private roads

[dondons]

do standard laws apply on the Birmingham Toll Road? As it is "private" and you have to pay to access it ,do speed limits apply? It doesn't appear as though they do, as cars go down it like maniacs and there are no speed cameras on it and I have NEVER seen a police car on it .

[spacechimp]

Question: If the M6 Toll is a private road, is it subject to the same traffic regulations as other roads?
Answer: Yes, although it is private it is still part of the national motorway network and will be policed by the same officers who currently enforce traffic regulations on other West Midlands motorways.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/birmingham/travel/m6-toll-rd.shtml

[Narolines]

I use it from time to time and I can't say I've noticed traffic moving any faster than on other motorways -at least on motorways that are as relatively quiet as the M6 Toll usually is - and I have seen the odd police vehicle on it. I've frequently driven from Birmingham to Exeter on the M5 and been passed by the odd boy racer, and quite often not seen a police vehicle the whole way. In my experience there's no difference between the toll road and the other m-ways, except that it's quieter (and it costs you, of course - but it saves so much time and frustration that it's worth it).

[CLOWN TICKLE]

I actually like the toll road as IU feel much safer without the lorries and coaches( sorry if you are one of them but its still how I feel) its much quicker and I have also enjoyed the experience of french and german tolls

[JudgeJ]

The issue of the validity of the various Road Traffic Acts on �Private Roads� has been tested many times. The most usual question is the status of �Private� car parks, and whether one needs tax, insurance etc. when driving in them.

In general, it can be said that any place to which the motorist has �unfettered� access is considered a public road for these purposes. Who paid for its construction, who owns it, who maintains it and who collects any fees or tolls applied to it are all immaterial.

The definition of �unfettered� was also challenged when it was suggested that the imposition of a toll changes the status of the road. It was determined that, since anybody can gain access to the road by payment of the toll, it must be considered unfettered. That hopefully answers dondon�s question.

Not unusually I find it hard to believe the views of some correspondents. Can mdoo98 seriously be suggesting that there should be no speed limit, say, through the Dartford Tunnel and that you should need no insurance to drive through it? Are you similarly saying that there should be no speed limit in Tesco�s car park? Think about it.

[gary baldy]

As i understand it the Highways Agency actually 'own' the road and therefore it comes under the normal restrictions - it was just paid for by PPP and the private company who operate the road (MIdland Expressway Ltd) in return charge the tolls to recoup their costs.

[Grunty]

JudgeJ is right of course. This is from the CPS website:- The term `road' is defined at section 142 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 as any length of highway or other road to which the public has access and includes bridges over which a road passes.

The public has access to the M6 Toll even if they have to pay �3.

Gary baldy may be confusing the Road Traffic Act with the need to have the car taxed. This is only required on a road repairable at public expense. In the case of the M6 Toll, this point may have to be decided, but how would the vehicle get there?

[lankeela]

Have you noticed how the signs always tell you there is congestion ahead, but the toll road is clear? I'm sure its just to make you pay! Whenever I've stayed on the M6 there's been no hold ups.

As for missing the turn off for the M6, if you can't see this then you should not be driving on motorways or anywhere else, even if you are foreign.

[hiflier]

I have heard that there is a 'private' road in Bristol that the public can, and do, use, without charge, and, because it is private, the law, eg on speed limits, does not apply on it. Don't know about the truth of this though

[dondons]

thanks to you all. My question has been answered fully.