Motorway roundabout, any help much appreciated.

[Rubyfw5]

An 18yr old on a 125cc motorbike using a roundabout that goes from an A road to a roundabout where the first exit is for the motorway and the middle one is the services where he works and then the roundabout goes to the motorway in the other direction. 18 year old hasn't been on the motorway, just using the roundabout to get to work. He's been stopped by the police and is looking at three points and a fine and now can't get to work as the roundabout is classed as part of the motorway. M20 junction 8 services if that helps. Can anyone advise if we've any chance to appeal this please? 🙏

Where was he stopped? What does the ticket say the offense was?

Has 18 year old passed his test? Where was he stopped?

The internet tells us this:

Location:
M20 at J8
(also accessible to traffic on the A20, but via a short section of motorway)

Signposted from the road.

https://motorwayservices.uk/Maidstone#google_vignette

he presumably uses the A20 which as per the above has a short section of motorway - so therefore the points would be valid

From looking on Google maps the motorway starts the roundabout on A20 before the services,

It's weird though, I've just looked it up on Google maps and they usually have a "no non motorway traffic" sign or similar to indicate when non-motorway traffic has to exit or isn't allowed to join and I can't see any sign?

I looked coming from the south on the A20, but I literally used Streetview to view the whole thing and I can't see how he would have known? The roundabout had one blue sign but the other sign was white like normal and directions to a motorway are blue as well as the signs on the motorway.

now can't get to work as the roundabout is classed as part of the motorway
Would the employer be any help? I presume that they will be miffed if this causes problems with getting staff.

Agree it's a very weird section!

Contact National Highways to see if they can help.

Isn't there a back gate for staff to access the services, which means not going on the motorway at al?

Failing that, could he appeal?

Whilst the signage does not appear to be ideal, the short stretch of dual carriageway from the A20 roundabout to the services is shown as motorway on the roundabout signs on the A20. He has therefore ridden his motorbike along the motorway. However, that brings me to my question...

@Rubyfw5 - What is the alleged offence? A 125cc motorbike is legal for use on motorways. Does he have a full motorcycle license?

@prh47bridge@prh47bridge

My understanding is you can only have a motorway if there is an alternative route for non-motorway traffic.
So, where is the alternative to that A20 stretch that seems to be the issue?

Well that was a disaster! Tagged the wrong poster the second time and couldn't delete the name.
Anyway, thank you for all responses. It is a very strange bit of road, I've never noticed it was part of the motorway. I will drive round the roundabout after work tomorrow, see if I can be a bit more observant!

@prh47bridge , he's not on a full licence yet so I imagine that's the charge 😞.

@senua I've suggested that, we will see..

Thank you all again, looks like he may be bang to rights though.

@BuddingPeonies , thank you for posting, you've alerted me that I didn't actually post my last post 🤦.

The stretch of motorway in question leads to the M20 and the motorway service station. An alternative route to the service station is not required. The A20 is the alternative to the motorway.

@Rubyfw5 If he hasn't passed his motorcycle test, it looks like he has committed an offence. There are lawyers who specialise in road traffic offences. They may be able to spot a loophole. But he may have to take his punishment and find another way to get to work until he passes his test.

It looks like the A20 continues alongside the M20 at that point, so the alternative route as such would be just not coming off at that roundabout and continuing on the A20. It's not a through road, and other than entering the M20 itself the only other option off the roundabout is the motorway services.

Having looked at the signage when coming to the roundabout from the A20 it does specify you're entering a motorway.

There isn’t always ‘non motorway’ signage, as those are information about alternative routes.
The blue motorway signs are the indication that only suitable traffic can use the route.

Services sometimes have a non-motorway ‘secret’ access route, partially for staff access and also sometimes when a motorway hotel is only on one side with a long distance to the next junction, which can allow overnight residents a shortcut to get back to the opposite side.

It looks like J8 doesn’t have an access road, it’s also surrounded by railways which could impact on the practicality.

@Rubyfw5 There’s probably not a lot that can be done. He was on the motorway as the last segment of the A20 from the previous roundabout is the final part of dual carriageway.
If a member can comment with better legal
advice they could confirm if there are any prospect of appealing points but he was on a segment of motorway, and is presumably a repeat ‘offender’ who’s just been caught.

The issue should be brought up with the employers, as now he is unable to ride to work and he probably isn’t the only one who shouldn’t be on the motorway.
They may be able to do something to transport staff

It's odd that that sections needs to be a motorway, it's doesn't look like one and seems to be one in name only. So odd and I really feel for you and your son.

So he was coming from Harrietsham/Leeds/Bearsted way to get to work at the services? Does he have proof of employment and home address? Could he use this to prove his route to the roundabout?

Seems a bit unfair!

@BusyCM just in case anyone that knows him reads this, and it is a bit identifying potentially, he's not my son. And yes, it's a really odd bit of road. Thank you.

Most motorway services have a private access road which usually enters at the rear and is protected by a barrier (to prevent the public going through), does this services not have anything similar?

No, it does not. The only access to these services is via the M20.

That doesn't help. His route was along a short stretch of motorway. If he does not have a full license for his motorbike, he committed an offence by riding along that section. The signage could be better, but it is clear from the signs that are in place that the short stretch from the A20 roundabout to the services roundabout is part of the M20.

I'm stumped OP. When you use the Sat Nav to the services and chose avoid motorways.. it still takes you on that stretch of road towards the roundabout!

I hope he gets it sorted. I had no clue approaching the round about was apart of the M20 until this thread!

@doingitbythebookthistime we had a similar issue when my DS was learning to drive. We put a route in to ‘avoid motorways’. We have an A road that has a small section of motorway way A58(M) and the sat nav still takes you that way.