[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/pavement-parking\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/pavement-parking\/","headline":"Pavement parking: Should it be banned?","name":"Pavement parking: Should it be banned?","description":"Pavement parking has long been a confusing grey area. When faced with a not-particularly wide road, do you plonk your car completely in the road and risk it picking up a scrape, prang or worse? Or do you tease a section of the car onto the pavement and potentially inconvenience any passing pedestrians, some of whom may be wheelchair users or buggy-pushing parents? There seems to be no winners in this situation and you can\u2019t go a few days without […]","datePublished":"2018-12-11","dateModified":"2018-12-13","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/#Person","name":"Isabelle Lawrence","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/","identifier":30,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Pavement-parking-feature.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Pavement-parking-feature.jpg","height":520,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/pavement-parking\/","about":["LATEST CAR NEWS"],"wordCount":544,"keywords":["Parked cars","Pavement parking","Pavements"],"articleBody":"Pavement parking has long been a confusing grey area.When faced with a not-particularly wide road, do you plonk your car completely in the road and risk it picking up a scrape, prang or worse? Or do you tease a section of the car onto the pavement and potentially inconvenience any passing pedestrians, some of whom may be wheelchair users or buggy-pushing parents?There seems to be no winners in this situation and you can\u2019t go a few days without spotting something in local media about someone who\u2019s gotten hot under the collar about a car-blocked pavement.What the law saysPeople are fully entitled to get irate about pavement parking, but what does the law actually say about it?In London, you simply cannot park on the pavement and doing so is likely to result in a \u00a370 fine.Outside of the capital though, matters aren\u2019t so cut and dry. The Highway Code says that drivers should not park on the pavement. Note the use of \u2018should\u2019 there. This is advisory and\u00a0 not backed up by any legislation.The actual rule says drivers must not leave their vehicle or trailer \u2018in a dangerous position or where it causes any unnecessary obstruction of the road\u2019.So it\u2019s subjective. If your car is deemed to be either dangerously positioned or unnecessarily obstructive, you could be hit with a fine.In summary, outside of London, use your common sense and consider whether your parking is inconveniencing other road users. If it is, perhaps you should find a different spot.What\u2019s changingThere could be change afoot as Scotland is currently looking to follow in London\u2019s footsteps and introduce fines for pavement parkers.All of England and Wales could also adapt the approach too, with the UK government currently reviewing the situation.Transport minister Jesse Norman revealed that the Department for Transport is \u201cnow undertaking a broader piece of work to gather evidence on the issue of pavement parking\u201d.His department was expected to draw conclusions before the end of 2018 but that seems unlikely at this late stage.What do Brits think about pavement parking?Most of us are fine with it apparently. A survey by online parking portal YourParkingSpace.co.uk revealed that millions of Brits regularly park on a pavement – with one in ten doing it every single day.It was a weekly occurrence for more than one in 20, while just under a fifth admitted they had done it but did not know how often.A separate survey from earlier this year found that over half (55 per cent) were against banning pavement parking.Harrison Woods, managing director at YourParkingSpace.co.uk, said a nationwide ban would \u201caffect the parking habits of millions\u201d.He commented: \u201cParking on a pavement can cause real inconvenience to pedestrians but some motorists feel it can be their only option.\u201cOur advice, where pavement parking is currently allowed, is to always make sure there\u2019s plenty of room for pedestrians to get past and to be aware of people with a pushchair, with a visual impairment or in a wheelchair.\u201dWhat\u2019s your view on pavement parking? Should it be banned or should we retain the common sense approach? Let us know down in the comments. "},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Latest News","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Pavement parking: Should it be banned?","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/pavement-parking\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]