With the new school year kicking off and parents returning to a routine of trying to scramble the kids into the car for the dash to the gates, these are the parking rules they need to know to avoid being stung with a hefty fine.the area.
Inconsiderate and illegal parking is often rife outside schools at peak times and is often a significant cause of complaint for local residents who are impacted by parents on the school run.
Drivers need to know about different road markings and their rules, as well as being aware of bans on idling your car's engine outside certain schools.
Here's an 'idiot's guide' for parents when it comes to parking outside schools.
But outside schools, it is to prevent vehicles from obscuring visibility of young children who are leaving school or need to cross the road.
The Highway Code says: 'You MUST NOT wait or park, or stop to set down and pick up passengers, on school entrance markings when upright signs indicate a prohibition of stopping.'
This means you can't stop there at all – even if the engine is still running and you are letting your children jump out quickly.
If there is a sign indicating the hours of operation close to the yellow zig-zags, it signifies that between those hours parking wardens or local authority civil enforcement officers have the power to issue penalty charge notices (PCNs) for parking in
And if there is no sign to display the operating hours, this means the police is responsible for enforcing parking there, not the local authority.
If an offender is caught ignoring these rules, they can be issued a £70 PCN.
Double yellow lines mean stopping the car and waiting is not permitted at any time unless signs signify otherwise.
The only exception to this rule is for blue badge holders, who may park on double yellow lines for up to three hours.
However, there is a slight difference to yellow zig-zag lines: with double yellow lines, you can stop briefly to let your kids in or out of the car.
Though, if you stop the engine and park up, you run the risk of being fined or could even have your vehicle towed away.
As the RAC points out, the penalty for stopping on double yellow lines depends on your local council - or police, if they are responsible for enforcement in that area - and could be anything up to £130.
The fine is usually halved if you pay within 14 days, however you cannot appeal a parking ticket you have already paid.
It's also worth noting that you cannot park fully on the pavement next to double yellow lines.
The Department for Transport makes clear that double yellow line rules apply when stopping adjacent to them from the centre of the road to the back of the footway/pavement.
'Waiting restrictions indicated by yellow lines apply to the carriageway, pavement and verge,' DfT guidelines say.
Single yellow lines mean 'no parking' rules apply, but only at certain times.
You'll need to check signs near the single yellow lines to understand what restrictions apply, and when.
In the areas surrounding schools, it's highly likely that any restrictions will fall during the school rush hour.
QUOTE: The Highway Code says: 'You MUST NOT wait or park, or stop to set down and pick up passengers, on school entrance markings when upright signs indicate a prohibition of stopping.' This means you can't stop there at all – even if the engine isstill running and you are letting your children jump out quickly. ENDS
Seems simple enough even for the thickest driver!
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