Yellow horizontal lines

[jaynethepain]

Trying to find the answer on the net but not having much luck!

I live on one corner of a side road and on the other side there is a small school which has yellow zig-zag lines outside as you would expect. There are no parking restriction lines/signs outside my house. However, there are yellow horizontal lines painted from the junction, spaced approx 20feet apart, which start at the junction and finish approximately where the zig-zag lines finish opposite.

I am assuming that these lines are there as a warning to drivers that there is a school and a junction coming up but there doesn't seem to be any information in the highway code regarding this. What I want to know is, is it legal to park on the road where these lines are (mainly for visitors as I have off-road parking).

Many thanks in advance.

[Toureman]

Kingston these restrictions are provided for safety reasons to ensure clear sight lines for both motorists and children outside schools. They are identified by yellow zig-zag lines (see example) and large yellow signs (see examples) placed either in the centre of or at the ends of the restrictions.



The times and dates of the restrictions may vary between areas or even between two different schools in the same road.



Please check signs carefully before parking or stopping on the markings.

No vehicles, including vehicles showing a Disabled Person’s Blue Badge, are permitted to stop within the area of the markings during the times and dates the restriction is in force, even for picking up or setting down of passengers. Additionally, you must not load or unload within the restricted area during the time and period that the restriction is in operation.

If the school lies within a Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) then the Keep Clear section will also be covered by a single yellow line restriction which prohibits parking within the School Keep Clear section during the CPZ controlled hours. The CPZ controlled hours will not necessarily be the same as the School Keep Clear restriction. If you are not sure of the CPZ hours of control you must check the CPZ entry signs, permit parking bay signs or signs at a Pay and Display machine which will show the times and days of control.

However according to this news article, Bristol council brought in new rules for yellow zig zags that were already there. I would presume therefore that councils decide which ones should be enforceable and which ones are merely cosmetic. I would assume that the difference lies with whether it has a time plate. As for whether only council traffic wardens or police officers (or both) can enforce these I have no idea.

[jaynethepain]

Thank you Toureman. There are no kerbside signs showing any restrictions (times or days) whatsoever so am assuming that it is OK to park/wait/unload without any problems, would that be your opinion?

[whiskeryron]

My simple answer would be follow your instinct, i.e. If you think or are not sure that parking there is illegal then it probably is, so do not park there at all.

WR.