EVER wondered what to do if you accidentally drive the wrong way down a one-way street?
Here's everything you need to know about the rules and penalties involved.
Is it illegal to drive the wrong way down a one-way street?
If you accidentally enter a one-way street going in the wrong direction, you should NOT reverse back out.
An investigation by The Sun found motorists could potentially face a hefty penalty for simply driving backwards on residential streets.
Should a police officer witness you enter the one-way street incorrectly, you could be hit with a careless driving charge
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Drivers could be hit with a careless driving charge, which carries a £100 on-the-spot fine and three penalty points.
The Highway Code states that "you must not reverse your vehicle further than necessary", which is also backed up in the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986.
So if a police officer sees you and decides reversing out of the street could be reckless or potentially dangerous to your passengers, pedestrians or other road users, you could face a penalty.
If you continue driving in the wrong direction, you could also be fined for either failing to comply with a traffic sign or careless driving.
Instead, the best option is to pull over and wait for a safe time to turn around.
Jack Cousens, head of roads policy at the AA, said: “We all take a wrong turn on occasion, but one of the worst ones to make is where you head in the wrong direction of a one-way street.
“Should a police officer witness you enter the one-way street incorrectly, you could be hit with a careless driving charge.
"However, they may exercise some leniency and decide that the embarrassment caused is punishment enough."
Can I be fined for driving the wrong way down a one-way street?
Both failing to comply with a traffic sign and careless driving carry £100 on-the-spot fines, as well as three penalty points on your licence.
Ignoring a traffic sign could even see you fined up to £1,000 if you contest the charge and it goes to court.
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There is a strict maximum £2,500 fine and three points for reversing on a motorway or main carriageway, whereas the law for residential streets is left up to the interpretation of traffic cops.
What other rules are there for one-way streets?
Reversing on a residential street is of course still permitted within reason, like when parallel parking.
But motorists could find themselves in hot water if they drive backwards for a distance further than what is deemed reasonable.
For example, if a driver reversed all of the way down a street to find a parking space rather than just going round the block, they could face a fine if caught by police.
One-way systems can have multiple lanes, and knowing which one to be in can be tricky at first.
When driving down a one-way street, it is worth remembering that you can drive on the right-hand side of the road if there are multiple lanes and you intend to turn right.
Make sure to give yourself enough time to get in the correct lane and complete the MSPSL routine — mirror, signal, position, speed and look — before changing lanes.
