Free Traffic Legal Advice

Hello,

I have just received a PCN related to a pedestrian zone on Brockley Rise in Lewisham.

https://ibb.co/4R5h677x

I assume this was a recent sign as it doesn't show on all google maps photos. It's the first time I've been down this road so I wasn't aware of the sign. The gist of it is that the sign is quite far down and in front of a one way street. It's placed so far down that you've essentially entered a one-way lane by the time you see the sign. This made it impossible to turn around without doing an illegal turn. I've added photos and more details below:

I was driving down Gladiator Street in Lewisham and turned right on to Brockley Rise.  Once I turned onto Brockley Rise, I saw the sign for the pedestrian zone at specific times. There were no signs earlier on Gladiator Street to indicate this and resulted in my car being trapped into going down the street. I have provided images of the street and the turn.

Corner of Gladiator Street facing Brockley Rise. There is no way you can see the sign from this corner as you are turning. Especially when navigating a turn across a street.

https://ibb.co/HLVtmrt6

The photo below shows the intersection in question. Showing the start of the one way street. The red circle is where the sign is. Blue box is where I paused my car but didn't see any other option than to keep going.

https://ibb.co/whz7V5Lw

Below is a another view from the far where no turn was possible. Basically a 1 way. Sign was after the speed bump. I had stopped at the speed bump to look around at my options but felt I had none. Either risk going down a one way once past the speed bump; reverse on a one way section for a long time past the island; or reverse partially and do a awkward 3 point turn onto the partition. These all would have been illegal maneuvers

https://ibb.co/q3ywqVKc


Based on all the above, do you think I can appeal this? And if so how do I go about it?

Is there a risk I could end up paying the full £160 instead of the £80 if the appeal isn't successful?

I've never done one before so any advice on how to approach this is much appreciated.

Thank you!!

Don't think we seen this one before - I'll check the tribunal.

Hello again,

I went back to have a look at turn from Gladiator street on to brockley rise/stilness road. There is actually a sign at the turn that I seemed to just have missed when focusing on the turn.

I guess my concern is still that once you get to the point where the pedestrian zone starts, there is nowhere to turn off. I feel like there needs to be another warming before the first island (near the blue arrow sign) because you at least have some room to maneuver.

I agree if the cross-hatch wasn't there, I would have reversed a little and turned off that way. At this stage I feel like I would've been better off doing that

Even though I think the junction is a bit of a trap, I'm not sure whether to pursue this challenge because of the sign at the corner that I missed the first time round.

I can't work out if the lack of options is enough of a defense?





 

You need to go back and take pictures of your route - historic Google Maps shots won't do. It seems the turn out of the side road has merit for you but check for advance signs.

There are some allowed appeals here for inadequate signage.

The signage is a mess and only one terminal sign on the left.

For convenience:

Before the turn - sign on the right



---
The start of the turn



---
At the turn


---
Right after the turn


---
Approaching before first island


---
Approaching at second island with crosshatch section on the right


---
Right in front of the sign

I'll do a draft later on the signage and the PCN and the website.

I appreciate that very much, thank you!!