Everything You Need to Know About Parking Rules

Translated from French by Abha Vardhan (2019)

 

In order to obtain a driving license, it is crucial that people differentiate between parking and stopping, and understand where they are allowed to park around residential areas.

The Difference between Stopping and Parking

There are road signs that forbid parking and some that forbid both stopping and parking. It might sound easy but many people are unaware of the difference between the two. Here’s a description of the difference between stopping and parking to make things simpler.

Stopping

Your automobile will be seen as ‘stopping’ only when you halt for a brief time. Another important thing is that the driver is always inside or near the vehicle during stops.

There can be many reasons for stopping your car including dropping and picking up people, loading and unloading goods, or for some other purpose but always for a short time.

The time span of ‘stopping’ may differ from parking and it may be longer than parking depending on the circumstances. For instance, your automobile will be considered ‘stopped’ if you are unloading and loading goods even if the whole process takes more than 30 minutes.

 According to the Highway Code, the vehicle is considered to be ‘stopped’ when it does not unnecessarily remain standing after stopping. This means that a vehicle will be considered ‘parked’ if it remains to stopped even after the people have been dropped or picked up, and the loading and unloading are done.

Parking

Generally, parking is always longer than stopping, but not always. The vehicle is considered ‘parked’ when it remains stopped even after the purpose is achieved, such as ascent and descent of people or dropping and picking up of goods.

When the vehicle is parked, the engine is off and the driver does not always stay close. Thus, if you have stopped for even a few minutes, your vehicle will be counted as ‘parked’ and not ‘stopped.’ It is also true for instances when you are inside your car for reasons such as checking your texts, calling somebody or consulting a map.

It is worth noting that when you are stuck in traffic or waiting because of red light, your car will not be considered ‘parked’ or ‘stopped.’

It is crucial that you park your vehicle in a way that does not block traffic or pose a hazardous hurdle. It is illegal to park your vehicle on the sidewalk unless and until it is marked on the ground. Also, parking signs are not applicable to disabled vehicles.

The Rules of Parking

There are specific parking rules to prohibit people from parking their vehicles in places where it can be risky and inconvenient for others. So, it is crucial that people know them in order to avoid any discomfort for others and for themselves.

The parking rules to be applied in urban areas:

On a two-way road

• • You can ‘stop’ or ‘park’ your vehicle on the right side, beside the pavement if it is in the direction of people walking.
  • You are not allowed to ‘stop’ or ‘park’ your vehicle on the left side.
  • The ‘stopping’ or ‘parking’ of the vehicle is approved in designated areas for parking.
  • You can park your vehicles in areas that are classified as ‘paid parking spaces.’

On a one-way road

• • You can ‘stop’ or ‘park’ your vehicle on the right side or on the left side, beside the pavement. 
  • You can ‘stop’ or ‘park’ your vehicle in car parking areas or in designated areas for parking.

At night or in areas with poor visibility

• • If the road is properly lit, there is no need to turn the headlight of your vehicle on, but you must switch on the front and rear lights of your vehicle in areas with poor light.

The parking rules to be applied outside urban areas

On a two-way road

• You can ‘stop’ or ‘park’ your vehicle on the shoulder of the road. If the right shoulder is not passable or not wide enough, you are allowed to park your vehicle on the left shoulder of the road.

At night or in areas with poor visibility

• It is compulsory that the driver switches on the front and rear light of the vehicle regardless of the road is well-lit or not.

Prohibition Cases

Stopping and Parking Prohibited

According to the Highway Code Sign (1), stopping and parking is prohibited from the side of the sign to the next intersection.

When a continuous yellow line is drawn on the edge of the roadway, stopping and parking is prohibited along the entire length of the line.

No Parking But Authorized Stopping

According to the Highway Code Sign (1), stopping is permitted but parking is prohibited from the side of the sign to the next intersection.

When a discontinuous yellow line is drawn on the edge of the road, parking is prohibited but stopping is allowed along this line.

Semi-Monthly Parking Ban

According to the Highway Code Sign (3/4), parking is prohibited on the side only during the period of the month marked on the sign.

Parking Prohibited But Stopping Allowed

There are several instances in which the driver is allowed to stop but cannot park, such as:

• Locations meant for delivery vehicles.
• In front of building entrances
• In the double-file by creating a niche
• In front of charging terminals of electric vehicles

Beware of Excessive Parking

There are several rules in every state regarding excessive parking. Therefore, drivers must be aware of these rules to avoid paying hefty fines.

In general, drivers are not permitted to park their vehicles at the same location for more than seven days in a row. These rules can vary from place to place. For instance, drivers cannot park at one location for more than 24 hours in Paris.

Drivers must look for appropriate signs to understand the parking rules.

Dangerous Stopping

Just like parking, stopping is considered dangerous if the visibility is insufficient for one of the following reasons:

• The vehicle is stopped at a hilltop.
• The vehicle is stopped at an intersection.
• The vehicle is stopped at a level crossing.
• The vehicle is stopped at a turn.

Stopping and Parking Prohibited

Drivers are not allowed to stop or park in the following cases:

• On pedestrian crossings
• On sidewalks
• In double file
• On a GIG or GIC location
• In an emergency stop location
• Next to a fire hydrant
• On emergency stop strips
• Near a continuous line
• On lanes reserved for cycles, buses, taxis or slow vehicles
• On bridges or in tunnels
• If the vehicle obscures the signal or the lights

What Precautions Should Be Taken by The Driver?

When a driver has stopped or parked his vehicle for a long time, he must follow proper guidelines to avoid any damage. Here are some things to note:

• The driver must engage the parking brake.
• They must turn the front wheels toward the sidewalk if the vehicle is parked on a slope.
• The gears must be engaged either in first gear for downhill, or reverse for uphill.

Car owners can use anti-theft devices such as blocked steering wheels or a high-security alarm to prevent any risk of theft.

It is also necessary to properly lock the vehicle and remove valuables from the passenger compartment. Finally, when getting out of the vehicle, the user must open the door carefully to avoid any mishaps.

 

Source: ornikar.com