Motorists are being warned to check how they park after drivers have been caught out by hefty fines for a little-known mistake. One driver took to social media to ask why they had been fined for parking in the "wrong direction", pointing out that it is something seen on streets across the UK.
They said on Reddit: "Why did I get a parking ticket for 'parking the wrong direction' when everyone on the street got one and we're all facing different directions?"
What the Highway Code says
According to Rule 248 of the Highway Code, drivers must not park on a road at night facing against the direction of traffic flow, unless they are parked in a recognised parking space. The rule is easy to overlook, particularly on residential streets where drivers may simply pull into the first available space.
Lee Caroline, a motoring expert at Surrey car scrap company LJC Auto Spares, 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.
"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."
Why the rule exists
The rule is not about which direction is more convenient when you are ready to drive away - it is designed to make parked vehicles more visible to other motorists. Lee 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.
"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."
How much could you be fined?
Motorists could face a fine of up to £1,000 for breaking the rule, while the potential penalty can rise to £2,500 for goods vehicles and passenger vehicles carrying more than eight people.
Lee urged drivers to take a moment to check their car before walking away from it at night. He said: "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. It takes seconds to check."
