Parking restrictions are used to prevent vehicles parking by the side of the road. Double yellow lines are the most common parking restriction used - they do not allow vehicles to wait at the side of the road at any time. However, loading or unloading from the vehicle is permitted, and setting down or picking passengers is also permitted.
Single yellow lines and ‘School Keep Clear’ markings have different rules. There will be an upright sign with information about when vehicles are not allowed to park - this could exclude certain times of the day or weekdays for example.
Double yellow lines
Effectiveness
Double yellow lines are normally very effective at preventing vehicles parking where they are painted. In residential areas with many children, there is a large safety benefit in reducing the amount of cars parked on the street. Child pedestrians are less visible to car drivers because a line of parked cars hides the child from car drivers. However, parked cars narrow the road and reduces speeds as they act as temporary traffic calming.
Parking restrictions around junctions may be particularly useful, as this allows both the child and car drivers to see oncoming vehicles.
Advantages
- Prevent vehicles blocking access to homes or business by parking in front of entrances
- Keep traffic flowing on roads which are not wide enough for parked vehicles and moving traffic
- Assist child pedestrians to cross the road at junctions, where they may not be able to see over the top of cars
- Discourages car use in central areas, which may help to ease congestion
Disadvantages
- Installing parking restrictions with yellow lines requires a long legal process which involves consulting people and businesses in the surrounding area. This makes double yellow lines a very expensive measure
- In residential areas, losing parking space may be an issue for people trying to park near their home
- In areas near shops and other businesses, customers using their cars may not be able to park easily
- Removing parking entirely can result in higher vehicle speeds
Access protection markings
White lines could be used to highlight the existence of a private access. White lines or "H-bars" do not require a legal process, so they are significantly cheaper and quicker to install.
To find out more about how to apply for an access protection marking, see our dropped kerb and access protection markings webpage.
Restrictions
- Difficult to paint on cobbled streets / poor road surfaces
- Cambridgeshire won't install yellow lines on private land unless the land owner requests it, and the Council is reimbursed
- Compliance can be low if enforcement is unlikely
- This scheme requires a Traffic Regulation Order
Cost of installation
