It is already illegal to park on pavements in London, and other areas of England, with the law under consultation in England and Wales and expected next year in Scotland
Every driver in England risks being slapped with a £70 fine for bad parking under a new law that could come into power soon.
Under new plans drawn up, fixed penalty notices could be given out to those who park on the street, even if there are no double yellow lines.
If the laws pass through parliament, and drivers park up on a pavement, blocking a narrow road or the pathway itself, they could risk the £70 fine.
This comes as a quarter of motorists said they were unsure of the rules around parking on pavements, Manchester Evening News reported.
New laws around parking on pavements are one of many coming into power this year.
And as well as facing fines, drivers caught breaking the new laws could be hit with points on their license too.
The law is already in effect in some parts of the country.
Some of these changes are still under consultation in England and Wales, but it is believed that local councils will have more power when it comes to fining reckless parkers.
However, parking on pavements is already illegal in London and some other parts of the UK.
Scotland’s rulings are expected to come into force in 2023.
Whilst some drivers may wrongly think parking on the pavement is fine, and barely an offence, the paths are there for the safety of pedestrians.
If blocked, pedestrians might be forced to walk around on the road, which jeopardises their safety.
“But it’s important to remember that pavements are there for the use and safety of pedestrians only, and therefore should be respected by all other road users.
“However, without a clearer understanding of the law around pavement parking, it’ll be hard to implement fines to drivers who break the rules.
“The current laws around pavement parking can be quite confusing, which is why it’s difficult at times to prosecute drivers.
“With consultations ongoing for England and Wales, with Scotland already pioneering the way to make a big change, drivers should be wary that changes could come into force sooner rather than later.
“Councils will be given a bigger responsibility and penalty charges could be issued.
“The laws around parking on pavements is just one of many new driving laws coming into effect this year, with road user safety at the forefront of each.”
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