How To Get Double Yellow Lines?
By
HuutiMoney
This blog post aims to answer the question of how one can get double yellow lines at a requested location of choice. We will discuss the application process and needs assessment carried out by the authorities; as well as consider how having double yellow lines can impact the traffic and parking regulations in the area once they are placed.
How To Get Double Yellow Lines?
If you want to get yellow lines painted in an area, you will have to prepare a proposal which gives details of the reasons for your request and share it with your local council office. It will be based on their decision that you may be allowed to get yellow lines.
In the case of emergency services, public transport or waste management services, quick action on the matter can be expected due to the nature of the work involved and the potential problems that can be caused in the absence of yellow lines.
However, in the case of personal requests by residents, council authorities will need to study the reason(s) stated in the proposal for yellow lines and only if they find the reason to be strong enough to build a firm argument, they will be able to approve the request.
If you are requesting for yellow lines to be drawn across your driveway so that neighbours (or any other visitors to the area) do not park outside your house, you may be interested to learn about the factors that are considered by local councils while evaluating your proposal. These are listed as follows:
- There has been a frequent problem of parking across a vehicle dropped kerb because of which access of goods vehicle is affected. There should be evidence to support this claim; which can include photographs or site visits from the council authorities.
- The residents of the property being affected support the restrictions that will be imposed as a result of the yellow lines.
- Refuse vehicles are unable to or find it difficult to access a dropped kerb.
- Due to the presence of businesses, schools or a town centre, there is a non-residential demand for parking spaces in a residential area. There is evidence that shows different vehicles overhanging the dropped kerb at different times repeatedly over two weeks.
In the case of requests for yellow lines outside, schools, hospitals or clinics, the council will send an assessment team to the site for a needs assessment regarding the proposal.
However, double yellow lines cannot be used to resolve disputes between neighbours; whether or not there is a dropped kerb in front of their driveways.
How Does The Council Evaluate The Need For Double Yellow Lines?
There are varied points to consider when the council team evaluates a request for yellow lines. Some of these are discussed below:
- In the case of yellow lines requested around a junction, the authorities will not consider junctions that are within a 30mph speed limit unless regular ‘damage only’ accidents can be proven through evidence, there have been at least three accidents during the past 5 years that have caused injury, HGV traffic has access issues or public transport or waste management teams find it difficult to deliver their services. In the case of junctions with a higher speed limit than 30 mph, requests for yellow lines may only be considered if any of the above situations occur or there are safety concerns such as visibility problems at the location.
- When it comes to a cul-de-sac turning head, double yellow lines are usually considered only if the council’s waste management team confirms that their collection services are often missed due to the absence of parking restrictions, there is constant indiscriminate parking and the residents of the area who are going to be affected by the yellow markings support these restrictions.
- If your request for yellow lines is based on road alignment, a proposal may only be considered by the authorities where the layout of the road combined with problem parking leads to certain issues such as genuine safety concerns regarding poor visibility with vehicles driving at high speed, there are incidents of frequent ‘damage only’ accidents, at least three injury-related accidents have been reported over the recent five years and if the current parking problem caused traffic congestion.
Can Drivers Get A PCN If They Park On Double Yellow Lines?
Yes, drivers can get a Penalty Charge Notice or PCN issued to them if they park on double yellow lines.
A PCN is a fine that vehicle owners have to pay for breaking traffic or parking rules. The parking ticket is either handed over by the Civil Enforcement Officer to the driver of the vehicle at the time or is stuck on the car’s windscreen.
Paying a PCN is mandatory for vehicle owners and should be paid within the due date. A PCN is issued by council authorities if someone has violated parking laws on public land
Can Blue Badge Holders Park On Double Yellow Lines?
Yes, Blue Badge holders can park on double yellow lines in most cases. They are allowed to parking for up to three hours on either single or double yellow lines; unless there is a ‘no loading’ sign placed at the location.
However, having a Blue Badge does not allow claimants to park their cars anywhere; they just qualify for certain concessions in specific areas such as access to unlimited parking on streets with parking meters or pay-and-display machines or unlimited parking (unless a time limit is displayed on a sign) in disabled parking bays on streets.
Blue Badge concessions are given to drivers with certain medical conditions in the UK, enabling them to park closer to their destinations or to park in spaces where other drivers may not be able to while staying on main streets.
Conclusion:
The discussion in this article brings us to the conclusion that while residents of an area may feel the need for having double yellow lines placed in certain locations of their neighbourhood, they can only request them through their local council authorities. If the council authorities find their proposal to carry a sound argument in favour of the request, they will send a team of specialists to carry out a needs assessment test. Based on the results of this assessment, a decision can be made whether the request is to be approved or refused.