Motorists parking at major UK supermarkets such as Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda and Morrisons could be hit with a £100 parking bill for a simple mistake, according to a leading expert. Amanda Roscoe, signage and print expert at Carrick Signs, warned that drivers who use parent and child bays without being accompanied by a child under the age of 12 may face private parking charges.
Parent and child bay rules
These bays are designated for drivers with children under 12 and are typically located closer to store entrances for convenience. However, many road users ignore the rules and park there anyway. Roscoe explained that while misuse of these bays does not usually result in a legal fine, some supermarket car parks have their own regulations and can issue private parking charges.
“Parent and child spaces are probably one of the most debated signs in supermarket car parks. People often see an empty space and think they'll only be a few minutes, but these bays are there to make life easier for parents who need extra room for car seats, buggies and getting children in and out of the car safely,” said Roscoe. She added that charges for breaking the terms displayed on signs are often around £60 to £100.
Public support for penalties
A survey of 1,000 UK motorists conducted by Tiger.co.uk found that 63% of drivers had witnessed someone parking in a parent and child bay without qualifying. In response, 51% of those surveyed supported car park operators issuing penalties for incorrect use of the bays.
The RAC previously stated that supermarkets themselves decide how to penalise motorists for breaking car park rules. “Supermarket car parks are private property. Any rules about their use will be enforced by the supermarket themselves or by a private firm allocated to manage them. Many of these firms are members of the British Parking Association (BPA) and must adhere to the organisation’s operator scheme code of practice,” the RAC said. They added that if an operator is not a BPA member, they could be registered with an alternative Accredited Trade Association (ATA).
