{"id":7565,"date":"2023-10-25T14:09:45","date_gmt":"2023-10-25T13:09:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scrapcarnetwork.org\/news\/?p=7565"},"modified":"2025-02-27T00:26:19","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T00:26:19","slug":"the-most-important-dos-and-donts-of-parking-on-the-road","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scrapcarnetwork.org\/news\/the-most-important-dos-and-donts-of-parking-on-the-road\/","title":{"rendered":"The most important do\u2019s and don\u2019ts of parking on the road"},"content":{"rendered":"

Parking on the road is one of those things that sounds simple enough when you say it, but it can actually be one of the single most nerve-wracking things you can do as a driver \u2013 especially if you\u2019ve got to do it with cars zipping past you at high speed, or piling up behind you and waiting patiently (or otherwise).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, we\u2019re all about making things easy for you when you scrap your car here at Scrap Car Network \u2013 so we thought we\u2019d take the opportunity to make things easier for you when it comes to parking on the road, too. Here\u2019s exactly what you need to know to help you park easily, quickly, and safely!<\/p>\n

The do\u2019s of parking on the road<\/h1>\n

Whether you\u2019re parking in a quiet residential road or on the street in a major city centre, there are a couple of things it\u2019s always worth bearing in mind. Some of them fall into the realm of general common sense, whereas others aren\u2019t quite as obvious if you\u2019ve not been driving too long! \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Do follow road signs and markings<\/b><\/h3>\n

It\u2019s often relatively easy to work out where you are and aren\u2019t allowed to park, because it\u2019ll be clearly indicated by road signs and markings (and sometimes even physical obstacles, like bollards). Make sure that you look out for these and adhere to them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Do park in designated parking bays<\/b><\/h3>\n

Following directly on from our last point \u2013 wherever possible, it\u2019s always a good idea to try and make sure you park within designated parking bays. (These are normally marked with white lines.) Don\u2019t forget to ensure that all your wheels are fully within the bay\u2019s lines \u2013 if you end up parking crooked, or too far to one side, you could prevent someone else from parking in the space next to you, or prevent either of you from opening your doors properly to get out.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Do pay for parking when required<\/b><\/h3>\n

We know, nobody likes to do it. But almost every paid parking area is very hard to miss \u2013 there will be signs all over the place telling you that you\u2019ll need to hand over a bit of money for the privilege of leaving your car there. Pay-and-display zones are the most common, so make sure to get a ticket, or use a designated payment method.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Do park in the direction of the traffic flow<\/b><\/h3>\n

This is one to remember when you\u2019re parallel parking in particular \u2013 ideally, you\u2019ll want to make sure that your vehicle is facing in the same direction as the flow of traffic. Most of the time this is probably going to be the left side of the road. (When it comes to areas like industrial estates and company parking spaces though \u2013 it can all be a bit of a wild west.)<\/p>\n

Do \u2013 give way to pedestrians<\/b><\/h3>\n

There\u2019s no question that one of the trickiest things to deal with while parking is attempting to account for moving obstacles \u2013 especially pedestrians. But don\u2019t be tempted to make them move for you; according to the Highway Code, you\u2019ll always need to give way to pedestrians, and make sure you don\u2019t block pedestrian crossings.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The don\u2019ts of parking on the road<\/h1>\n

So we\u2019ve covered all the stuff you\u2019ll need to do. Here\u2019s some of the most vital things you\u2019ll need to make sure you avoid!<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t ignore specific road markings<\/b><\/h3>\n

Just like you\u2019ll need to keep an eye out for designated parking bays, you\u2019ll also need to keep an eye out for specific road markings that tell you that you can\u2019t park in certain places. Double yellow lines are some of the most widely recognised symbols that indicated no-parking zones, whereas single-yellows can be restricted depending on the time of day, and can vary by location. Generally, there will be a sign nearby telling you when the single-yellows are in operation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Whatever happens, make sure that you don\u2019t park on zigzag lines. These are used to indicate strictly prohibited no-parking zones, and they\u2019re commonly used near pedestrian crossings, school crossings, and similar areas.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t ignore explicit no-parking road signs<\/b><\/h3>\n

Very similar to our last point, no-parking zones will often be surrounded by very obvious signs specifically telling you not to park there, and sometimes telling you why. \u201cNo Parking\u201d, \u201cNo Waiting\u201d and \u201cKeep Clear\u201d are some of the most common \u2013 but see how many others you can spot in the wild.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t cause obstructions<\/b><\/h2>\n

We\u2019ve already mentioned the importance of accounting for pedestrians \u2013 by the same token, you\u2019ll need to avoid parking in front of private driveways, entrances, or access points. If you\u2019re lucky, you\u2019ll get a snotty note \u2013 and if you\u2019re unlucky, you may find your car vandalised or even entirely removed, if you\u2019ve blocked a commercial entrance. Parking directly on the pavement is also strongly advised against, and in some cases it may even be a specific offence \u2013 it makes life very difficult pedestrians, especially if they\u2019re partially-sighted or wheelchair users.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t park too close to junctions<\/b><\/h3>\n

It can sometimes be an easy mistake to make, but it\u2019s one that could have serious consequences. If you park too close to a junction or intersection, it can sometimes prevent other drivers from seeing your car in time, which could potentially lead to a crash.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t overstay your parking time<\/b><\/h3>\n

If you do find yourself leaving your car in a paid parking area, you\u2019ll generally only be able to pay for a set time limit. It\u2019s worth setting some kind of timer to ensure you don\u2019t go over that time, because you can find yourself saddled with some pretty hefty financial penalties if so!<\/p>\n

Those are all our top tips \u2013 ultimately, almost every parking situation is slightly different, so mostly it\u2019s a matter of staying calm, alert, and in control. And when it comes to scrapping your car, that\u2019s where we like to help give you equally secure peace of mind, too! All you need to do is\u00a0enter your car reg and postcode<\/b><\/span><\/a>\u00a0into the fields on our site, and we\u2019ll get you an instant online quote before you can say cash for cars. It only takes a few seconds. Curious to find out how much your car is worth?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Parking on the road is one of those things that sounds simple enough when you say it, but it can actually be one of the single most nerve-wracking things you can do as a driver \u2013 especially if you\u2019ve got to do it with cars zipping past you at high speed, or piling up behind […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":113,"featured_media":7589,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[16],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n