As the evenings draw in, motorists are being reminded of a parking rule that could lead to fines of up to £1,000. Rule 248 of the Highway Code states: "You MUST NOT park on a road at night facing against the direction of the traffic flow unless in a recognised parking space."
Parking in the direction of traffic flow at night is required because facing the wrong way can reduce visibility and increase the risk of accidents. Breaking this rule can result in a fine of up to £1,000 for cars. For goods vehicles or passenger vehicles carrying more than eight people, the fine can rise to £2,500. These fines can be issued by police and local councils.
Expert warns rule is easy to overlook
Lee Caroline, motoring expert at Surrey car scrap company LJC Auto Spares, said it is an easy rule to overlook, particularly on residential streets where drivers may simply pull into the nearest available space. She said: "It's not something most people think about when they're parking. If there's a space outside your house, you tend to pull into it without considering which direction the car is facing."
She added: "But once it gets dark, that direction matters. If you're facing the wrong way, the car isn't being presented to approaching traffic in the way the rules require." The expert noted the rule is not about convenience for getting out in the morning, but about making parked vehicles easier for other drivers to see.
Reflectors and visibility
Caroline explained: "Your rear reflectors are there for a reason. When another car approaches, its headlights can pick up those reflectors and make the parked vehicle more obvious." She warned: "If you've parked facing the other way, the driver coming towards you isn't getting that same reflection from the back of your car. On a dark or poorly lit road, that's not something you want to rely on."
She advised drivers to do a simple check before leaving the car: "Just look at the direction you're facing. If you're parked on the road rather than in a marked parking space, you should be facing the same way as the traffic." She added: "It takes seconds to check, and it's a much better habit to get into than finding out about the rule because you've received a fine."
Rule 249 of the Highway Code also states: "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)."
