Parking outside schools

We often get complaints about how cars park inconsiderately outside schools. 

Parking outside schools

Pick-up and drop-off times are busy outside schools. This can cause an increased safety risk to both children and parents.

Parking restrictions outside schools are there to keep you and your children safe. Parking inconsiderately can put people in danger and you also risk being fined. It’s important that motorists follow the Highway Code.

Parking restrictions outside schools - Understanding yellow zigzag markings

Most school entrances and exits in the UK have yellow zigzag road markings with the writing ‘School Keep Clear’.

Zigzags can also be found at entrances and exits of hospitals, fire stations, police stations and ambulance stations. They indicate the part of the road where motorists should not wait, stop, or park a vehicle. 

Sometimes there may be an accompanying sign that shows specific times when these restrictions are in place. Motorists are legally allowed to park on the zigzags outside of these hours.

Both yellow and white zigzags also show areas that must be kept clear so that children and other road users can see clearly when crossing the road.

You can only legally park on yellow zigzags under certain circumstances.

Yellow zigzags without accompanying signs advise motorists not to wait or park there at any time for the safety of children and others. We can and do issue tickets for parking on them, based on causing an obstruction to other motorists or pedestrians.

Some yellow zigzags have a single or double yellow line, which indicate different parking restrictions.

Parking opposite yellow zigzags

You can legally park opposite yellow zigzags. However, this can make crossing the road more dangerous, especially for children. Some schools have yellow zigzags on both sides of the road for this reason.

Safety tips for parking outside schools

When picking up or dropping off children at schools, you should do the following:

Fines

Local councils can issue motorists with penalty charge notices (PCN) for waiting, stopping, or parking on yellow zigzags if restrictions are in place. These are issued by civil enforcement officers.

Most parking or waiting fines are now enforced as a civil matter, rather than a police matter. A PCN does not result in a criminal record or points on a licence if dealt with by the council.

In some areas, the local council doesn't have civil parking enforcement powers. In these areas parking is enforced by us or by police-employed traffic wardens who will issue a fixed penalty notice (FPN). These are enforced through the criminal justice system.

Fines can vary depending on location. Stopping in a restricted area outside a school will result in a higher fine. The fee is also halved if paid within 14 days and you have 28 days to pay or challenge the fine.

Parking with a blue badge 

You must display the badge on the dashboard or facia panel, where it can be clearly read through the front windscreen. 

When you park on yellow lines or in other places where there is a time restriction, you need to display the blue parking clock to show your time of arrival. You must not park on pedestrian crossings (zebra, pelican, toucan and puffin crossings), including areas marked by zig-zag lines.

Do not park where it would endanger, inconvenience or obstruct pedestrians or other road users. Examples of dangerous or obstructive parking include the following, although there are others:

school entrances, bus stops, on a bend, or near the brow of a hill or hump bridge

parking opposite or within 10 metres (32 feet) of a junction, except in an authorised parking space

where it would make the road narrow, such as by a traffic island or roadworks

where it would hold up traffic, such as in narrow stretches of road or blocking vehicle entrances

 Please be considerate and help to make the areas around our schools safer for our children, parents and carers to walk. Give yourself extra time to find a safe parking space.