As many of you know I passed my IAM test with a First.

On the test the motorway was blocked so I had questions on it instead of driving on it lol.

A couple of questions I want to see if anyone on here knows lol!!

1) On motorway signs what does the letters J, K, L, M stand for?

2) When is it legal to reverse on a motorway?

Any others that you wish to add feel free lol.

Dom

We talk again!


1) On motorway signs what does the letters J, K, L, M stand for?

The letters are for the use of Emergency Services, Highway Agencies, and Recovery companies to help locate you in the event you are in their need.



2) When is it legal to reverse on a motorway?


Under NO Circumstances is it legal to reverse down a Motorway. Failure to abide by this law can actually be disqualification for Dangerous Driving AND Driving without Due Care and Attention, and a hefty fine for both.

When I was in the IAM some 20 odd years ago the answer was........ Only when instructed to by the emergency services

Guess things must have changed since then

Mr Plod.....Please back up Sir we are trying to clear the slip for the ambulances and fire engines.

IAM member....Absolutely not, the law says I cant and I am in the IAM so under no circumstances will I back up
.
Mr Plod.....Sir....There has been a serious accident, people are injured and might die if they dont get to hospital as soon as possible

IAM member....Dont care, I am an IAM member and follow all the rules regardless. The ambualnce will have to go 5 miles down the M-way to the next exit and double back.

Yeah right

The IAM are the most anal group of people on the planet, dont let them brainwash you

sledge said:

Mr Plod.....Please back up Sir we are trying to clear the slip for the ambulances and fire engines.

IAM member....Absolutely not, the law says I cant and I am in the IAM so under no circumstances will I back up
.
Mr Plod.....Sir....There has been a serious accident, people are injured and might die if they dont get to hospital as soon as possible

IAM member....Dont care, I am an IAM member and follow all the rules regardless. The ambualnce will have to go 5 miles down the M-way to the next exit and double back.

Yeah right

The IAM are the most anal group of people on the planet, dont let them brainwash you

Click to expand...

Well obviously when instructed by a Police Officer / HATO then you would still not reverse up a Motorway. You would turn around and drive up the wrong way. fact.

However in the same situation and not Instructed by a Police Officer or HATO then it will be considered a criminal offence. Usually as the Police have a crash to deal with its usually just a smack on the bottom and told you have to wait here.

Grande Mark said:

Well obviously when instructed by a Police Officer

Click to expand...

Yeah..obviously So obvious in fact you didnt mention it

You gave the typical`textbook `institute of anal motorists` answer ie: the one the instructor/examiner wants to hear....You didnt give the institute of `realworld` motorists answer

sledge said:

Yeah..obviously So obvious in fact you didnt mention it

You gave the typical`textbook `institute of anal motorists` answer ie: the one the instructor wants to hear....You didnt give the institute of `realworld` motorists answer

Click to expand...

True I did not... but what I thought he was meaning was at any time! Not in the event of a crash ect... I thought like ... Missing a Slip Road or because of Congestion ect

What's a HATO?

jnoiles said:

What's a HATO?

Click to expand...

Highways Agency Traffic Officer

jnoiles said:

What's a HATO?

Click to expand...

They are people who are 'Want to Be' Police Officers. They can issue speeding tickets ect, but have no authority to arrest or detain anybody.


Highways Agency - Traffic Officer

Grande Mark said:

They are people who are 'Want to Be' Police Officers. They can issue speeding tickets ect, but have no authority to arrest or detain anybody.


Highways Agency - Traffic Officer

Click to expand...

Didn't realise they could issue speeding tickets. Thought the just went around cleaning up after incidents and blocking off lanes when the feel the need. So they are in essence Pcso's of the motorways.

Soleil said:

Didn't realise they could issue speeding tickets.

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I wasn't aware of that either - in fact, I don't even think that is true come to think of it.

Sorry guys, after some research I found out HATO's and VOSA officers have no authority to had out tickets. I always thought they were allowed to do so.


Sorry !

As my gran says "You learn something new every day" !

Grande Mark said:

Sorry guys, after some research I found out HATO's and VOSA officers have no authority to had out tickets. I always thought they were allowed to do so.

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They are nothing more then wombles then (seems Clarkson is right about something), which is good I can keep on past them and shout at people who slow down as they can not see they are not police.

Grande Mark said:

We talk again!

1) On motorway signs what does the letters J, K, L, M stand for?

The letters are for the use of Emergency Services, Highway Agencies, and Recovery companies to help locate you in the event you are in their need.


2) When is it legal to reverse on a motorway?

Under NO Circumstances is it legal to reverse down a Motorway. Failure to abide by this law can actually be disqualification for Dangerous Driving AND Driving without Due Care and Attention, and a hefty fine for both.

Click to expand...

1) Where are they though and what purpose do they serve?

2) If the AA man needs to tow someone off the motorway then he can legally reverse, or if directed to by Police etc etc.

sledge said:

When I was in the IAM some 20 odd years ago the answer was........ Only when instructed to by the emergency services

Guess things must have changed since then

Click to expand...

Yep, did you do a comentary sledge?

sledge said:

Mr Plod.....Please back up Sir we are trying to clear the slip for the ambulances and fire engines.

IAM member....Absolutely not, the law says I cant and I am in the IAM so under no circumstances will I back up
.
Mr Plod.....Sir....There has been a serious accident, people are injured and might die if they dont get to hospital as soon as possible

IAM member....Dont care, I am an IAM member and follow all the rules regardless. The ambualnce will have to go 5 miles down the M-way to the next exit and double back.

Yeah right

The IAM are the most anal group of people on the planet, dont let them brainwash you

Click to expand...

I'll choose to ignore that. Again, if directed to by someone in authority then it is legal.

Grande Mark said:

Well obviously when instructed by a Police Officer / HATO then you would still not reverse up a Motorway. You would turn around and drive up the wrong way. fact.

However in the same situation and not Instructed by a Police Officer or HATO then it will be considered a criminal offence. Usually as the Police have a crash to deal with its usually just a smack on the bottom and told you have to wait here.

Click to expand...

I mean to reverse a few yards at the most..

Dom

Ps, I'll find some more.

Learn something new everyday??? you have learned TWO things today

What are they teaching these young-uns these days??

At least it makes me realise I have ZERO intention of doing an IAM course I have been driving since 1989 and the above teaches me nothing...

I have never had a single issue joining a motorway or carriageway, so why would the fact I was never taught JKLM impinge on my skills, unless I was trying to communicate with the authorities (and even then, why would that be an issue, does it really make me 'advanced'???. As for not reversing on a motorway, the responses are just lame and laughable... Surely common sense prevails, instead of someone being 'anal'.

dombooth said:

1) Where are they though and what purpose do they serve?

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If my memory serves me correct they are in the same Places as the Junction Number either at the Left Top or Bottom. They are a very rare sight, and are usually found on old signs such as Motorway Maintenance temporary signs. Cause I Have me theory test soon I have my Highway Code next to me, all have a look through that and double check it.

Well Just put it this way

You - "Help me AA, ma cars broke down"
AA - "Oh Okay, where are you"?
You - "On the M8 Motorway"
AA - "Where about on that 60 Mile long motorway"?????
You - "Just past Junction 21, between posts J and K"
AA - "Oh, ok. Be there soon".
You - Still waiting 5 hours later. (lol kidding)

Sure thats how it works anyway.



After some searching I found one.

Grande Mark said:

If my memory serves me correct they are in the same Places as the Junction Number either at the Left Top or Bottom. They are a very rare sight, and are usually found on old signs such as Motorway Maintenance temporary signs. Cause I Have me theory test soon I have my Highway Code next to me, all have a look through that and double check it.

Well Just put it this way

You - "Help me AA, ma cars broke down"
AA - "Oh Okay, where are you"?
You - "On the M8 Motorway"
AA - "Where about on that 60 Mile long motorway"?????
You - "Just past Junction 21, between posts J and K"
AA - "Oh, ok. Be there soon".
You - Still waiting 5 hours later. (lol kidding)

Sure thats how it works anyway.



After some searching I found one.

Click to expand...

Which is bloody pointless as the little stick markers carry the same information as the new signs they have banged up along all motorways to fetch us in line with europe....

Andy Monty said:

Which is bloody pointless as the little stick markers carry the same information as the new signs they have banged up along all motorways to fetch us in line with europe....

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I know, motorway people just dont know what to be doing... Signs, Roads, Roads, Roads, Signs, Roads, Pavements and the same roads AGAIN!

Motorway people are like Wasps. They only come out at certain times, people avoid them like the plague, and their only purpose in life is to annoy people.