How close is too close to a junction?

[TT Tim]

A bit of background, there has been a new estate built near me. as a consequence the main road has now been closed and diverted through the new estate.

The point where this old road is diverted, is also the back entrance to the local hospital.

Of late people have taken to 'abandoning' their cars as close as they can to this entrance, I assume that they are hospital workers who are avoiding having to pay to park (they shouldn't have to, but that's a different argument).

The Highway code suggests that you should not park within 10M of a junction, but this appear to be an advisory, and not mandatory statement.

This has made the junction dangerous, but it it illegal to park where they are now?

[BrettMRC]

That's some special parking.

[Crudeoink]

Its the wild west out there now, park where you like when you like. Added parking rights if you put your hazard lights on.
I live very close to a police station and their staff park ON the junction to the small cul-de-sac where I live, often in such a way to block the road so no bin lorry or delivery truck (let alone fire engine or ambulance) can get through. Parking is free in the police compound but they dont have enough spaces

[davek_964]

I can't imagine parking like that, walking a few feet from my car and looking back and thinking : Yep, that looks fine......... I'd be genuinely surprised each day I got back to my car if nobody had hit it!

Needs double yellow lines - as per the other side of the road - but unlikely to happen with no proper kerb. Making it a no stopping area might work though - just a few signs.

[boyse7en]

What are the "Give Way" markings on the road there for? I assume that the path/track to the hospital is a footpath, so who would you be giving way to?

[Simpo Two]

I'm no fan of restrictions and yellow lines but that parking is ridiculous and causing a major hazard.

In this case I find myself unusually recommending yellow lines.




Why would they divert traffic from a main road through a housing estate? Are they using children as traffic calming?

[Roger Irrelevant]

davek_964 said:

I can't imagine parking like that, walking a few feet from my car and looking back and thinking : Yep, that looks fine......... I'd be genuinely surprised each day I got back to my car if nobody had hit it!

Totally agree. There's a bit of road on my journey into the office that has (parallel) parking bays marked on each side. If cars are parked on each side (as they almost always are), then it's tight to get two cars past each other on the road remaining but it is doable. Despite this I often see cars parked over a foot out from the kerb, thus creating a nice little pinch point and putting them right in the firing line of the more inattentive drivers that will be driving that way. It's just asking for trouble, and sure enough there is often a sprinkling of broken plastic decorating that stretch of road.

[Pica-Pica]

The trouble with car drivers is that they only think about cars (if anything). We get people cars parked that obstruct buses, lorries (artic’s swing room), tractors. No this is not in a congested town, but in the countryside where there is plenty of space, just people are too thick to work it out, too selfish to think of others, or just too damn lazy to walk a few yards.

[MustangGT]

HC Rule 243 states:

DO NOT stop or park:

near a school entrance
anywhere you would prevent access for Emergency Services
at or near a bus or tram stop or taxi rank
on the approach to a level crossing/tramway crossing
opposite or within 10 metres (32 feet) of a junction, except in an authorised parking space
near the brow of a hill or hump bridge
opposite a traffic island or (if this would cause an obstruction) another parked vehicle
where you would force other traffic to enter a tram lane
where the kerb has been lowered to help wheelchair users and powered mobility vehicles
in front of an entrance to a property
on a bend
where you would obstruct cyclists’ use of cycle facilities

[Richard-D]

Wow at the parking shown by the OP , that's ludicrous!

In relation to parking near a junction...does anyone know where that 10m is measured from? I just had a quick look and couldn't find a reference. I had always assumed it was measured from the centre-line but that seems too close to me. I also thought it was 15m too (so know I'm no expert) and even that seems too close on anything but the narrowest of junctions.

[zetec]

Surely the driver would have had to get out of the passenger door! That's monumental bellendery parking.

[Slow.Patrol]

I would be tempted to compile a dossier of photographs and then present them to the local council (involving the local councillor) to get double yellow lines applied.

[paradigital]

Slow.Patrol said:

I would be tempted to compile a dossier of photographs and then present them to the local council (involving the local councillor) to get double yellow lines applied.

Which would only seemingly serve as a mild deterrent if parking outside our local hospital is anything to go by. Must be as many parking on double yellows as there are parked in the 10 or so spaces between the two stretches of double yellows.

Parking these days only seems to be monitored in carparks operated by “for profit” companies. The local council seemingly can’t be arsed.

[GasEngineer]

zetec said:

.. monumental bellendery ..

Brilliant phrase !!

[PisstNBroke]

If said car had parked 10 meters back would your issue still be the same?
I know this location very well and whilst some hospitals do a must live beyond x miles for a parking permit there is lots onsite there.
Ultimately this type of parking behaviour is common near hospitals and train stations up and down the country.

[Sebring440]

boyse7en said:

What are the "Give Way" markings on the road there for? I assume that the path/track to the hospital is a footpath, so who would you be giving way to?

Clearly the "path/track" to the hospital is road! There's even a zebra crossing on it!