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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I’ve really ballsed up

55 replies

Quandary2018 · 16/03/2019 16:48

This morning I had to drop my son at football at an unfamiliar ground and then shoot off to get my daughter. I used my sat nav as didn’t know the area, followed the instructions and ended up on tram tracks- usually ok as the tram runs on the road, didn’t think anything of it until a tram hooted me
Sat nav was not saying I was doing anything wrong and I hadn’t seen any signs
Have just looked on google maps and it seems I shouldn’t have been on that particular section, that the left turn I took should have been a wider bend and I should’ve been further over as it’s a one way road- something I didn’t notice
The way I went then cut onto a one way street at a mid point so, again, didn’t see any signs but I’ve now realised it means I’ve inadvertently driven the wrong way on a one way street

I’m going to get a fine aren’t I? What an idiot

OP posts:
ghostyslovesheets · 16/03/2019 17:14

Possibly yes - Sat Navs are fine but no substitute for looking where you are driving!

Frenchmontana · 16/03/2019 17:16

So you missed 2 lots of signs?

Yeah probably a fine.

starfishmummy · 16/03/2019 17:17

Frankly for being totally unaware if your surroundings, you deserve a complete ban and not just a fine.

Sirzy · 16/03/2019 17:20

Hopefully it gives you a kick up the backside to pay attention and not blindly follow a sat nav

Lwg87 · 16/03/2019 17:22

Oh god I hate driving new places and could totally imagine this happened. As long as nobody is harmed I’d try to forget about it 😬

Isawthesignanditopenedupmyeyes · 16/03/2019 17:26

I’m a shit driver and in my time have driven down a one way street the wrong way. Never had a fine.

shouldiorshouldinot · 16/03/2019 17:27

My husband did this too, he got a fine .

NoArmaniNoPunani · 16/03/2019 17:28

You'll only get a fine if you were caught on camera.

thisismeusernameything · 16/03/2019 17:30

Why be so bloody holier than thou starfish . You’ll probably get a fine OP. Try not to beat yourself up about it. Everyone makes mistakes

TatianaLarina · 16/03/2019 17:32

Why do people follow satvnavs blindly and not read street signs?

QuitMoaning · 16/03/2019 17:34

It would appear that starfish has never made a mistake and is a perfect driver so we should take heed of her (or his) pronouncements.

picklemepopcorn · 16/03/2019 17:34

To be fair, at a complex junction it's not always easy to see which line you should take.

Were you in Nottingham, OP?

Original poster
Quandary2018 · 16/03/2019 17:38

At the point where I turned left, there were no signs saying you couldn’t, there was an arrow on the road showing I could turn left. I’ll admit, finding myself facing 3 different sets of tram lines and no discernible different route to take, then getting hooted by the tram did throw me and I just kept going until I could turn off.

Looking at the map, trams can go down the one way street as they access it a different way- like a cut through- so that would be why there wasn’t a no entry sign as I was inadvertently on the bit the tram uses.

I feel awful, I’ve never had so much as a parking ticket and can’t believe I did it. I’m going to go back down there, on the tram to have a look for myself at where i went wrong

OP posts:
Original poster
Quandary2018 · 16/03/2019 17:39

Yes, pickle, I was in Nottingham

OP posts:
PeeGreen · 16/03/2019 17:41

all the cameras are online on the local Safety Camera Partnership website.

If there was a camera you should have seen it (unless you weren't paying attention to that either)

Chances are there is not.

savageswimmer · 16/03/2019 17:42

I am from Nottingham and cars get stuck on the tram tracks fairly regularly. I bet it was near the Dunelm, always seems to happen around there.

Miljah · 16/03/2019 17:42

Cut to the end- there's been a recent court case in Chelmsford about an underpass under a railway line that only buses can use; but sat navs gaily lead you down there; however a woman just won her case against the fine stating that the signage was overwhelming, and she just didn't spot the 'buses only' signs in the mad jumble of other signs, but once you were committed, thee was nowhere to turn to get out of it.

GiantKitten · 16/03/2019 17:46

Quandary2018 going by some other posters the fault is not yours so don't beat yourself up Flowers You might or might not get a fine but if you do the only hit is financial.

(I hate driving on strange roads which are only easy for those who are familiar!)

Casiloco · 16/03/2019 17:48

MN saints and judges out in force I see.

There are worse things, OP, don't worry Flowers

Userplusnumbers · 16/03/2019 17:50

I was going to ask the exact same question as @pickle - I wouldn't worry too much, happens fairly regularly. When I first moved to Nottingham I did it about three times in different places!

Thankful I've never caused an accident, who knows what punishment @starfish ould be braying for? Three generations of my family executed perhaps?!

Original poster
Quandary2018 · 16/03/2019 17:51

This is the left turn whilst waiting at the lights and then what I saw after I turned left.
There were cars parked up along the right hand side of the tram stop to the right and I didn’t see the road was there and not where the tram runs
It’s not unusual to be able to drive on the tram lines here so I just thought that was the way to go

I’ve really ballsed up
I’ve really ballsed up
OP posts:
Original poster
Quandary2018 · 16/03/2019 17:52

Hopefully the pics have posted but I can’t see them!

OP posts:
Stripyhoglets · 16/03/2019 17:53

Ah that sort of thing happens to me in new places - I've accidentally driven down a few bus only roads and luckily not had a fine so hopefully you won't!

TooStressyTooMessy · 16/03/2019 17:53

I thought it would be somewhere like Nottingham. Terrible signage! Hope you are ok OP.

Userplusnumbers · 16/03/2019 17:54

Oh! At the forest rec!! I used to live opposite there, happens all the time, and yes, it's a bit unclear if you're turning left as you actually have to cut across both sets of tram tracks then turn left (whereas if you're turning right you'd just drive along the tram track)