't hold some blame but it is probably worth driving back there soon to take a photo to check that there are no road safety issues with that junction that need to be addressed. The next cyclist might not be as lucky.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Driving & parking
AnyaMarx · 14/06/2023 22:44

Op - try not to worry . Honestly it's not that bad and rad traffic offences aren't counted for dbs checks - he just needs to be honest , he made a big error of judgement but really it's not that bad .

If you're still on with 101 the call ah slept will probably email the officer (oic) who dealt with it but he stay even they won't be able to say what the fine would be because it's not a fixed penalty notice .

AnyaMarx · 14/06/2023 22:45

Scuse typos

AscensionToCheese · 14/06/2023 22:45

Catbumps · 14/06/2023 22:41

101 is an easy to remember number which can be used to contact your local police about crimes or concerns that do not need an emergency response

concerns doesn’t mean you’re worried about what your husband’s fine will be or the state of the UK economy. It’s in reference to criminal activity. H2H @AscensionToCheese

Her husband committed a crime, so yes, it falls in that category.
I don't see why you're trying to put the OP off calling. If you have made a crime report or been involved in one you can call for an update and that is what this is.

HangingOver · 14/06/2023 22:46

He is lucky he never caused a crash, thank god he was not driving a car

But ... Cars are allowed on the motorway 😂

Russellandholmes · 14/06/2023 22:47

I was trying to rack my brains imagining this but I think pp has it right. If he was cycling from St Albans via London Colney and was trying to get back to North London via Radlett/Elstree, he might easily have ended up on the westbound entrance at junction 22.
For those people who've never been there, it genuinely doesn't look like a motorway. There's no hard shoulder at the entrance, barely any slip road and it looks like the 3rd normal roundabout exit. I've seen several learner drivers end up heading down there by mistake (and yelled at my own children to keep going round the roundabout when they were heading that way). The signage is poor but also there's no safe way of getting back off the motorway at that point as there really isn't a proper verge or hard shoulder etc.
I can see how it's possible.

MidgeHardcastle · 14/06/2023 22:48

Zodfa · 14/06/2023 22:18

Ironically a properly designed motorway with a continuous standard-width hard shoulder is probably a safer place to cycle than many roads where cycling is legal.

Agree but the M25 is mostly 'smart' and doesn't have a continuous hard shoulder. The accidents a mad cyclist could have caused doesn't bear thinking about.

CharlotteStreetW1 · 14/06/2023 22:48

Cycling2023 · 14/06/2023 20:50

Yes he is fine. When he is tired and dehydrated, he doesn't think straight.

Show quote history

Which implies it's not an unusual occurrence? I hope I'm wrong but he really does need to be much better prepared.

Let's hope it's just the £50 and a lesson learned.

Wolfiefan · 14/06/2023 22:49

No OP what’s stressful is having a partner who pulls this kind of stunt.

Isthatascratchonmygrandmother · 14/06/2023 22:49

Russellandholmes · 14/06/2023 22:47

I was trying to rack my brains imagining this but I think pp has it right. If he was cycling from St Albans via London Colney and was trying to get back to North London via Radlett/Elstree, he might easily have ended up on the westbound entrance at junction 22.
For those people who've never been there, it genuinely doesn't look like a motorway. There's no hard shoulder at the entrance, barely any slip road and it looks like the 3rd normal roundabout exit. I've seen several learner drivers end up heading down there by mistake (and yelled at my own children to keep going round the roundabout when they were heading that way). The signage is poor but also there's no safe way of getting back off the motorway at that point as there really isn't a proper verge or hard shoulder etc.
I can see how it's possible.

I'm so glad I flipped the thread a few replies down. You've swung it for me. Great reply.

Original poster
Cycling2023 · 14/06/2023 22:50

AscensionToCheese · 14/06/2023 22:40

Crying for an hour?
Does your husband work in a job that requires no criminal record?
Kindly OP, if you have the money to pay. That will be the end of it.
What are you fearing will happen?

It's probably more the shock so I am not thinking straight. I had a long day at work too.

He works in financial services so yes..I thought traffic offences like this doesn't show up on DBS and CRB checks

OP posts:
Otarge · 14/06/2023 22:50

Most people don't want a criminal record, do they? I mean it's something most of us try to avoid.

@EggInANest if it's the roundabouts I'm thinking of it's pretty rural yeah. The road starts off as the high st, pootle pootle along, gradually fewer houses, you're pretty much in open countryside, it's like a little back A road, no path, no lights. Then you get to two roundabouts and the signage is confusing. If you go wrong on the first one you have to go to the second and the only way back is to go right round and retrace, second then first. On the second one it does show the motorway picture and the M25 but it makes it look like you have to turn right to get on it plus it doesn't give you a road numbers for the other exits, plus the road markings are all worn. So you could legitimately think you were turning onto an a road at that point but you're not, you're on the m25.

Catbumps · 14/06/2023 22:51

You’ve still not answered the question of how he phoned the police if his phone was dead.

Original poster
Cycling2023 · 14/06/2023 22:51

Russellandholmes · 14/06/2023 22:47

I was trying to rack my brains imagining this but I think pp has it right. If he was cycling from St Albans via London Colney and was trying to get back to North London via Radlett/Elstree, he might easily have ended up on the westbound entrance at junction 22.
For those people who've never been there, it genuinely doesn't look like a motorway. There's no hard shoulder at the entrance, barely any slip road and it looks like the 3rd normal roundabout exit. I've seen several learner drivers end up heading down there by mistake (and yelled at my own children to keep going round the roundabout when they were heading that way). The signage is poor but also there's no safe way of getting back off the motorway at that point as there really isn't a proper verge or hard shoulder etc.
I can see how it's possible.

We live in north London zone 3. So probably yes. I am not a cyclist so have never been with him. He has done this route before; once I took the train to st Alban's and met him there.

OP posts:
AscensionToCheese · 14/06/2023 22:52

Russellandholmes · 14/06/2023 22:47

I was trying to rack my brains imagining this but I think pp has it right. If he was cycling from St Albans via London Colney and was trying to get back to North London via Radlett/Elstree, he might easily have ended up on the westbound entrance at junction 22.
For those people who've never been there, it genuinely doesn't look like a motorway. There's no hard shoulder at the entrance, barely any slip road and it looks like the 3rd normal roundabout exit. I've seen several learner drivers end up heading down there by mistake (and yelled at my own children to keep going round the roundabout when they were heading that way). The signage is poor but also there's no safe way of getting back off the motorway at that point as there really isn't a proper verge or hard shoulder etc.
I can see how it's possible.

In that case OP what you need to do is assemble mitigating factors.
Get photos off Google Maps... see if anybody else has done the same thing. Have a quick Google, post on local FB pages?

There's a bus gate in Manchester City Centre that's notoriously misleading. Once you are heading towards it you cannot turn back after you see the sign. I got a fine and paid it/. Then Googled and realised that everyone else appealed and won as the signage was really unclear, no way to turn off unless you wanted to smash into a tram.

Cakeandcoffee93 · 14/06/2023 22:53

Was he drunk?

AscensionToCheese · 14/06/2023 22:53

Also I am not saying that what he did was right, especially as he's done the route before and knows he gets dehydrated etc etc. But if so many people get confused looks like it's an easy mistake to make.

Original poster
Cycling2023 · 14/06/2023 22:53

Catbumps · 14/06/2023 22:51

You’ve still not answered the question of how he phoned the police if his phone was dead.

One of those orange boxes where you can phone the police?

OP posts:
AnyaMarx · 14/06/2023 22:54

Op - how old is he?

Has he done anything like this before ? I'm sure he's as shaken as you and hopefully this will serve as a wake up call that he needs to plan a route , ensure he has enough water or energy drinks and a full battery in future .

Honestly - try not to stress re the fine . When the summons comes he will have an opportunity to say he would like to
Attend court and if he's contrite and says nothing like this will happen again it won't be that bad . Mags court is like a conveyer belt - one in one out ! It's easy for me to say but but try and relax and it will be fine with in a matter of weeks - it's a road traffic offence which is a different category of offence to others where dbs checks are concerned - he must declare it but it shouldn't make a difference- but don't try and hide it .

I feel for you it must be a horrible shock .

He just needs to learn from this , take the punishment on the chin for being a complete numpty and then you should forget it .
X

Dotcheck · 14/06/2023 22:54

Entitled couple… one thinking rules don’t belong to him ( I don’t buy the story either), the other ringing 101 instead of waiting for the letter.
Bonkers

notimagain · 14/06/2023 22:54

goingtotown · 14/06/2023 22:11

London to St Albans is about 40 miles. Madness in 30 degrees.

Just on addressing that point it's not really, that sort of distance, presumably mainly on the flat, even in 30 degrees, would be almost trivial to somebody suitable equipped (bike and other kit) and in decent shape.....

However as for the rest of the story.....

MidgeHardcastle · 14/06/2023 22:56

Catbumps · 14/06/2023 22:51

You’ve still not answered the question of how he phoned the police if his phone was dead.

I think that luckily that part of the M25 has a hard shoulder so he would have carried on until he came to an orange call box.

RampantIvy · 14/06/2023 22:56

Is it possible he has any undiagnosed health issues - diabetes, for example?