Where stopping is prohibited

Under section 17(1) of the Traffic Rules, stopping is prohibited:

• a) on a blind bend, in a tunnel, on a crest or elsewhere with limited visibility
• b) in a road junction or closer than 5 metres to it, measured from where the pavement edge, edge line or road edge begins to curve
• c) wholly or partly on a pavement, footpath or cycle path
• d) on a pedestrian crossing or cycle crossing, or within 5 metres before one
• e) on a motorway or expressway, or on its entry and exit roads
• f) within 5 metres of a level crossing
• g) in a bus lane, high-occupancy lane or cycle lane (except buses/trams at a stop)
• h) on a widened roadway for a bus, taxi or tram stop, or within 20 metres of its official sign. Boarding and alighting is allowed if it does not obstruct the service.

Each is an independent prohibition and normally has no sign. There are also signed stopping prohibitions, marked by sign 370, “No stopping”.

Three details that matter in appeals

Road junction. A junction is where one road crosses or joins another. An ordinary driveway is not a junction.

T-junction. Along the straight, continuing road at the top of a T, there is normally no point where the edge curves, so the five-metre rule does not generally apply there. Parking in the junction where the side road joins is still prohibited.

Before a crossing. “Before” means before the marked crossing in the direction of travel, whichever way the vehicle faces. The five metres are measured from the marking, or from the signpost if there is no marking. You may park after the crossing.

A breach can result in a parking fee.