Can I be fined if I drive the wrong way on a one-way street?

YOU drove the wrong way down a one-way street and now you don’t know what to do to avoid a fine.

Riders may face heavy landings Punish – but here’s what you should do if you go the wrong way.

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Is it illegal to drive the wrong way around on a one-way street?

If you accidentally enter a one-way street going the wrong way, you should do this NO reverse gear back.

An investigation by The Sun Online found motorists could potentially face a hefty fine just drive backwards on residential streets.

Drivers could be hit with a negligent driving charge, which carries a £100 fine and three penalty points.

The Road Traffic Act states that “You must not back your vehicle any further than is necessary”, which is also confirmed in the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986.

So if a police officer sees you and decides that reversing off the road might be reckless or potentially dangerous to your passengers, pedestrians or other road users, you could face a penalty.

But if you continue to drive in the wrong direction, you can also be fined for not obeying a traffic sign or careless driving.

According to the British Motoring Association, AA, the best option is to stop and wait for a safe time to turn.

Jack Cousens, the AA’s director of road policy, said: “We all make wrong turns occasionally, but one of the worst things you can do is drive the wrong way down a one-way street.

“If a police officer witnesses you entering the wrong way on a one-way street, you could be charged with negligent driving.

“You can, however, indulge yourself and decide that the embarrassment caused is punishment enough.”

Can I be fined if I drive the wrong way on a one-way street?

Both ignoring a traffic sign and careless driving result in a fine of £100 and three penalty points.

ignoring one traffic sign You could even be fined up to £1,000 if you contest the charges and it goes to court.

There is a severe maximum penalty of £2,500 and three points for reversing on a motorway or main carriageway, and the Residential Roads Act is left up to traffic police interpretation.

What other rules are there for one-way streets?

Reversing on a residential street is, of course, still permitted within reason, as is parallel parking, but motorists could run into hot water if they reverse further than is deemed appropriate.

For example, if a driver reverses down a street all the way to find a parking spot instead of just driving around the block, they could face a fine if caught by the police.