Parking and Loading
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The information below sets out in simple terms the legal requirements for signs and roadmarkings. It also includes examples of where local authorities have got it wrong.

Click here to see if your ticket complies with the law.

All signs and roadmarkings are subject to detailed requirements as set out in legislation called the 'Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions' (TSRGD) 2002.  In the TSRGD, each sign and roadmarking is given a unique reference called a 'diagram' number. Below each section in Red are links to the relevant diagrams from the TSRGD contained within the Signs and Roadmarkings page. An explanation of how these diagrams work and the regulations associated with each diagram can be found in the Signs Regulations section. Any signs or roadmarkings which do not comply with the TSRGD are illegal and cannot be enforced, unless they have specific approval from the Department for Transport (DfT).

In addition, all parking and loading restrictions (except bus stops and zig zags) must be accompanied by a Traffic order which matches the restriction on the street.

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1. Parking Regulations

There are many different types of parking restrictions. The following is a list of the most common and the regulations surrounding these.

Yellow lines 

Single Yellow Lines

Single yellow lines can be stand alone or part of a Controlled Zone.

Single yellow lines outside a controlled zone must be accompanied by a sign. The regulations state these signs must be placed at 'regular intervals'.   According to the guidance in Chapter 3 of the Traffic Signs Manual "Signs must be placed every 60m"

TSRGD Reference: The single yellow line is represented by diagram 1017. The signs for single yellow lines are 637.3 and 639. These can also be combined with signs for loading and limited stay parking 639.1B and 640  

Double Yellow Lines

Double Yellow Lines are 'No waiting at any time' and no longer require signs. They still however require a traffic order.

TSRGD Reference: The double yellow line is represented by diagram 1018.1

Termination bars

Single and double yellow lines must have termination bars (or 'T' bars) as shown in the TSRGD diagrams. Some local authorities will try and claim that these bars are not required when the yellow line ends at a parking bay or other marking. This is an urban myth with no basis in legislation. To clarify the matter, Chapter 5 of the Traffic Signs Manual produced by the Department for Transport (DfT) provides guidance on the use of roadmarkings. It confirms the TSRGD and referring to yellow lines (paragraph 20.3, p116), it states:

“A transverse mark must be placed at each end of a line, where one type of line changes to another (see figure 20-1), where it abuts a bay marking or a zig-zag line and at a point where a vertical sign indicates the time period changes, but the road marking remains the same."

Compliant	Not compliant	Not compliant

However, a word of caution. Adjudicators are now ignoring the law and refusing appeals on this basis. One case which appealed on the basis of a missing T bar was lost at the adjudicator in 2003. A case summary can be found here: London Borough of Camden v Mr K J Minier. The legality of this decision is very questionable as the adjudicator dismissed the fact that the line did not comply with the TSRGD on the basis that "The law does not concern itself with trifles" and "it cannot possibly be said that Mr Minier or any other motorist would be misled or confused by the absence of T-bars". Confused or not is not the point, the line does not comply with the regulations and so therefore is not valid. Ticketfighter therefore believes this decision was wrong.

Controlled Zones

A controlled zone is an area of restricted parking. Single yellow lines within a controlled zone do not need to be individually signed, unless their hours of operation differ from that of the zone. Parking bays need to be signed if they differ in any way from the information on the controlled zone sign (eg they are residents only). All entrances to the zone must be signed as stated in Regulation 4 of the TSGRD. As specified in Direction 8, signs should be placed on both sides of the road , except when: (i) traffic proceeding on another road on which it is permitted to proceed only in one direction turns into the relevant road; or (ii) the carriageway of the relevant road is less than 5 metres wide and the sign is so placed that its centre is within 2 metres of the edge of the carriageway.

Note the words 'controlled zone' (which may be varied, check the TSRGD references below) must be above the no parking logo. This example from Scotland shows a motorist who successfully appealed because they were below the logo. Most people wouldn't even realise something so simple would be grounds for an appeal!

TSRGD Reference: Controlled zone sign 663, Voucher parking zone sign 663.1 and Pedestrian zone sign 637.2

Parking Bays 

Pay and display, limited stay, motorcycle, doctor, residents and business permit parking bays

	All parking bays must be accompanied by a sign (except in certain circumstances in a controlled zone, see above). Where a bay is long, it must contain repeater signs at regular intervals. According to the guidance in Chapter 3 of the Traffic Signs Manual (page 69), signs should be placed a maximum of 30m apart. All the bays listed above should be marked by a white box of width between 1.8m to 2.7m.
	For bays with individually marked spaces, the beginning and end of a section of these should have double white lines
	Bays without individually marked spaces should start and end with a single row of white lines. Many authorities such as Ealing get this wrong. See below for text for an appeals letter in this case.

TSRGD Reference:

Disabled parking bays

Disabled bays must have a white bay and be accompanied by a sign. The minimum length of the bay is 6.6m. The word ‘Disabled’ on the road and can be included or omitted.

TSRGD Reference: Sign 661A which can be used with roadmarkings 1028.3, 1032 and 1033.

Bus Stops and Stands

Bus stops should have a thick yellow line and must be accompanied by a clearway sign. They do not require a traffic order.

TSRGD reference: Signs 974 and 975 which can be used with roadmarkings 1025.1, 1025.3 and 1025.4

Urban Clearways

Clearways are lengths of main road which do not allow parking. They do not require roadmarkings but do need to be signed at regular intervals.   TSRGD Reference: Clearways are designated by signs 646 and 650.1.

Taxi Bays

Taxi bays should have a sign and bay marking as per below

TSRGD Reference: Taxi signs 650.1, 650.2, 650.3 and 640 (when when the upper panel is varied to the sign shown in diagram 650.3). Taxi bay roadmarking 1028.2

Footway Parking and Dropped Kerbs

In London there is a complete prohibition on footway parking. Vehicles may only park where there it is designated with signs. This includes parking with one or more wheels on the footway. Outside London if parking on a footway or verge is prohibited then there must be a sign indicating the prohibition. It should be noted that this also applies to motorcycles where, following a key case in 2001, pavement lights and forecourts are considered ‘public highway’ for the purposes of parking enforcement.

TSRGD Reference: Footway parking is designated by signs 667, 667.1 and 667.2

Footway has the definition as per section 329(1) of the Highways Act 1980 i.e.:

“footway” means a way comprised in a highway which also comprises a carriageway, being a way over which the public have a right of way on foot only"

Section 14 of the London Local Authorities and Transport for London Act 2003 and section 86 of the Traffic Management Act 2004 prohibit parking adjacent to a dropped kerb in London and the rest of England. Also included in this link are the exceptions to the rule such as loading. A dropped kerb is defined as "any part of the footway or verge where it has been lowered to meet the level of the carriageway for a road for the purpose of assisting pedestrians to cross or assisting vehicle to enter or leave the road across the footway or verge.” With footway parking and dropped kerbs in London, no traffic order or signs are required to enforce these restrictions.

Zig-Zag Markings

Zig-zags associated with zebra and pelican crossings require no signs or a traffic order but they do need to be advertised before they are implemented. They are governed by these regulations and can be enforced by the police or local authority, with 3 points awarded if you are ticketed by the former.

Red Routes

The regulations governing red routes are separate from those covering other roads. The signs and red lines are not contained in the TSRGD but they have had DfT approval.

Unlike double yellow lines, double red lines must be accompanied by an 'at any time' sign. Single red lines should have a limited time sign.

Where signs indicate that parking or loading is allowed at any time of day, these should be accompanied by a white box.

Where signs indicate that parking or loading is allowed only during certain times, these should be accompanied by a red box.

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2. Loading Regulations

What exactly is loading?

The exact definition of what constitutes loading is matter for debate. This page from the Association of London Government gives some information. Additionally many cases have gone to appeal and it has been up to the adjudicator to decide if a particular case constituted loading. Examples of these appeals can be found in these key cases. In summary these show that generally, picking up or dropping off goods and filling out the associated paperwork is allowed. Loading does not include shopping, but does include pre paid collections. For instance stopping outside Argos, going through a catalogue, purchasing the goods then taking them to the vehicle is not loading. However stopping to collect pre paid goods at the shop would be allowed.

Many people receive tickets for carrying out legitimate loading activities where there is clearly no prohibition on loading. In these cases you should always appeal and when appealing be sure to include proof of loading such as a delivery note. This should be adequate for the ticket to be cancelled. However if you are ticketed in a location where there is or the council claims there is a loading ban, check the regulations below....

Single and double yellow lines

A single stripe means loading is not allowed during certain times. Two stripes means it is not allowed at any time. The loading restriction must have both a sign and kerb stripes to be valid. In addition the signs must be clearly visible and provided at regular intervals. Loading signs may be attached to a variety of other signs. The same rules apply at both single and double yellow lines.

TSRGD Reference: Pedestrian zone sign 637.2, at any time sign 638, no loading at certain times sign 638.1, combined waiting and loading signs 639.1B and 640, controlled and voucher parking zone signs 663 and 663.1. Single kerb stripe 1019 and double kerb stripe 1020.1

 Loading bays

Loading bays must have the words ‘Loading only’ written on the road as well as a sign. The sign can be varied to 'Goods vehicles loading only' and the definition of a goods vehicle is: "a motor vehicle or trailer constructed or adapted for use for the carriage or haulage of goods or burden of any description" TSRGD Reference: Loading sign 660.4 and roadmarkings 1028.3, 1032 and 1033.

Loading in Parking Bays

Loading is allowed in all parking bays. In fact loading is allowed everywhere unless it is specifically prohibited with a no loading or no stopping restriction.

Loading on Red Routes

Loading may only be carried out in designated boxes and these must must be accompanied by a sign, such as the one shown. If the sign is missing the bay is unenforceable.

Examples of Non Compliant Parking Restrictions

When writing an appeals letter, simply mentioning the fact that for instance the sign is missing (with photos as evidence) would suffice. However in these examples, the text refers to the full legislation. There is no need to do this but it does show that you know what you're talking about! Also bear in mind that some of the staff dealing with appeals will not understand the legislation themselves, so quoting it may save the hassle of an appeal having to go to the adjudicator.

This disabled bay has no sign	Text for an appeals letter:
	This bay does not comply with the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002 which requires a disabled bay to be accompanied by a sign to diagram 661A.

This bus stop has no sign	Text for an appeals letter:
	This bus stop does not comply with the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002 which requires a bus stop clearway to be accompanied by a sign to diagram 974.

Examples of Non Compliant Loading Restrictions

This loading bay has no roadmarkings and a wrongly designed sign	Text for an appeals letter:
	This loading bay does not comply with the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions (TSRGD) 2002 as: 1.The phrase 'Goods vehicle' is not a permitted variant of diagram 660.4 2. It has no bay markings which must accompany diagram 660.4 as stipulated in Direction 24 of the TSRGD.

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