Obscure parking rules you might not know

Even the most experienced drivers could be caught out by some of the more obscure rules and regulations of The Highway Code, so IAM RoadSmart have rounded up some of the most unusual parking rules to help you avoid a hefty fine.

Don’t save a space

Using wheelie bins, cones or other objects to reserve a parking space near your house or workspace could see drivers fined as it may be seen as causing a dangerous obstruction on the road.

Leave the lights on

Vehicles parked on a road where the speed limit is more than 30mph, facing away from the traffic or outside of a designated parking area should technically have their side lights left on overnight, to help prevent a nasty collision.

Parking on a hill

Motorists are allowed to park on a hill; however, you must do a few things to ensure your car stays safe and secure while parked:

• Park close to the kerb and apply the handbrake firmly
• Select a forward gear and turn your steering wheel away from the kerb when facing uphill.
• Select reverse gear and turn your steering wheel towards the kerb when facing downhill.

Don’t cross the line

You must not park on a road marked with double white lines, even when a broken white line is on your side of the road, except to pick up or drop off passengers, or to load or unload goods.

Go Dutch

Ever heard of the Dutch reach? It’s a safety technique for motorists that’s been in use in the Netherlands since at least the 1970s. Its aim is to stop cyclists (and pedestrians) from being hit by car doors as they pass parked cars. The method involves opening the car door from the inside with the hand furthest from the handle. That gives you a chance to check your mirrors and blind spots for passing people or cars.

Director of Policy and Research at IAM Roadsmart, Neil Greig, says:

“With a host of new laws being proposed to ban pavement parking it's never been more important to keep up to date with current laws and best practice.  A safely parked car is less likely to be hit by another vehicle or to mask a child or other vulnerable road user.  You should give as much thought to how you leave your car parked as you do to driving it safely on the road.”