Closed
Confusion as to which way traffic should negotiate this triangle
Sent to Northamptonshire Highways less than a minute later. FixMyStreet ref: 5254567.
Moderated by Northamptonshire Highways at 14:29, Tue 28 November 2023
The triangle at the junction of Pytchley High Street and Butchers Lane causes confusion as to which way traffic should negotiate. The result is that vehicles both enter and leave Butchers Lane on both sides of the triangle. On the east side is a single broken white line, while on the west side is a double broken white line. The significance of these lines is not obvious. Is there a defined policy for such islands? If it transpires that traffic should enter Butchers Lane on the east side, and leave it on the west side, perhaps there should be a directional bollard and some extra line markings such as a Give Way triangle, and a line coming down from the south tip of the triangle with lane directional markings.
Tweet
Share
Updates
-
Thank you for reporting a fault. Officers will now investigate the concerns and this may take up to 5 working days. If you believe that your concerns are urgent then please phone us.
-
Investigation: Completed (Highways to Monitor, Routine Inspection Programme) - Thank you for contacting North Northamptonshire Council with regard to the roadmarkings at the junction arrangement of Butchers Lane / High Street junction, Pytchley.
Although generally the double broken line indicates the side that drivers exiting from the side road should approach the junction from and the single broken line is the side where drivers enter into the side road. However, there are numerous small junctions, often with central islands, where turning traffic at the junction (especially larger vehicles) cannot physically negotiate the junction without overrunning the island so drivers of certain vehicles have to use the alternate side of the road to enter or exit. Indeed, at many narrow conventional junctions without central islands vehicles cross both the double and single broken line when turning.
At many small rural junctions with a central island the single dashed line is used on both sides of the island which denotes no priority on either side of the island, but just defines the edge of the carriageway.
Entering the alternative side of the junction probably would not constitute as “failing to comply with a traffic sign” which is a moving traffic offence enforced by the Police. We are not aware that passing the wrong way over double Give Way markings is an offence in itself, as the offence is failing to Give Way when coming out of the side road rather than passing against the give way marking. It would be down to the Police to consider if this was an offence.
Although there are locations where directional bollards are located on a central island, indicating which side traffic should pass, this would be at wider junctions where all class of vehicles can negotiate the junction from the side indicated by the directional bollard.We have checked the injury accident record at this junction for the last 24 years and am pleased to report that no injury accidents have been reported at this junction so this would not warrant any revisions on road safety grounds.
For more information about our services, please visit https://www.northnorthants.gov.uk/ parking-roads-and-transport
You can also keep up to date on highways by following us on Facebook and Twitter @nnchighways
This report is now closed to updates from the public. You can make a new report in the same location.