Driving on pavement
Discussion
OK, not an advanced driving question at all, in fact prompted by helping my daughter learn to drive…
Went into Cambridge and one of the test routes takes you down Albert street. Part way down the street has parking on one side (for the houses there) but that leaves a ridiculously narrow road which for the first part is impossible for the average car to pass without driving on the pavement. Further down (about 20 car lengths) it widens slightly and you can just about drive down (that did involve scraping one wheel along the pavement sadly). Many of the cars down there are clearly showing the results of the narrow road with their wing mirror broken or damaged.
This is a street view image:
So what gives - the Highway Code states: Rule 145 states: “You MUST NOT drive on or over a pavement, footpath or bridleway except to gain lawful access to property, or in the case of an emergency“.
This isn’t access to a property or emergency but you can’t reasonably get past without going on the pavement and can’t turn around so if a car was behind you would have no choice. What would you do on a test and in general?
Went into Cambridge and one of the test routes takes you down Albert street. Part way down the street has parking on one side (for the houses there) but that leaves a ridiculously narrow road which for the first part is impossible for the average car to pass without driving on the pavement. Further down (about 20 car lengths) it widens slightly and you can just about drive down (that did involve scraping one wheel along the pavement sadly). Many of the cars down there are clearly showing the results of the narrow road with their wing mirror broken or damaged.
This is a street view image:
So what gives - the Highway Code states: Rule 145 states: “You MUST NOT drive on or over a pavement, footpath or bridleway except to gain lawful access to property, or in the case of an emergency“.
This isn’t access to a property or emergency but you can’t reasonably get past without going on the pavement and can’t turn around so if a car was behind you would have no choice. What would you do on a test and in general?
Well if the remaining road is physically not wide enough then you have no choice but to mount the pavement. Interesting that it's on a test route. The important thing to tell your daughter that should she be on test on that road then she should not assume she can mount the pavement. She needs to wait for the examiner to advise her that she should; otherwise a guaranteed fail.
Iirc when I was learning there was a kind of semi-official script for this scenario you were supposed to say to the examiner, along the lines of "I wouldn't normally drive over the pavement but in the circumstances it seems to be the only safe option to proceed" so you'd acknowledged it and hadn't just randomly steamed up the kerb.
https://goo.gl/maps/2HapWhTZJVcNoi4e7
The entrance has signage which is pertinent. Indicates Motor vehicles Prohibited except for access, One Way with cycles being permitted to come in the opposite direction.
If on a Test I'd decline the request to go up that road. I'm not seeking to gain access, but rather using it as a part of my route.
The entrance has signage which is pertinent. Indicates Motor vehicles Prohibited except for access, One Way with cycles being permitted to come in the opposite direction.
If on a Test I'd decline the request to go up that road. I'm not seeking to gain access, but rather using it as a part of my route.
pocketspring said:
I'm very surprised that has been picked as part of a test route. What's the local DT centre?
Google streetview says prohibited unless for access.
Indeed. The other end says ‘no entry - except cyclists’.Google streetview says prohibited unless for access.
Edited by pocketspring on Monday 20th February 15:58
If on your test, I would say ‘this is for access only, I don’t believe I should enter’. I am sure locals don’t want L or test cars going down there.
As said. Contact the test centre and the local council.
E63eeeeee... said:
Iirc when I was learning there was a kind of semi-official script for this scenario you were supposed to say to the examiner, along the lines of "I wouldn't normally drive over the pavement but in the circumstances it seems to be the only safe option to proceed" so you'd acknowledged it and hadn't just randomly steamed up the kerb.
That doesn't happen now. The examiner shouldn't direct you down there but if he does then it's his directive. You should be able to see all the test routes online but can't guarantee they're up to date.CantDecide said:
Brilliant, many thanks for the responses which are most helpful.
I will check out further with Brookmount Court test centre.
I think there is probably a misunderstanding here - the old test centre used to be in Carlyle road (the next one along) so quite likely that is the road often used.I will check out further with Brookmount Court test centre.
Incidentally, do a lot of practicing at the Victoria Road, Histon Road, Huntingdon Road junction. My son failed his first test at that one - very confusing array of different lights.
M11rph said:
https://goo.gl/maps/2HapWhTZJVcNoi4e7
The entrance has signage which is pertinent. Indicates Motor vehicles Prohibited except for access, One Way with cycles being permitted to come in the opposite direction.
If on a Test I'd decline the request to go up that road. I'm not seeking to gain access, but rather using it as a part of my route.
Having seen this I can't believe this is a test route. I'm familiar with examiners choosing routes with 'quirks' but this would require extraordinary analysis from a test candidate (deliberate overriding of an examiner's direction)The entrance has signage which is pertinent. Indicates Motor vehicles Prohibited except for access, One Way with cycles being permitted to come in the opposite direction.
If on a Test I'd decline the request to go up that road. I'm not seeking to gain access, but rather using it as a part of my route.
Shiv_P said:
She can also accidentally go the wrong way if she gets to that road and is directed to go down it.
It would require the student to NOT indicate, so as not to give misleading signals. Momentary deafness until passing the road. Entering that road would also require possibly damaging the sidewall of the tyre.
I would teach the student to ignore the instruction momentarily and let the examiner re-route the test.
(Edit: Not part of a test route. Makes 100% sense)
Edited by PhilAsia on Tuesday 21st February 17:12
pocketspring said:
Yep there is a slight allowance for going slightly off the test route. As part of the examiner's job is to control the test, he/she will guide you back on.
Thank you for verifying. I stopped teaching in the UK in 1997. I thought it would still be applicable, but was not 100% (and don't like to give misinformation).Just to close this off, my daughter had her test today, which thankfully did not include this street. She did manage to go off route by missing a sign, but the examiner provided corrective instructions and she was not given a fault for this.
Delighted to say that she passed!
Thanks all for the helpful guidance.
Delighted to say that she passed!
Thanks all for the helpful guidance.
Happy and safe motoring to her.
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