to not really understand the M25?

[bonkers20]

I just don't get all that Eastbound/Westbound stuff.
Then they talk about hold ups clockwise between junctions 3 and 4 and I don't have a clue whether I'm going clockwise or anticlockwise.

I can only think of north as the way I'm going and east as right and west as left. I KNOW it's not right, but it's so hard to turn the map round in my head mentally.

I need signs that say "This way bonkers".

It's not only me is it?

I don't understand how you can't know whether you are going clockwise or anti-clockwise!

Once when I was driving her along the M25, my Grandma (who won't drive on motorways - thank God!) suddenly piped up 'How did those people get over there', pointing at the cars on the opposite carriageway. My face was like this as I tried to work out where to start explaining.
She also doesn't understand that you have to turn off a motorway first on the sliproad, and that that will always be left, even if the road you want to go along is then right off the roundabout/junction. It is frightening. God only knows where she would end up if we put her on the M25 - going around in circles until she ran out of petrol I suspect!!

Ahh, LyingWitch, you must not have been the first then.

If you are going from 12 oclcock to 9 oclock then you are going anti clockwise and from 12 to 3 is clockwise. If you are on 24 hour clock you are buggered

All I need to know about the M25 is I dive on from the A127 to get to Lakeside or across that pesky bridge for Bluewater.

I did look at the QE 2 Bridge/Dartford Crossing and think 'no way am I driving on that.
They used to charge £1 to cover costs until the bridge was paid for.
Then the price was racked up 50%.
Bridge is 20 years old now,so long paid off.

AliBaba You just reminded me of my mum, going down the M1 recently.

I'm driving, she's in the passenger seat.
She suddenly points at a car, starts scrabbling for her bag and shouts "Oh my god! Better call the police, that car is on the wrong side of the road!!"

I had to calmly point out that they werent on the wrong side of the carriageway, we're going through the roadworks where it splits off the right hand lane the other side of lots of cones etc.

I know two different people who missed their exits on the M25 and instead of coming off at the next one and turning back, decided to just keep going until they came to the correct exit again (many hours later!)

Darft you are joking! Why the fuck didn't they turn around??

Imagine the M25 as a big clock. North being 12o'clock and South being 6, then East being 3 and West being 9. Clockwise would be going, well clockwise on the clock.

I can't believe I am posting this actually .....

I'm so old I remember when the M25 was being built
It's not that old - wasn't finished till 1986. (I walked on the M62 before it was opened).

Before then, to avoid the North Circular if travelling from say Essex to Cornwall the procedure was to get up at 4am, and go right through the middle, along the Embankment.

lordoftheflies you must be local to me! I join the m25 from the A127.
Right then, for those who know this M24 shite. I join at the A127 & go towards the m4. Not the dartford tunnel way though. The other way. What way am I going clockwise or anticlockwise?

I did this journey going on Sat & returned on Mon btw!

A friend of mine did that darft, dippy cow (her not you).

I meant M25 up there

gand, you would be heading anti clockwise,

i love the m25, but then i only get to travel on it about 6 times a year,
not sure i could do it as part of a daily grind.

thank you onetoomanytoo
I have just driven it in my head & it makes sense as I'm actually going anticlockwise.
Ohh, well, I've lived this way for 12 years & I now know!
goes off to bed happily in her m25 knowledge!

"not sure i could do it as part of a daily grind"

I used to drive from Enfield to Heathrow and back again every day.

Never again

lordoftheflies I've heard they're going to put it up by another 50p to "reduce congestion" because of course by increasing the price, all those people who need to get to the other side will suddenly decide not to

I'm the other side of the river to you, so for me Lakeside is the one with the bridge and required toll. But knowing that I would join at junction 1 (and that Lakeside is 31 or something) makes it nice and easy for me to remember what goes where when I hear traffic reports. Usually.

GandTiceandaslice - anticlockwise because the junction numbers are going down. 31 or whatever down to, I dunno, 15 or whatever the M4 might be. Clockwise numbers go up. Plus you're going from 3pm to 9am on the hands of a clock, so back in time, so anticlockwise. Clockwise is forward in time!

Agreed about the confusing American roads that seem to be both South and West at the same time. I'm sure it's all fine once you're used to a certain area, but navigating on your own in the car in an unfamiliar place is.. interesting.

you are right WasSparklies. It's going up to £2.00 soon & then next year to £2.50.
They will stop the tolls & let traffic through, once the tailback is 12 miles long. Lovely.
I only go that way to gp to Bluewater.
But dh used Gatwick quite a lot. He adds extra time just incase he has massive delays there.

I can easily work out if I'm going clockwise or anti-clockwise but only after I have said it out loud and drawn my journey with my finger round the steering wheel

And this is the girl who drove from the A13 to Reigate on it every morning for 5 years and still uses it about three times a week now.

M25 is easy - it's the only motorway we have, where you end up back where you started if you can't work out where to exit.

Honestly - the junctions are numbered, the numbers are displayed on the signs. You just count until you reach the one you want.

But Curry, you are clever. Not get off that iphone in bed & go to sleep!

Is that you mom?

yes.
Goodnight!

I drove all the way round the M60. Twice
I was happily singing away and totally oblivious to the fact I'd done about 100 miles more than I needed to
And I just broke my sat nav, so I'm screwed now

OP here!

I think my problem is that I join the M25 from the North ie I am driving South, but becauase in my head forward is North everything is arse about tit. I KNOW this isn't right, but honestly, I struggle to turn it round in my head.

So, mostly I drive towards Heathrow. This is Westbound and means I am driving anticlockwise, but when I'm in the car I've turned RIGHT onto the M25 and in my head if I'm driving right around a clock that's Eastbound and clockwise. I know it's wrong, but when you head the traffic report I really stuggle to get my head around it.

I'm going to go back up thread and find the person who said if the junction #s are increasing it's clockwise/anticlock (I can't remember which) and vice versa. I like that.

Coming out of Heathrow I need to take the M40 I think and there's a junction where you have to decide East or Westbound. Haven't a clue! I've guessed more than once there.

I would like to add that none of this prevents me from doing anything - it might just take me longer to get there!

Ha ha, just read the thread. Thanks for the laughs. I know I am stupid spacially challenged but I see there are some other daft bints here as well!