Parking / Highway Code

irri_tant

Parking on the public highway. Which is the correct way to park?

Like the car on the left with headlights facing oncoming traffic or like the cars on the right with rear lights facing oncoming traffic.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&ll=54.624217,-1.282215&spn=0.000267,0.000699&hnear=TS23+3SR,+United+Kingdom&t=k&z=21&vpsrc=6

Link to relevant info in highway code would be nice please;)

sarahg1969

Did you try Googling it?

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_069860

FatAndy

"Parking at night
248

You MUST NOT park on a road at night facing against the direction of the traffic flow unless in a recognised parking space.

[Laws CUR reg 101 & RVLR reg 24]"

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_069860?CID=TAT&PLA=url_mon&CRE=highwaycode_parking

Basic common sense really. Cars have reflectors on the back but not the front so you want to park in the direction that makes you visible to oncoming motorists. Obviously it doesn't matter in the daytime though, you can park facing either way providing it's safe and legal to park at that location.

Flyboy152

What about parking lights, do they not negate the need for that rule?

irri_tant

sarahg1969 wrote: »

Did you try Googling it?

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_069860

Yes but

looked on the link at DirectGov but there appears to be no advanced search once there so gave up as I knew someone would do it for me.

I've been driving since 1976 and always recall that being the case just couldn't find the info.

You have been thanked.;)

That's the answer I was looking for. Now to remind the son who has passed his test in Sept 2011.

daveyjp

Parking lights have to be used once parked correctly (as per above threads) on stretches of road with a limit greater than 30mph.
249

All vehicles MUST display parking lights when parked on a road or a lay-by on a road with a speed limit greater than 30 mph (48 km/h).

[Law RVLR reg 24]

Flyboy152

daveyjp wrote: »

Parking lights have to be used once parked correctly (as per above threads) on stretches of road with a limit greater than 30mph.
249

All vehicles MUST display parking lights when parked on a road or a lay-by on a road with a speed limit greater than 30 mph (48 km/h).

[Law RVLR reg 24]

Not something that is widely enforced.

scheming_gypsy

aye, don't think i've ever heard of anybody being penalised for parking the wrong way round or not having parking lights on

Strider590

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

aye, don't think i've ever heard of anybody being penalised for parking the wrong way round or not having parking lights on

I know of someone having their car "strip searched" because he'd parked facing oncoming traffic with his headlights on and was unfortunate enough to have a grumpy Police officer driving the opposite way.

Personally, I think people doing this should be shot.... Cars in the UK have a headlight pattern which projects forward and left (to cover the side of the road), so when you park on the wrong side, your headlights are much more blinding to oncoming vehicles! Especially on a badly/unlit road!

Flyboy152

Strider590 wrote: »

I know of someone having their car "strip searched" because he'd parked facing oncoming traffic with his headlights on and was unfortunate enough to have a grumpy Police officer driving the opposite way.

Personally, I think people doing this should be shot.... Cars in the UK have a headlight pattern which projects forward and left (to cover the side of the road), so when you park on the wrong side, your headlights are much more blinding to oncoming vehicles! Especially on a badly/unlit road!

Surely every country's headlight pattern is the same; forward and directed to the nearside.

daveyjp

Flyboy152 wrote: »

Not something that is widely enforced.

If at all - I live near a 40 limit road which is littered with cars every evening. In 20 years I have never seen a ticket given.