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Original poster

Do you think I'm right to appeal or should I pay?

29 replies

Ivebeenframed · 23/03/2023 10:47

My 3 month old grandson recently got rushed into hospital with a hernia which required emergency surgery. My daughter obviously stayed with him during his stay.
She's a single parent with two other young children who myself and ex took in while she was in the hospital.
I had to take one of them to school, didn't know where I was going so followed the sat nav.
I have just received a fine from the local council for driving in a pedestrian only zone. My sat nav didn't alert me to this and my daughter, being in a state of panic and worried about her baby didn't think to warn me about it. (She also doesn't drive).
Should I appeal the fine?

OP posts:
MrsMontyD · 23/03/2023 10:49

If you drove in the pedestrian only zone you should pay, the rest of the OP is irrelevant to the driving issue.

Dutchesss · 23/03/2023 10:50

If signage was inadequate, but following a sat nav isn't an excuse for going against road signs so I wouldn't appeal on that basis.

anon37484291918 · 23/03/2023 10:52

You were driving in a pedestrian only zone so you need to pay the fine.

There would have been several signs in the area.

GCWorkNightmare · 23/03/2023 10:53

My sat nav didn't alert me to this

Road signs would have.

Snoken · 23/03/2023 11:42

90% of your post is completely irrelevant and form no grounds for an appeal. You have to go back and see if there are any signs saying that there is a pedestrianised section there. Your SatNav probably isn't updated, but even if it was you can't trust it blindly. You have to use common sense.

SleepingisanArt · 23/03/2023 11:47

You will only win an appeal if you can prove there wasn't adequate signage. Unlikely you will be able to do so. Just pay the fine.

Quveas · 23/03/2023 11:52

This reminds me of a true story, back in the very earliest of days of sat navs, when a guy in Europe drove off the end of a ferry jetty because the sat nav told him to go stright ahead (he was supposed to wait for the ferry before doing that!).

Unless the sat nav was driving, then it was up to you to know where a pedestrian zone is and be watching the road and signage. My sat nav doesn't tell me where bus lanes are, so I use my eyes to spot them....

Hoppinggreen · 23/03/2023 12:00

I hope your Grandson is ok now
I think that as you did commit the offence you do need to pay. Sat Navs can tell you to do strange things and it’s up to the driver in the end

ichundich · 23/03/2023 12:01

Ivebeenframed · 23/03/2023 10:47

My 3 month old grandson recently got rushed into hospital with a hernia which required emergency surgery. My daughter obviously stayed with him during his stay.
She's a single parent with two other young children who myself and ex took in while she was in the hospital.
I had to take one of them to school, didn't know where I was going so followed the sat nav.
I have just received a fine from the local council for driving in a pedestrian only zone. My sat nav didn't alert me to this and my daughter, being in a state of panic and worried about her baby didn't think to warn me about it. (She also doesn't drive).
Should I appeal the fine?

Your circumstances were unfortunate but totally irrelevant; you must always drive safely, which includes adhering the road signs.

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 23/03/2023 12:02

Tbf this is the same excuse people used when they were driving into lakes and rivers etc. You can't blindly follow the satnav and still need to follow signs

Custardbanana · 23/03/2023 12:02

Read the road not the sat nav. Unless you can prove the signs are inadequate then you should pay the fine.

cocksstrideintheevening · 23/03/2023 12:03

You need to pay. Most of your post is irrelevant.

Lougle · 23/03/2023 12:05

Unfortunately you need to pay. I use the sat nav on my route to DD1's college. It always directs me down a 'no right turn' road. I have to ignore it and obey the road signs.

Purplecatshopaholic · 23/03/2023 12:07

SleepingisanArt · 23/03/2023 11:47

You will only win an appeal if you can prove there wasn't adequate signage. Unlikely you will be able to do so. Just pay the fine.

This. You did it, you need to pay the fine.

FlounderingFruitcake · 23/03/2023 12:07

Hope your grandson is feeling better but sadly everything you’ve posted is irrelevant and the only valid grounds to appeal would be if the signage were inadequate. Can you have a look on street view and/or go back to the area to see if you have case?

Ketchupwee · 23/03/2023 12:09

As a driver yshould have been aware of your surroundings, so unless there was no signage or road markings indicating that you were entering a pedestrian zone then you are at fault and should accept the fine.

I'm really sorry about what was going on in the background but it isn't justification for an appeal, neither is 'my satnav didn't tell me'

Lolreally · 23/03/2023 12:10

I once drove down a bus only lane. I was fined and absolutely convinced there was inadequate signage. Went to check in a high dudgeon the signage was huge and completely unmissable 😂😂😂

WasThereAnotherTroyforHertoBurn · 23/03/2023 12:14

Pay it.

AllotmentTime · 23/03/2023 12:17

Quite surprised you’re not getting flamed here OP. Satnav is like having a person next to you telling you where to go. It/they are not in any way responsible for your safe driving and adhering to the Highway Code/road signs. This is 100% on you!

Hope your grandson is okay though 💐

purplecorkheart · 23/03/2023 12:22

I hope you Grandson is ok.

The circumstances as why you were driving to the school is not a factor in this nor is your Sat Nav not informing you. The reason to appeal would be lack of signs and I would imagine there were there. Pay up

mewkins · 23/03/2023 12:22

I guess you've got nothing to lose by appealing and see what happens? Just stick to the facts and you might get someone on a good day.

ShagratandGorbag4ever · 23/03/2023 12:23

If 'my mind was elsewhere' were a ground for appeal, there would not be much point in having any traffic regulations.

dizzydizzydizzy · 23/03/2023 12:26

Sorry OP, but of course you have to pay. You can't blame a sat nav.

GlassBunion · 23/03/2023 14:21

You'll have to pay. You should have been aware of signs.

BarbaraofSeville · 23/03/2023 15:03

ShagratandGorbag4ever · 23/03/2023 12:23

If 'my mind was elsewhere' were a ground for appeal, there would not be much point in having any traffic regulations.

This, plus it's very unwise to use it as a defence as you're basically admitting to driving without due care and attention, which could be a far bigger offence with bigger penalties than a fixed penalty for driving in a pedestrian area.

Check in person or on google maps for signage, as lack of signage is the only possible grounds for appeal.

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