Single Yellow Line – What you can and can’t do
Can I park on a single yellow line, is one of the most Googled of driving related questions. So what is the answer? It depends on signs that you will see at the side of the road. A single yellow line means ‘no waiting during times shown.’
The sign below indicates that you cannot park between 8 am and 6 pm. But outside of those time, drivers can wait and park.
Be aware however, that restrictions may be different from one side of the road to the other. For instance, waiting may be limited during the morning rush-hour on one side. On the other side, the restriction may be the evening rush-hour.
Double yellow lines
Double yellow lines mean that waiting is not allowed at any time. There are exceptions to this however. You may stop for a short while to:
- Load or unload
- Pick up or drop off passengers
Be aware though, that you cannot park and wait for passengers to arrive!
If there are also double yellow lines painted on the kerb, then loading is not permitted at any time.
Double white lines
Where there are double white lines along the centre of a road, then you must not park at any time. This is the same whether the line nearest to you is solid or broken.
Yellow zig-zags
At entrances and exits from schools, you will often see yellow zig-zag road markings. These must be kept clear so that children can see and be seen when crossing the road. You must never wait or park on these lines.
Dropped kerbs
Where the kerb is dropped, this gives easy access to wheelchair users and mobility scooters. Although it is not against the law to park at a dropped kerb, you should always avoid doing so.
On the pavement
It is becoming more common for narrow roads to feature bays that include the pavement. But unless there are signs saying so (sign on left), you must not park on the pavement, even just partly. To do so can block the path of people using pushchairs and wheelchairs. It is also against the law.
Loading bays
These are similar to areas marked with single yellow lines, you can only park in them outside of the times shown on nearby signs. You may also use them if you are actively loading or unloading, unless the sign shows that they are only for commercial vehicles.
Most loading bays are normally in operation during the working day. Others may be in use for 24 hours.
There a number of other places where you should not park such as:
- Where you would prevent access for emergency services
- At or near a bus or tram stop
- On the approach to a pedestrian crossing, level crossing or tramway crossing
- Opposite a junction or within 10 metres (32 feet) of it
- Near the brow of a hill or hump bridge
- In front of a driveway or entrance to a property
- On a bend where you would cause an obstruction
- Opposite a traffic island or another parked vehicle
Blue badge holders
If you hold a blue badge, then you are given freedom to park in some areas where otherwise it would be forbidden. This does not mean however, that you can just park anywhere. You must consider other road users. Make sure that you don’t park in a place which would cause hindrance or danger to others.
Single white lines
Drivers sometimes misunderstand the single white line painted along the edge of open roads. These are not parking restrictions. They simply mark the road edge and are particularly useful at night when picked up by headlights.
