Road Markings and Signage - Yellow Lines
A General Guide
Introduction
It is a common misconception that drivers have a legal right to
park on the public highway. Many householders also mistakenly
believe that the length of highway outside their home is for their
personal use. In fact, the basic rule is that the only right the
public have with respect to the highway is to travel along it.
Theoretically, any vehicle parked on the highway, other than in a
designated parking place could be considered to be causing an
obstruction and interfering with the right of other highway users.
However, it was recognised many years ago that, with a growing
number of privately owned vehicles on the roads, a more positive
form of control over parking behaviour was required. Legislation
followed to allow local highway authorities to identify lengths of
road in which waiting was restricted.
Types of Waiting Restriction
Currently, the most commonly used waiting restrictions in Bath
& North East Somerset include:
- Double Yellow Lines - used where waiting is prohibited
24 hours a day, 7 days a
week.
- Single Yellow Lines - used where waiting is
prohibited for less than the full 24-hour day. These can be used in
association with white bay markings where waiting is prohibited for
short periods such as peak
hours.
- White Bay Markings indicate that waiting is
permitted for a limited period. These may be charged for (such as
pay-and-display).
- Yellow Kerb Markings (blips) indicate loading
/ unloading bans - double blips mean no loading 24 hours a day, 7
days a week, single blips for any lesser
period.
- Residents Parking - normally only available to
permit holders during working hours. For more details
see Parking.
Drivers should always look at the signs accompanying the road
markings to see the precise details of the restrictions in force
and the times of operation.
Clearways impose restrictions on waiting and sometimes stopping.
Signing alone and no road markings indicate these restrictions.
They are used primarily on major traffic routes.
Why are Waiting Restrictions Needed?
Waiting restrictions are required primarily for safety and to
prevent obstruction. Other reasons include:
- Protecting visibility at junctions and some pedestrian crossing
places;
- Ensuring the turn-over of waiting areas with a high demand
(such as shopping areas);
- To maintain access for servicing and
emergencies;
- To manage commuter parking.
All waiting restrictions require a
Traffic Regulation Order (TRO).
The TRO process requires significant engineering time, and legal
and financial resources. Therefore, it is usually not cost
effective to implement restrictions in individual locations, but is
more cost effective to deal with schemes on an area-wide basis.
Where there is a need to protect entrances etc, it may be possible
to install white Keep Clear markings, which are advisory
only.
Waiting restriction schemes usually attract objections during
the statutory consultation process, particularly in residential and
retail areas, where parking interests sometimes conflict. The
Council has the difficult task of balancing the conflicting demands
for parking space against the requirements of road safety and
access.
This information has been reproduced by kind permission of Bristol
City Council
