Keep Clear Markings
A General Guide
Find information about Keep Clear Markings
at:
Private Accesses
(policy) (October 2004)
Schools (a general
guide)
(i) Keep Clear
markings for single or dual accesses will consist of a single white
line equal in length, and corresponding with, the actual vehicle
opening for which it is intended. No written legend will be
permitted.
(ii) Keep Clear
markings for single or dual accesses will only be permitted
immediately adjacent to the vehicle opening for which it is
intended. Markings opposite the entrance will not be
permitted.
(iii) Where two properties
share a common access, or where two accesses form a single
continuous access, a single white line across both accesses only
will be permitted. Written permission will be required from
both properties before the marking can be authorised. Cost of
covering both accesses will be the same as for a single access.
(iv) Cost of Keep Clear
markings will be £100 per access (including a dual access – see
(iii) above).
(v) Where existing
Keep Clear markings for private accesses are refurbished, a white
line corresponding to the existing marking will be retained, but
the written legend will be omitted.
(vi) The legend `Keep Clear’
may be considered in the following cases:
(a) where a single entrance
serves multiple properties (does not include adjacent
driveways)
(b) to provide access to a
commercial premises
(c) to keep parked
vehicles clear of a pedestrian drop kerb
(d) at a private access
where the applicant is a disabled badge holder
(e) for road safety reasons,
pending the installation of waiting restrictions.
Find out more:
Keep Clear Markings Report
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Introduction
Inconsiderate parking by parents delivering and collecting their
children to and from school is a widespread problem and one which
is particularly intractable. Parents rarely leave or move far from
their vehicles and in these circumstances conventional parking
restrictions may have little or no effect.
The purpose of providing School Keep Clear markings is to keep
the space outside of schools free from parked vehicles so that
children can be seen more easily when crossing the road.
History
School Keep Clear markings were first prescribed in the 1964
Traffic Signs Regulations. At the time, they consisted of broken
white lines forming a box containing the words "School
Entrance".
The prescribed marking was then changed in 1975 to what we know
today - a yellow zig-zag line projecting into the road with the
words "School Keep Clear" between the zig-zags. This has proved
effective in discouraging parking. The current markings arrangement
has since been prescribed in all Traffic Signs Regulations.
Mandatory and enforceable restrictions were tried in experiments
in the old London GLC area from 1975-1978, in Nottingham from
1980-1981 and in the London Borough of Croydon from 1988-1989.
However, the ensuing results showed that the minority who disregard
the advisory markings were not deterred by mandatory signing.
Regular enforcement is therefore necessary to obtain any
improvement. Enforcement is currently the responsibility of the
Police and Bath & North East Somerset's Parking Attendants.
A vehicle parked on markings such as School Keep Clears is
considered to be causing an obstruction. In practice however,
evidence of obstruction would be necessary if prosecution were
envisaged. Drivers are advised not to wait on such markings in the
Highway Code.
Parents should know that it is in their child's interest that
School Keep Clear markings are observed, and that children learn
vital road safety skills by walking to school. For more advice
please refer to
Child Pedestrian Training and/or
Safer Routes to School.
The School Keep Clear Marking information has been reproduced by
kind permission of Bristol City Council
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