If so, you could be risking a fine of up to £1,000!
Motorists who park the wrong way on a road could be risking a fine of up to £1,000 without even realising they’ve broken the rules. According to the Highway Code, drivers must park in the same direction as the flow of traffic at night if a marked parking space is not being used.
However, this rule is not widely known among UK motorists, who could be at risk of receiving a hefty fine if caught. The Highway Code stipulates that the rule is intended to prevent drivers from parking facing oncoming traffic on unlit roads, as this could lead to serious accidents.
How much can you be fined for parking the wrong way at night?
Motorists in cars caught flouting the rules of the Highway Code could be fined £1,000, rising to £2,500 for goods vehicles and passenger vehicles carrying eight people or more.
According to Scrapcarcomparison.co.uk, vehicles parked the wrong way at night are completely in darkness to passing drivers and would be difficult to see properly.
A spokesman for the site said: “Motors parked the correct way would be visible and illuminated by headlights bouncing off the rear reflectors.”
What does the highway code say?
In the Highway Code, Rule 248 states: “You MUST NOT park on a road at night facing against the direction of the traffic flow unless in a recognised parking space” – yet not many drivers are aware of this rule and could be risking a substantial fine as a result.
“We’ve dealt with cars that have been written off due to a passing car crashing into them as they’ve partly stuck out from a parking space,” added the Scrap Car Comparison spokesman.
So, during the day it’s not an issue, but as soon as it gets dark, drivers risk being fined for breaking the rules. In unlit areas, parking the wrong way can be particularly dangerous, as it’s a vehicle’s rear reflectors that alert passing cars to its presence.
Whilst there’s no risk to an offender’s driving licence, the fines associated with flouting this rule can be hefty.
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