Driving in England: Congestion Charges?
japra | Mar 02, 2009 | Comments 10
If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you’ll know that I have a very limited radius when it comes to driving. The furthest I have to drive is an occasional 40-minute trip to my daughter’s best friend’s house. I was just there on Saturday, as a matter of fact. Roxi was invited for a sleepover, and Mr. DJ and I picked her up Saturday morning.
Anyway, *I* was invited to the same house today by Roxi’s best friend’s mother (who is my dear friend) for a little specialty grocery shopping and then lunch at her house.
Normally, I set my SatNav and get to her house without a problem. It’s only on the way back that I have to pay careful attention because the SatNav will sometimes vary the route home.
This time on the way to my friend’s house, I was listening to some music while driving. Mistake! Apparently somewhere in my automatic pilot mode, I spaced out a bit. Next thing I realized, I still was headed toward my friend’s house, but somewhere along the way, my SatNav decided I needed to take a different route: onto the M-something-or-other (motorway), two miles into a Congestion Charge Zone.
No, my friend does not live in a congestion charge zone. And frankly, I am a bit confused because based on this map, I can’t see that the congestion zone is anywhere near my friend’s house. Nevertheless, I paid the charge* because there were signs up everywhere clearly marking that short bit of my route as a charge zone.
In case you were wondering, the Congestion Charge Zone fee is £8. Bummer.
*If this happens to you, you can pay this fee online.
About the Author: JaPRA is an expat Texan living in England with her husband (Mr. DJ), their 17-year old daughter (Roxi), and their dog Trudy.
well, hope you had a nice visit anyway!
Christine–I did! My friend is really a wonderful person. Plus, she cooked for me. Yummmm. I thought of you today–my friend made such a delicious foil-wrapped salmon. Have you tried this?
I wish I had sat=nav when i lived there. i got “misplaced” so many times and there are NO street signs.
I can reemmber my husband (the American):-) getting so lost when he lived in England (where we met) he’d drive around in circles. Literally! I never understood until I came to the USA and discovered how long and straight your roads are. I bet your friends house that is 40 mins away timewise is oh, about three miles away distance wise??? Strangely though, I have never felt comfortable on American long, straight roads, they seem so alien, like you can be swamped up in sheer space . .not all cozy and curvy.:-)
P-D–You are so right! But you know what is really sad? I still get lost with my SatNav. It’s the roundabouts that get me confused. And you are right about the signs. Sometimes they are there, but there is little advanced warning.
Louise–Tee-hee. You are almost right. I think it’s something like 10 miles. I don’t mind the curvy roads, in fact when I’m on a leisurely drive, they are so charming and lovely. And they certainly bring a smile to my face as I drive my daughter to school each morning (I mean really, how picturesque!). BUT, when I want to get from point A to point B in a hurry, I miss those straight, fast American roads :-)
We were in London on Friday night and Sigmund accidentally paid the congestion charge FIVE times. (He is trying to get his money back? The administration charges for doing so are TEN POUNDS.) ARGH.
That’s scary!
First, I think your sat-nav is messing with your mind.
Second, was your CongestionChargeZone experience anything like the movie Clueless when they mistakenly get on the freeway in L.A.? (and yes, I’m in my late (sigh) 30′s and I’ve seen Clueless MORE THAN ONCE).
Julia
Bee–Oh no! Your poor sweetie. That Congestion charge thing confuses me to no end! I just hope I paid my fee to the right people. Sigh.
Laurie–I guess I should stop listening to music when I drive. I hardly ever do that here. I was feeling too over confident.
Julia–I LOVE Clueless! Wait, is that wrong?! And I think you might be right about my SatNav. I need he and I need to have a little heart-to-heart.
holy cow! Congestion Charge Zone?
I know how you feel. I can’t drive far and if I do, and I do anything else at all, I miss my turn off. I mean, I’m not even old!
according to some people. a few.