Motorists might not be aware, but there are two specific circumstances that allow you to stop on double yellow lines without facing a penalty. Under these exemptions, you can stop or park on double yellow lines as long as you’re not causing a nuisance or blocking the road.
The first exemption is given to blue badge holders. Government advice says: “Badge holders may park on single or double yellow lines for up to 3 hours, but in general not where there are restrictions on loading or unloading indicated by yellow kerb dashes and / or signs on plates. You may wish to check whether a particular local council has chosen to exempt Blue Badge holders from this restriction.” However, drivers should also note they say:”You are not entitled to park on yellow lines in off-street car parks.”
There are also rules regarding the correct usage of a blue badge when parked on these lines: “You must display the Blue Badge and the blue parking clock showing the quarter hour period during which you arrived. You must wait for at least one hour after a previous period of parking before you can park the same vehicle in the same road or part of a road on the same day.”, the guidance says.
Another exemption is around loading and unloading vehicles. This can sometimes be done while parked on double yellow lines, but there are a few things to be aware of.
According to the British Parking Association (BPA): “Single and double yellow lines control waiting. Even where waiting is prohibited, if you can do so safely you may set down and pick up passengers and may also stop to load or unload goods unless this is prohibited by short yellow kerb marks or ‘blips’.”
Drivers should always be wary of ‘blips’, which are small double yellow lines painted horizontally on the kerb, indicating that stopping to load or unload is not permitted at all.
Motorists should also look out for any posted signs that might impose further restrictions like specified times for stops or limited time periods. For example, in Manchester, the city council says: “while you can load or unload for as long as it takes, your vehicle must be moved immediately after you have finished loading or unloading.” They reserve the right to issue you with a ticket for loading or unloading they see as “not reasonable”.
It’s important to remember that you can still get a penalty charge notice (PCN) if you’re causing an obstruction or hazard, even if you fall under one of the above exemptions, so always park considerately.
