Motorists must follow one key Highway Code parking rule at night | UK | News
Most drivers know not to park at pedestrian crossings, taxi stands or prohibited double yellow lines. However, there is a little-known overnight parking regulation that many drivers may have overlooked.
Surprisingly, this is all about positioning your vehicle against the flow of oncoming traffic after dark. Although it may seem trivial, doing this is actually a violation. Rule 248 According to the Highway Code, drivers who do not comply with these rules will face significant fines.
Official guidance ask the police Explaining further about this regulation, it states that it only applies if your vehicle is not parked in a designated area. “You should not park on a road facing the opposite direction of traffic at night unless it is a recognized parking space,” the advice reads.
“All vehicles must display parking lights when parked on a road or waiting on a road with a speed limit greater than 30 mph.” Similarly, car rental experts Flexible Add: “Motorists who park the wrong way on the road could risk a fine of up to £1,000 without knowing they are breaking the rule.
“According to the Highway Code, if a marked parking space is not used, drivers must park in accordance with the traffic flow at night.”
Although Rule 248 does not specify what constitutes a ‘recognised parking area’, experts note that it typically means marked parking spaces. Therefore, parking ‘wrong way’ on a yellow line or on an unmarked road outside of controlled hours may result in a fine.
Although it is a lesser known rule, it is there to prevent serious accidents and traffic accidents. Josh Driving InstructorThe Web site, which offers online driving test materials, adds: “If a marked parking area is not being used at night, drivers are required to park in the same direction as traffic.
“However, there is a problem with this rule because it is not widely known by drivers in the UK. The purpose of this rule, according to the Highway Code, is to prevent drivers from parking against traffic on unlit roads, as this can cause serious accidents with serious consequences.”
Beyond that, ask the police It also offers a wealth of advice on other park regulations. For example, if another vehicle is blocking your path, authorities recommend that you do your own investigation first before reporting it if all else fails.
His advice: “If the car is blocking access to your driveway, you should first ask neighbors if they know who the car belongs to so they can move it.
“In most areas, local councils have now taken responsibility for enforcing parking provisions under what is known as Civil Parking Enforcement (CPE). Under CPE, it is an offense to park a vehicle at the kerbside blocking a driveway.”
