Drivers warned over £1,000 fine for parking outside their home

Little-known parking rule could leave drivers facing £1,000 fine

Drivers warned over £1,000 fine for parking outside their home Drivers could face a fine of up to £1,000 for parking on a road at night while facing against the direction of traffic, according to a warning highlighting little-known Highway Code Rule 248. The rule says motorists should not park on a road at night while positioned against the direction of traffic flow, unless the vehicle is in a recognised parking space. Rule can affect residential parking The warning is particularly relevant to drivers who park on residential streets, where motorists may simply use an available space outside their home without considering the direction their vehicle is facing. According to the source, Rule 248 applies when a vehicle is parked on a road at night and facing against the flow of traffic. The exception is for recognised parking spaces, meaning marked bays can be treated differently under the rule. Motoring expert Lee Caroline of LJC Auto Spares said drivers may not think about the direction their vehicle is facing when parking outside their homes. He explained that the rule relates to the visibility provided by a vehicle's rear reflectors when approaching headlights illuminate them. If a vehicle is facing the opposite direction, the approaching driver may not receive the same reflection from the rear of the parked vehicle. The source says drivers found breaking the rule can face a fine of up to £1,000, while the penalty can rise to £2,500 for goods vehicles or minibuses. It also reports that police and local councils could issue the penalties. Drivers are therefore being encouraged to check which direction their vehicle is facing when parking on a road after dark. Lee Caroline said motorists should face the same direction as traffic when parking on a road rather than in a marked parking space. Recognised parking spaces are an exception Green Flag highlighted that the rule only applies in certain circumstances. The organisation said recognised parking spaces are marked bays and that the rule applies after dark when a vehicle is parked on a yellow line outside controlled hours or on a road without marked parking bays. For drivers, the warning is a reminder that parking outside the home does not automatically mean every position is permitted simply because a space is available. Checking the direction of the vehicle before leaving it parked could help motorists avoid falling foul of the rule described in the source.