What is the 'law' in the UK re on street parking?

Question

My neighbour has become like the 'parking police' recently. Our street has on street parking, it is residential, a no-through road, with cars on one side parked. Do they have to face the same way? How much space is meant to be allowed between cars? She says she is entitled to just pull out of her space, without needing to reverse back first!

Answer 1

Need to look at local byelaws

Think she may be wrong

Answer 2

No, cars don't need to be facing the same way.

As far as I am aware, there isn't a certain amount of space that is supposed to be left between cars, but any decent driver leaves a fair bit so the other cars can reverse/go forward without crashing into their car.

I think you should ignore her!

Answer 3

ive just had a sniff on line...most councils use different laws...justgoogle your area about parking laws...something should come up.

Answer 4

She is talking bull***t. No cars do not have to face the same way and a considerate distance should be left to allow other vehicles to pull out. Ask your local council and your local police force for more info. I used to have a neighbour who parked her car on her drive, her hubby would park in front of my house and their friends and family would park on the entrance to my driveway often blocking my BF's car in or stopping him parking on my driveway.  

Answer 5

The law says "You MUST NOT park on a road at night facing against the direction of the traffic flow unless in a recognised parking space."

[Laws CUR reg 101 & RV LR reg 24]

At other times you SHOULD not park facing against the direction of the traffic flow. There's a difference.

Where she dreamt up her supposed "right" to pull straight out of her parking space I don't know, but there's no such thing.  Presumably the silly bat can't reverse . . .  There's no statutory distance, just common sense.

Answer 6

Well!, If she's the 'parking police' she will also know that NOBODY has the right to park on-street.  It is a privilege as it would be impossible to police effectively.

The highway code states that vehicles must face the direction of travel and if parked within 30 feet of a junction (in a 30mph area) must show lights at night.

If she insists on complaining to you, point out that if she or yourself call the police, then EVERYBODY will be ticketed.

It is totally unreasonable to expect to just be able to pullout of a parking place   -   Has she got a problem reversing?

Answer 7

Slash her tyres the old cow

Answer 8

In theory cars should be parked in the direction of travel on the side of road they are parked, in practise this is generally ignored by all.

As to spacing between parked cars. Unless the road has legally marked out parking bays painted by the local authority then there is no required minimum space.

Common courtesy says that you should leave a reasonable amount of space between parked cars but that is down to each individuals ideal of what is a reasonable amount of space, in a residential street were parking space is restricted then spacing should be kept to a minimum.

Clearly the lady in question has a problem with her own poor driving skills and lack of spacial awareness, certainly if I was parking my car next to hers I would give her extra space not because I think she is right but because I would not want her lack of skill causing damage to my car.