The school parking rules every parent needs to know to avoid hefty fines

With the new school year kicking off and parents returning to a routine of trying to scramble the kids into the car for the dash to the gates, these are the parking rules they need to know to avoid being stung with a hefty fine.

Inconsiderate and illegal parking is often rife outside schools at peak times and is often a significant cause of complaint for local residents who are impacted by parents on the school run.

Drivers need to know about different road markings and their rules, as well as being aware of bans on idling your car’s engine outside certain schools.

Here’s an ‘idiot’s guide’ for parents when it comes to parking outside schools.

As children return to school following the summer holidays, these are the rules all parents who take – or collect – their kids from the gates need to know to avoid hefty fines

What do the yellow zig-zag lines on the road outside schools mean?

Yellow zig-zag lines are not only found outside school premises but also hospitals, police stations and fire stations and always signify a strict ‘no-stopping’ zone.

They have a crucial purpose.  

For hospitals, police and fire stations, this is to prevent vital entry and exit points from being blocked by drivers.

But outside schools, it is to prevent vehicles from obscuring visibility of young children who are leaving school or need to cross the road. 

The Highway Code says: ‘You MUST NOT wait or park, or stop to set down and pick up passengers, on school entrance markings when upright signs indicate a prohibition of stopping.’

This means you can’t stop there at all – even if the engine is still running and you are letting your children jump out quickly.

Yellow zig-zag lines are not only found outside school premises but also hospitals, police stations and fire stations and always signify a strict ‘no-stopping’ zone

If there is a sign indicating the hours of operation, it signifies that between those hours parking wardens or local authority civil enforcement officers have the power to issue PCNs

If a parent chooses to ignore yellow zig-zag line rules outside schools, they can be issued a £70 PCN.

If there is a sign indicating the hours of operation close to the yellow zig-zags, it signifies that between those hours parking wardens or local authority civil enforcement officers have the power to issue penalty charge notices (PCNs) for parking in the area.

And if there is no sign to display the operating hours, this means the police is responsible for enforcing parking there, not the local authority.

If an offender is caught ignoring these rules, they can be issued a £70 PCN.

There is a slight difference to yellow zig-zag lines: with double yellow lines, you can stop briefly to let your kids in or out of the car

Can I stop on double yellow lines to drop off my children? 

Double yellow lines mean stopping the car and waiting is not permitted at any time unless signs signify otherwise. 

The only exception to this rule is for blue badge holders, who may park on double yellow lines for up to three hours.

Though, if you stop the engine and park up, you run the risk of being fined or could even have your vehicle towed away.

It’s also worth noting that you cannot park fully on the pavement next to double yellow lines

As the RAC points out, the penalty for stopping on double yellow lines depends on your local council – or police, if they are responsible for enforcement in that area – and could be anything up to £130. 

The fine is usually halved if you pay within 14 days, however you cannot appeal a parking ticket you have already paid.

It’s also worth noting that you cannot park fully on the pavement next to double yellow lines.

The Department for Transport makes clear that double yellow line rules apply when stopping adjacent to them from the centre of the road to the back of the footway/pavement.

‘Waiting restrictions indicated by yellow lines apply to the carriageway, pavement and verge,’ DfT guidelines say.

Can I stop on single yellow lines outside school?

Single yellow lines mean ‘no parking’ rules apply, but only at certain times. 

You’ll need to check signs near the single yellow lines to understand what restrictions apply, and when. 

In the areas surrounding schools, it’s highly likely that any restrictions will fall during the school rush hour.

Drivers might not be aware of yellow lines marked up the side of kerbs. Here is what they indicate

There are yellow lines painted up the kerb. What does these signify? 

Single lines marked on the kerbs show that there are times when loading is restricted. 

They are always accompanied by black and white sign stating the specific hours of operation.

Double yellow lines on the kerb mean loading isn’t permitted at any time, as will also be indicated by a black and white sign nearby. This means you should not stop there.

Can I park outside a school that’s in a Controlled Parking Zone?

Many busy areas – especially close to town centres – are designated ‘Controlled Parking Zones’ (CPZ), and these can cover a number of streets. 

Signs are posted at the entries and exits of the zones, and within the zone as parking may be allowed in some places within a CPZ but only at specific times shown on signs. 

The School Streets Initiative in London imposes temporary restrictions on roads outside schools to stop motorists from driving on them at peak drop-off and pick-up times. Here is one example in Tooting

There are ‘School Streets’ on our route in London – what do these mean?

Peak school run times can be a stressful part of the day for parents, commuters and motorists in general. And for almost 400,000 Londoners last year, it was particularly expensive too.

That’s because motorists who drove through ‘School Streets’ during restricted times in the capital were hit with a massive 398,745 PCNs in 2022.

With some authorities stinging drivers with fines of up to £130 for breaching their specific rules, it means London boroughs could have raked in up to £52million in revenue for School Streets charges last year alone.

These are the London boroughs that issued the most ‘School Street’ PCNs last year

The School Streets Initiative imposes temporary restrictions on roads outside schools to stop motorists from driving on them at peak drop-off and pick-up times.

Driving along these roads during the designated times is strictly prohibited. 

The restrictions apply to school traffic and through traffic and are designed to protect children from vehicles and reduce air pollution levels.

The first school street in London was introduced in Camden in 2017 and since then they have become incredibly popular in the capital.

In 2022, there were approximately 400 permanent school streets in the capital and another 136 being trialled as part of consultations.

If these trials are successful and implemented, there could be a 35 per cent increase in permanent school streets in London, taking the total to 529.

Schools in particular have become very conscious of drivers idling close to their grounds in light of concerns about the damage caused by emissions – especially nitrogen oxide and particulate matter – especially to children. Offenders can be hit with £20 fines

While waiting for my children at the school gates, can I keep the engine running to keep the car cool/warm?

Rule 123 of The Highway Code states that drivers must not leave a parked vehicle unattended with the engine running or leave a vehicle engine running unnecessarily while the vehicle is stationary on a public road.

Schools in particular have become very conscious of drivers idling close to their grounds in light of concerns about the damage caused by emissions – especially nitrogen oxide and particulate matter – especially to children.

This is why you will commonly see a ‘No Idling’ sign outside schools. 

Some local authorities charge a £20 fixed penalty notice (FPN) for emission offences and stationary idling under The Road Traffic Regulations 2002. 

There’s potential for the fine to increase to £801. However, it’s important to note that fines are imposed only if a motorist refuses to switch off their engine when asked to do so by an authorised person. 

The RAC in 2019 launched a scheme inviting schools to buy School Clean Air Zone banners launched in 2019.

Additional Highway Code rules that may also apply outside schools

It’s not just road markings you need to be aware of – there are several Highway Code recommendations you need to follow in relation to school parking, too.

According to rule 243, you shouldn’t park in front of or near a school entrance. 

In addition to this, you shouldn’t park anywhere that would block access to emergency services, at or near a bus stop, or opposite or within 10 metres of a junction, which could all be relevant to the area surrounding a school.

With many schools located in residential areas, it’s also worth noting that the same rule states you shouldn’t park in front of an entrance to a property, even for a short amount of time.

Rule 243 also stipulates that you do not park on a bend, a dropped kerb or the brow of a hill. 

This post first appeared on Dailymail.co.uk