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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Driving the wrong way down a one way street? (Diagram)

174 replies

OneWayDriver · 26/01/2022 16:22

NC for this as I'm embarrassed if I'm driving the wrong way down a one way street every day.

The attached road sign is what the angry drivers see when I am coming the other way. They wind their windows down and yell at me that it's a one way street. This happens most days.

I think the sign means they need to turn left at the top of the street and the street itself isn't one way.

There isn't a no entry ⛔️ sign when I drive from my house and down this street.

AIBU to drive this way? I've been shouted and sworn at so many times I'm starting to think the sign must mean the street is one way.

Diagram also attached.

Driving the wrong way down a one way street? (Diagram)
Driving the wrong way down a one way street? (Diagram)
OP posts:
Thread gallery
17
blacksax · 26/01/2022 18:10

Judging by the direction the parked cars are facing, I think it probably is a one way street.

Why don't you write to the council and ask them?

lanthanum · 26/01/2022 18:10

@RandomLondoner

What are the road markings when you get to the end of the road? Is there a give way line/sign or a stop line/sign? This will tell you

If it's a one way, there needs to be a way to tell where OP enters it, an indication (official or not) at the end is of no use to anyone.

Even if it's meant to be one way, if there are no explicit signs saying so, it isn't.

But OP is entering it from her property, not a road. We used to live on a one-way which was three sides of a rectangle, plus a couple of dead ends. It was clearly sign-posted at the entrance, but not at every corner, because anyone who started from partway round must previously have entered from the main road.

Road markings at the end of the road where it joins the main road will tell you - there must be a stop/give way line in the "going out" direction if it is really two-way.

daimbarsatemydogsbone · 26/01/2022 18:12

there must be a stop/give way line in the "going out" direction if it is really two-way.
Incorrect - read the thread (or google unmarked junctions).

SamphiretheStickerist · 26/01/2022 18:12

@blacksax

Judging by the direction the parked cars are facing, I think it probably is a one way street.

Why don't you write to the council and ask them?

Madness. Sheer unadulterated madness.
daimbarsatemydogsbone · 26/01/2022 18:13

@blacksax

Judging by the direction the parked cars are facing, I think it probably is a one way street.

Why don't you write to the council and ask them?

There's no need, it is clearly a two way street.
SamphiretheStickerist · 26/01/2022 18:14

@daimbarsatemydogsbone

there must be a stop/give way line in the "going out" direction if it is really two-way. Incorrect - read the thread (or google unmarked junctions).
Absolutely. Just like parked cars, the absence tells you nothing. It's their being in place that confirms something
daimbarsatemydogsbone · 26/01/2022 18:14

But OP is entering it from her property, not a road.
If I understood the diagram she turns from the one way square into the two way road at a junction. There is no no-entry sign prohibiting that so it's two way.

RandomMess · 26/01/2022 18:15

I would ask the council to put up clear signage that it's a two street.

I would also print off evidence and wave it at them. Get out the car and hand it over. Kill them with kindness and education 🤣

BlackboardMonitorVimes · 26/01/2022 18:16

@OneWayDriver I would carry on and ignore them. Smile and nod each time. Anyone who lives there knows how to actually drive it, anyone else is using it as a cut through and should be considered a twat. Wink

Can you still go round through the top right corner of the square? That might be an annoying yet not too long alternative.

RandomMess · 26/01/2022 18:17

A proper street sign of this is required

https://www.safetysigns4less.co.uk/Traffic-and-Parking-Signs/Reflective-Traffic-Signs/Two-Way-Traffic?utmsource=google&utmmmedium=productfeeddorlistings&pl=STD&ccv=Y&gclid=Cj0KCQiAA8OPBhDtARIsAKQu0gbb9NncqRwZdpAvtWXAqyuzYTYiapTHmDpy4zHufhoxjsaJLbbzoQaAkxgEALwwwcB

I would be telling the council there keeps being near misses due to the rat run folk assuming it's one way.

LookItsMeAgain · 26/01/2022 18:17

Based on the post that @dementedpixie posted at 17:25 and the first photo in that, it would have me believe that the direction the parked cars are facing is the direction of the street. The sign saying "One Way" and the left turn sign is what you do at the end of that street (which I'm guessing is the part of the roads network that you are coming from your house on and would pass this particular street if you were to continue straight on and then turn right to follow the rest of the one way traffic). That sign is telling the drivers who are on this road that they can't turn right (which I'm guessing is the direction your house is in) and can only turn left when they get to the top of that street.
It is not for you to be turning left from your house to travel down, as I feel you're driving the wrong direction (irrespective of what your sat nav might be directing you to do).

You should contact your roads section in your local council and get them to paint on the road surface the markings that indicate whether your supposed to enter/exit that road.

_

  • - - - - - - - - - - - - -
If the above was painted at the junction of the road that is nearest your house, you wouldn't be able to enter that lane and vehicles on that lane would be allowed to exit the lane to join the road nearest your house.
  • - - - - - - - - - - -
______ If this was painted on the road at the same junction that you turn left from the direction of your house, then you would be allowed to drive on this laneway/one way road.

Are there any similar road markings at either end of this road?

whiteworldgettingwhiter · 26/01/2022 18:18

There are no give way markings on the road you've been driving down when it meets the main road, which suggests it's one way and you're going the wrong way... but I agree it could all be clearer.

Is there no one way sign at the entrance to that road, coming off the main road? Sorry if this has been answered.

Original poster
OneWayDriver · 26/01/2022 18:19

@RandomMess

A proper street sign of this is required

https://www.safetysigns4less.co.uk/Traffic-and-Parking-Signs/Reflective-Traffic-Signs/Two-Way-Traffic?utmsource=google&utmmmedium=productfeeddorlistings&pl=STD&ccv=Y&gclid=Cj0KCQiAA8OPBhDtARIsAKQu0gbb9NncqRwZdpAvtWXAqyuzYTYiapTHmDpy4zHufhoxjsaJLbbzoQaAkxgEALwwwcB

I would be telling the council there keeps being near misses due to the rat run folk assuming it's one way.

Thanks I am tempted to buy it myself! Great idea to let the council know.
OP posts:
Getyourjinglebellsinarow · 26/01/2022 18:20

YANBU we have a similar road here. If you enter from one side its one way, but a small section of it is 2 way, so you can get to the doctors from both sides. It's clearer that it's turned into two lanes in ours though. Might be worth letting your LA know about the lack of understanding as cars barrelling down expecting no oncoming traffic is dangerous.

Whingasaurus · 26/01/2022 18:32

I'd definitely contact the council OP Brighton & Hove are super car friendly and they'll definitely help a driver in need. Either that or once there's an accident they'll sign post it as one way but honestly just stop you're being a bit of an arse

FatFredsFriedEgg · 26/01/2022 18:34

Replacing the 'Turn Left' and 'One way' signs with a 'No Right Turn' sign at the north end of the road would probably make it less confusing. As it is the only sign anyone sees on the road is the 'One way' text and a blue sign, which is obviously (judging by comments on this thread) open to misinterpretation.

KatherineofGaunt · 26/01/2022 18:42

If it wasn't a two-way street there should be a) a blue/white arrow sign at the end the other drivers are coming from and b) a 'no left turn' sign when the OP leaves their house and tries to turn down the road in question. In the absence of either of those, I'd assume two-way.

Ignore the men drivers who think they're right.

Original poster
OneWayDriver · 26/01/2022 18:46

It's always men who shout at me come to think of it. Very rarely women.

OP posts:
Dibbydoos · 26/01/2022 18:48

I think it's one way, there are no markings on that road just parking areas. To confirm ask the local authority. It may be they didn't put a no entry up because the whole loop is one way.

knittingaddict · 26/01/2022 18:49

@pencilpot99

It's a two-way street. There is nothing indicating that isn't the case. There's a lots of streets like this near where I live (Cotwolds, old towns and villages with narrow roads) that are 100% definitely two-way. Just because it's narrow with no lines painted on it doesn't make any difference.
I was also going to comment that the narrowness of the roads mean nothing. there are lots of narrow streets like this in our city. Two cars can't pass each other in the same section, but it's still two way.
CovidCorvid · 26/01/2022 18:50

I’d contact the council and ask for clarification.

knittingaddict · 26/01/2022 18:56

I got abuse from a driver for going in the bus lane when the bus lane wasn't operating. The unfairness of it rankled all day. People should really learn how to read road signs properly.

AgathaAllAlong · 26/01/2022 18:56

I have nothing to contribute to your actual dilemma, but you should definitely start singing this at top volume to the aggressive drivers:

m.youtube.com/watch?v=LW7Iv-V1-Jo

Original poster
OneWayDriver · 26/01/2022 19:02

@knittingaddict

I got abuse from a driver for going in the bus lane when the bus lane wasn't operating. The unfairness of it rankled all day. People should really learn how to read road signs properly.
I hear you. It's a really unpleasant start to the day isn't it?
OP posts:
daimbarsatemydogsbone · 26/01/2022 19:20

@OneWayDriver

It's always men who shout at me come to think of it. Very rarely women.
I am a man and I think you are 100% correct