Really scared, will I get points for this?

[itsallaboutthebass3]

Hi

im an absolute worrier and don’t know if I’m worrying about nothing but just hoping someone has experience or knowledge about this and can help

I was driving this morning on the motorway (to work) and the roads were horrendous. Snow, ice, slush, just awful. Everyone was doing 15mph in one lane because it was so dangerous. My car skidded slightly a few times and then at one point skidded and went towardd the hard shoulder. I’ll admit I got such a fright, not sure why as I’m an experienced driver but it was just quite scary and I sat on the hard shoulder for a few minutes with my hazards on having a bit of a cry because every time I tried to move my car it just kept skidding and I was really frightened. After a few minutes with my hazards on I managed to get the car started and marge onto the motorway (there was a break in the traffic)

sounds a bit stupid but I’m worried sick now that I’ll get caught sitting on the hard shoulder because technically it’s illegal and it looks like I just sat there with the hazards on and drove off a few minutes later so doesn’t look like I broke down. I didn’t see any police cars but I think the motorway has cameras on it (not sure if it’s a smart motorway or not)

does anyone have any experience or knowledge of this? Am I likely to have been caught on the motorway camera and get points? I live in Scotland if that makes a difference

the reason I’m particularly worried is I already have 3 points from a stupid mistake accidentally speeding and I cannot get another 3 points

has anyone else ever parked in the hard shoulder and been ok? Just got myself really worried and could do with a bit of reassurance, haha

thanks in advance ❤️

Surely you just say you were having car trouble and got it restarted if contacted?

I had no idea this was an issue. I’ve parked on the hard shoulder after warning lights came on, then carried on. Nothing happened.

Yep if anyone ever asks (unlikely they will) say you were having car trouble that you resolved and moved on. It’s true - your car was skidding around uncontrollably and you needed a minute to resolve that (by taking a break and finding your confidence to continue).

This is what the hard shoulder is for, for breakdowns, car issues etc so you're out of the way. You'll be absolutely fine xxx

Technically yes, you can be fined and/or get points for stopping on the hard shoulder unless it’s an emergency.

It is highly unlikely you will be contacted.

If you are, say the warning light came on (it probably did if you were skidding) so you paused to see if it would go off to make sure the car was safe to drive on. In other words, you thought the car had a fault which was an emergency.

I wouldn’t mention my nerves or crying as that would not be seen as an emergency.

But honestly, put it out of your mind.

I will confess this to make you feel better....

I was sat in traffic and could see my exit ahead of me. Lots of people were using the hard shoulder to exit the motorway which I was very disapproving of. Eventually my impatience got the better of me and I went for it.

As I'm driving down the hard shoulder a fire engine with flashing lights appears in my mirror.

I managed to exit before they reached me but honestly I was convinced I was going to get a ticket in the post.

I didn't... so if I didn't, I very much doubt you'll hear anything!! I was actually breaking the law!

And for anyone disapproving.... I know, I was wrong, and I will honestly never do it again as even thinking about it has raised my heart rate!!

You wouldn't get points, points are usually if there are obvious breaches - such as using the hard shoulder to avoid traffic, having a picnic (yes it happens!) etc
Breakdowns aren't always something you can check by getting out of the car. There can also be other emergency reasons you need to pull over - my dad has asthma and sometimes can have coughing fits that are hard to control and he needs to use an inhaler. It's rare that it gets that bad and it hasn't happened on a motorway (touch wood!) but if it did he would need to.

Also while hard shoulders are for an emergency, being temporarily unable to drive safely while doing 70mph kind of is pretty urgent!

I wouldn’t worry about this at all, the hard shoulder is for emergencies and your car sliding on ice dangerously on the motorway is an emergency- it was sensible to stop and get control of your vehicle before driving off, if you did happen to be contacted (which I doubt) just tell them that.

Given the road conditions you could’ve caused an accident had you not stopped, you did the right thing.

I think you did the right thing. You were in temporary shock and waited til that had subsided before safely moving off. You have nothing to worry about imo - you did the safest thing to resume your journey once it felt safe to do so.

I think you were quite right to use the hard shoulder to sort yourself out. However I think it might be worth having your tires checked. I’ve only had trouble in snow when my tires have been a bit worn (or when driving DH’s horrible rear wheel drive car).

You sound like a very nervous driver. Maybe book some advanced driving lessons or specific lessons on driving in poor conditions if you have to be on the roads. And yes, your car sounds poorly maintained if it’s skidding at slow speeds on a major road.

I’m not a nervous driver, but thanks

tyres are fine, my car isn’t poorly maintained, it’s a rear wheel drive and the motorway is in rural Scotland and the roads were horrendous, it wasn’t just me who was struggling, lots of people were skidding

and I didn’t dramatically swerve or skid off the road it was just like small skids were the car was going underneath me and it suddenly skidded slightly but took me towards the hard shoulder

Thanks everyone I feel a lot better now!

the warning light actually did come on - I forgot to say that! 🤦‍♀️There was a lot of lights on my dashboard and there was the orange skidding light too

thanks again everyone, x

You behaved sensibly and in the very unlikely event of any trouble you should appeal.

FYI Some Scottish motorways are more like English b-roads. And the weather is absolute shit today. A nasty combination at any time. Hope that helps with your judgy tone.

@itsallaboutthebass3 why can you absolutely not have 6 points on your licence? It isn't the end of the world.

Surely waiting for anxiety to subside after a frightening incident IS an emergency. Or should you have continued to drive with a fast beating heart and slower reaction time?

Thanks for your judgy tone. I live in rural Aberdeenshire and have been driving here for over 40 years.

Agree with this. Put it behind you OP and move on

No, you won't get points. Motorway cameras aren't used for that purpose anyway.

You also did the right thing in not pulling off until you felt safe to do so. Feeling too shaky after a near miss to drive is a very good reason to be using the hard shoulder.

You were having issues with your car. You moved over onto the hard shoulder for the purpose for which it was meant. You resolved the issue and moved off safely.
That is not an offence.

That is a wild exaggeration. Do many English B roads have hard shoulders?