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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be pooing myself about this!

37 replies

NewMoonSOS · 22/06/2019 16:02

Today I did the stupidest driving thing I've ever done - I pulled into a one way street the wrong way.

I had never been to this town before and was very flustered, and there was an arrow saying the car park was left - turned out it was the second left, not the first. The first left was a one way road.

I pulled into it and realised my mistake and panicked. A parking warden then came and said I needed to reverse out, which was on to a busy road. Other cars were hooting and it was very embarrassing.

I pulled over afterwards and cried. I am also scared I am going to get a fine and points on my licence for this - lots of people saw this happen and there are cameras everywhere these days. I alrady have dozens of things to worry about. What is the punishment likely to be? :(

OP posts:
VivienneHolt · 22/06/2019 16:05

Very unlikely to be anything at all - most one way systems don’t have cameras or fines.

These things happen and you dealt with it as best you could - cut yourself some slack!

CaptainButtock · 22/06/2019 16:10

Yep...pls don’t be so tough on yourself. Everyone fucks up from time to time..it’s how you deal with it that matters.
I wld be extremely surprised if you got in trouble for it. A lot of —blokes— people wld laugh it off.
No harm done x

CaptainButtock · 22/06/2019 16:11

Gah. Strikethrough fail.

Sparklesocks · 22/06/2019 16:23

Sometimes we make driving mistakes, it happens and it can be very stressful - but the important thing is nobody was hurt and there was no fallout apart from a few angry drivers.
I would be surprised if you got fined for it.

It’s easy to panic when we realise we have made a mistake and often that makes it worse as we aren’t thinking straight and struggle to rectify it. In future, I know it’s easier said than done, but if it happens again take a deep breath and stay calm, and do what you can to rectify it.

Aquamarine1029 · 22/06/2019 16:24

Nothing is going to happen. It was just a mistake. Calm down.

Rowennaravenclaw · 22/06/2019 16:26

Nothing’s going to happen it was no biggie. I’ve done it quite a lot over the years. Worst I got was some angry tooting!

TheCrowFromBelow · 22/06/2019 16:46

I did it in lewisham, turned left into 3 lanes of stationary traffic facing me.
It was quite a surprise for all of us.
DS1 was 6 weeks old and I really shouldn’t have been driving.

Walkamileinmyshoesbeforeujudge · 22/06/2019 16:47

Being mortified was your punishment op..

Pinkmouse6 · 22/06/2019 16:48

Nothing will happen. Even the most experienced drivers make mistakes sometimes, don’t beat yourself up.

QuestionableMouse · 22/06/2019 16:50

I did it a while ago at uni. We'd been getting directed down a one way street due to road works and I hadn't realised. (late, pitch black and raining so the signs were basically hidden.)

Stuff happens. Don't worry about it. Next time you'll check and it won't happen.

WhichHorseShallIChoose · 22/06/2019 16:57

I was coming off a motorway slip road, waiting at the traffic lights, when a car came up the wrong way at speed.
Frightened me to death.
Thinking about it, the driver was very lucky vehicles were waiting at the lights, otherwise they would have driven up onto the motorway.

Slippershoes · 22/06/2019 16:58

Don't worry, even though that probably won't stop you worrying. I live on a one way street and it happens many times a day. Sometimes repeat council offenders so probs unlikely anything will happen.
Mistakes happen, it's not a hanging offence.

DiaryofWimpyMumm · 22/06/2019 17:04

I drove out of a one way system the wrong way when I was pregnant, when it was pointed out to me I knew right away I had done it. Don't worry nothing will happen

Topseyt · 22/06/2019 17:10

I very much doubt that there will be any punishment. You owned your mistake and put it right.

Many years ago when we were young drivers I was navigating DH through central London. We accidentally turned the wrong way up Baker Street!! We pulled over as far as possible and stopped, and put it right by swinging round quickly at the first opportunity.

A few years later we were trying to navigate through Dublin with a street map (no satnav in those days) and managed to turn into Grafton Street, which is the main shopping street and is traffic free. We were helped off it by a lovely policeman who was on foot patrol and who gave us directions for how to get to where we needed to be.

No punishments for those.

I can't say the same for a genuine mistake DH made more recently (25 years on). His Satnav actually took him onto a road in Colchester (about an hour's drive from us) which turned out to be only for buses. He carefully put the mistake right as soon as he safely could, but it had been caught on a traffic cam and he got a fine in the post.

I still think it is unlikely you will get anything. Even if you do, it is most likely to simply be a fine, with no other repercussions.

Lindy2 · 22/06/2019 17:10

No one is perfect. I think all drivers have had a moment where they've temporarily cocked up at some stage whilst driving. It's easy to do in an area you don't know. Luckily mostly the end result is just a bit of stress and embarassment.
The parking warden is only interested in issuing parking tickets so they won't do anything more.

Disfordarkchocolate · 22/06/2019 17:14

I once drown down a bus lane after accidentally driving over a bridge I didn't want too. I was mightily embarrassed until my FIL (drove for a living) said he'd done the same, it was one of those times you have to be psychic to know when to change lanes in time.

StillNumb · 22/06/2019 17:14

I know the city I live in very well, but years ago I turned the wrong way into a two lane one way street, right in front of a police car! They stopped me, I apologised, they asked if I needed directions. I said 'no, no, I know where I am going'! They laughed at me and sent me on my way. I am sure nothing else will happen.

Justathinslice · 22/06/2019 17:17

I've driven in bus lanes, down a pedestrianised section of the high street ( at night...phew!).... we all make mistakes.

23goingon93 · 22/06/2019 17:17

I turned right into a road of oncoming traffic when I just passed! Don't worry about it x

cantfindname · 22/06/2019 17:28

I drove the correct way into a one-way street (blind bend) only to find a Police car coming towards me. I did an emergency stop, rolled down window and shouted 'It's ONE way.. the other way!!' Copper went scarlet, apologised profusely and reversed.

We can all make a mistake.

MaterEstIratus · 22/06/2019 17:29

I also did this once in front of a Police Car. I was so lost that I was almost in tears. They were very nice about it.

ragged · 22/06/2019 17:30

I've done it. Last time was at least 25 yrs ago, I suppose.

Ginger1982 · 22/06/2019 17:32

Lol, stop worrying about it. I'm a lawyer and once did this outside a court where a bunch of policemen were standing. One came over and told me, rather aggressively, to 'pay attention.' I really hoped he was going to be a witness in my case so I could cross examine him but sadly it wasn't to be! 😆

happycactus · 22/06/2019 17:40

I once did this and was met by a police officer who was travelling the right way down the road. The road had recently changed to a one way street and I obviously wasn't concentrating. He stopped the traffic, gave me a lecture and then sent me on my way. We all make mistakes.

BrightYellowDaffodil · 22/06/2019 17:45

Calm down. You aren't going to get points on your licence or charge you with anything. Yes, you do need to take care to look at road signs when turning into a road, but I bet there aren't many drivers who haven't done something similar. Hell, I live on a one-way road and even I'VE done it!

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