Are you allowed to park on the pavement? Is it illegal to do so? For your own safety as well as that of other road users, it’s crucial to know the rules around pavement parking.
In recent years campaign groups have been calling on governments to ban motorists from parking on the pavement. But while some parts of the UK have introduced bans, others haven’t.
EASY AS HACK
Parking on the pavement in London and Edinburgh could get you a fine, but in other parts of the UK it’s not strictly an offence.
At a Glance
- Over recent years, campaign groups have been calling on the government to ban pavement parking
- Parking on the pavement can be an obstruction but it’s not an offence in most parts of the UK
- The rules can vary depending on where you liveGive the ‘new keeper’ details to the new owner
Scotland, Wales, England and Northern Ireland are each currently responsible for their own laws. And in England, there’s a law for London and other rules for everywhere else. This means pavement parking rules differ according to where you are.
To simplify things, here are the key points you need to know about parking on the pavement in the UK.
What is pavement parking?
First let’s cover the basics. Pavement parking is when one or more of a vehicle’s wheels are on the pavement. [1]
This might happen because of a lack of private or off-street parking (especially on narrow streets), so motorists feel they have no choice but to park on the pavement.
For pedestrians, especially disabled people and those with pushchairs, pavement parking can be an obstruction. It stops people from having full access to the pavement and means they might have to walk in the road instead.
Can you park on the pavement in the UK?
The short answer: it depends on where you are in the UK.
According to the Highway Code, you must not park partially or wholly on the pavement in London and Edinburgh, and should not do so elsewhere.
This means parking on the pavement in London and Edinburgh is a punishable offence but in other parts of the UK it’s not necessarily an offence. But if you park in a way that’s considered an obstruction or dangerous, you could still be fined.
parking on the pavement in london and edinburgh
Since 1974, Highway Code rule 244 has stated that drivers "must not park partially or wholly on the pavement in London."
This means there is legislation behind this rule, and you could get fined for breaking it.
The same applies in Edinburgh. In January 2024, the City of Edinburgh Council introduced a ban on pavement parking [2] .This means anyone found to be parking on the pavement will get a fine.
Fines for parking on the pavement
If you park on the pavement in London, you can expect to receive a fine of between £40 and £130.[3]
In Edinburgh, anyone found parking on pavements, or on a path, double parked, parked at a crossing point or parked on a verge between roads could receive a fine of £100 (reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days)[4].
will there be a full Ban on pavement parking soon?
The government consulted on pavement parking[5] back in 2020, but this has produced no outcome so far.
Campaign groups are calling on the government to introduce a full pavement parking ban across Britain.
Where else am I not allowed to park?
As motorists, it’s your duty to be a safe driver. To prevent obstructions, the Highway Code says you must not stop or park in certain locations, except when forced to do so by stationary traffic. These locations include:[6]
- Near a school entrance
- Anywhere that would prevent access for emergency vehicles
- Opposite a traffic island or another parked vehicle (if it causes an obstruction)
- Where you would force another vehicle to enter a tram lane
- Where the kerb has been lowered to help wheelchair and mobility vehicle users
- A pedestrian crossing, including the area marked by the zig-zag lines
- On the carriageway or the hard shoulder of a motorway (except in an emergency)
- A road marked with central double white lines, even if a broken white line is on your side of the road, except for dropping off, picking up, loading or unloading
- On a bus or tram stop, or a taxi rank
- In front of an entrance to a property
- On a bend
Find out more about Ageas car insurance.
Sources
[1] https://hackney.gov.uk/pavement-parking
[3] Is it illegal to park on the pavement? | Auto Express
[4] New parking rules – The City of Edinburgh Council
[5] https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/managing-pavement-parking
