Help, I’m Stuck in a Roundabout, Part 3

Assuming you have read the other two parts of this topic <<Part 1>>  <<Part 2 >>, this part will take on the much more mundane topic of traffic signs and roads. The number and type of signs in the UK is large, so there is no way to cover all of them. This government website  covers the ones the government thinks are the most important. Generally, triangular signs with red borders are warning and advisory, STOP signs are octagonal, just like in the US, “Give way” (Yield) are inverted triangles with red edges. Round, red-edged signs generally show prohibited vehicles or traffic, such as pedestrians or horses. Really, go read the government article for the details of the hundreds of signs.

The ones you’ll see the most are the round signs with a number in it. That’s a speed limit sign but, unlike the US, it doesn’t say, “Speed Limit.” If you see a round sign with a number, that’s the speed limit. If there is a reduction of that speed, say when you enter a village, you will see a new round sign with a lower number. Eventually, as you leave the village there will be a sign with a new number or just a round white sign with a black slash in it indicating the end of the restriction and the return of the “normal” speed for the road. Most of the time that “normal” is the national speed limit for that type road. This government website will show you all the national speed limits by road type. One needs to know those national speed limits because, in the absence of any reduction signs, that IS the limit and the locals will expect drivers to move along at that speed.

Do NOT speed. There are cameras everywhere, and one can assume that for every mile of Motorway, and in every city and most villages you are on camera. If you have a rental, the ticket will go to the rental agency and they will tack it on to your bill, or charge to your credit card if you return the car before the ticket arrives. Simple speeding is £80 per event. I don’t know what the upper limit may be, if any. In some areas there are signs indicating “Average Speed Monitoring” or something similar. In those areas they take a picture at some point, then again later on down the road and if the time between those pictures indicates you covered the distance faster than the speed limit, you get a ticket. Also do not assume any “grace” miles per hour. I have friends who have gotten tickets for going 72 in a 70 zone, and one who got tickets for 22 in a 20 zone. Assume zero tolerance.  Yes, on the Motorways you will see people speeding. Not many, but some. I don’t know if or how they may get away with it, but for you, just don’t do it.

Speaking of locals, the Brits are excellent at tailgating. I’ve been in all 50 states, most big cities, traveled the world and visited Singapore, Hong Kong, Perth, Manilla, Tokyo, Rio De Janiero, Paris, Rome, and other places, but the Brits, on what they call “single carriageway” roads (mostly A roads) are the absolute champions at tailgating. You may not think the road is safe at 60 mph, but if that’s the limit, and you aren’t there, you will pretty quickly be the locomotive of a long train of cars. At that point your best option is to look for a lay-by or a large driveway where you can pull over and let the train go by. Signal your intentions but without making any sudden moves and the guy (generic, the ladies do well at this, too) directly behind you will slow to allow you to move over. Fortunately, you can usually find a lay-by pretty quickly and you should not have to go too far. If you don’t see one, but eventually come to a side road or driveway, go ahead and turn to let the “train” go by, then return to the road after they all pass. It’s just not worth it to be fretting about someone close enough behind you to become a member of your family.

And since we are talking about it, what exactly is a “lay-by” anyway? Well, to talk about that we have to back up and talk roads. The equivalent of the US Interstate is the Motorway or M road, with multiple divided lanes, limited access and service areas where you don’t have to leave the motorway to get fuel, food, bathrooms. Next down are the “A” roads, which can be divided lanes (dual carriageway) or can just be two lanes, with a center painted line. Those lanes can be pretty narrow, just barely fitting two cars side by side on some “A” roads, so when you meet a large semi-truck (lorry) barreling along in the opposite direction, it can get positively scary as the lorry zooms past what seems like (and may be) just inches away.  “B” roads are narrower and are generally country roads that might have lanes painted in places, but generally are not. Here is a picture of a B road we took as we drove along.

Typical UK “B” road © 2018 englandforallreasons.com

Smaller than “B” roads are country lanes. These can, at the extreme, be just two wheel tracks, and may or may not be paved. A lay-by is a wider part of the road on one side or the other, where a car or truck can pull over to let someone by, either in the opposite direction or in the same direction. Since most of the roads lack what we in the US call “shoulders”, or “verge” in the UK, these lay-bys are the only safe places to stop or pull over. Here is a picture of a country lane in Suffolk that has two interesting features: you can see the lay-by on the left just ahead, and if you look just past where the road turns right you can see a white lorry (truck) coming. Fortunately, we had parked in a lay-by to take the picture, so the lorry was able to get by just fine, albeit with just inches to spare.

Country Lane in Suffolk. Look for the white lorry just around the turn ahead. © 2018 englandforallreasons.com

Regardless of width, most of the roads in the UK are two-way, even the country roads and lanes. The protocol for when cars meet is for one or the other to pull into a lay-by on their side of the road to let the other pass. Etiquette says the closest one to the lay-by does the stopping and the one that is continuing will signal with a hand as a “thanks” for the courtesy. If you have a tailgater on a dual carriageway, the lay-by may be signed in advance, or you may just come upon it. You may see a van selling food or drinks from the lay-by, or it may just be a wide spot in the road margin. Here is a picture of an A road where we are stopped in the lay-by.

A lay-by on an A road in UK © 2018 englandforallreasons.com

As a tourist you will be mostly on Motorways and A roads, perhaps occasionally taking a B road to find a pub, or an inn or an out-of-the-way tourist site. But if you do get onto that B or smaller road, keep looking for that lay-by and be prepared to be the good citizen and let the other guy go.

Bottom line? Driving in the UK, while it is very different, is not impossibly challenging if you do a bit of research, watch some videos in advance to get a visual feel for what you will see, and remember a few handy phrases to help you know what to do.  Obey the law and just be a courteous driver and you should do fine. Stay left, look right, body in the center of the road, maneuver carefully, signal every move.