Part 6

Civil enforcement of traffic contraventions

Additional contraventions in special enforcement areas

Prohibition of double parking etc.
85
1
In a special enforcement area a vehicle must not be parked on the carriageway in such a way that no part of the vehicle is within 50 centimetres of the edge of the carriageway.
This is subject to the following exceptions.
2
The first exception is where the vehicle is parked wholly within a designated parking place or any other part of the carriageway where parking is specifically authorised.
A “designated parking place” means a parking place designated by order under section 6, 9, 32(1)(b) or 45 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (c. 27).
3
The second exception is where the vehicle is being used —
a
for fire brigade or police purposes, or
b
for ambulance purposes or for the purpose of providing a response to an emergency at the request of an
NHS
ambulance service.
- “
An
NHS
ambulance service
” means—
  1. an
NHS
trust or
NHS
foundation trust established under the National Health Service Act 2006 which has a function of providing ambulance services;
  2. an
NHS
trust established under the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006 which has a function of providing ambulance services;
  3. the Scottish Ambulance Service Board.
4
The third exception is where—
a
the vehicle is being used for the purposes of delivering goods to, or collecting goods from, any premises, or is being loaded from or unloaded to any premises,
b
the delivery, collection, loading or unloading cannot reasonably be carried out in relation to those premises without the vehicle being parked as mentioned in subsection (1), and
c
the vehicle is so parked for no longer than is necessary and for no more than 20 minutes.
5
The fourth exception is where—
a
the vehicle is being used in connection with any of the following—
i
undertaking any building operation, demolition or excavation,
ii
the collection of waste by a local authority,
iii
removing an obstruction to traffic,
iv
undertaking works in relation to a road, a traffic sign or road lighting, or
v
undertaking works in relation to a sewer or water main or in relation to the supply of gas, electricity, water or communications services,
b
it cannot be so used without being parked as mentioned in subsection (1), and
c
it is so parked for no longer than is necessary.
6
In this section “carriageway” has the meaning given by section 329(1) of the Highways Act 1980 (c. 66).
7
References in this section to parking include waiting, but do not include stopping where—
a
the driver is prevented from proceeding by circumstances beyond his control or it is necessary for him to stop to avoid an accident, or
b
the vehicle is stopped, for no longer than is necessary, for the purpose of allowing people to board or alight from it.
8
The prohibition in this section is enforceable as if imposed—
a
in Greater London, by an order under section 6 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984;
b
elsewhere in England and Wales, by an order under section 1 of that Act.
9
In this section “
local authority
” includes a non-metropolitan district council.
Pt. 6 applied (with modifications) (temp.) (5.10.2009) by London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Act 2006 (c. 12), ss. 15(2)(3), 40(2) (with s. 40(6)); S.I. 2009/2577, art. 2
S. 85 in force at 26.10.2006 for W. by S.I. 2006/2826, art. 2(1)(2)(c)
Pt. 6: functions made exercisable concurrently (5.2.2025) by The Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/117), regs. 1(2), 16
S. 85 in force at 31.3.2008 for E. by S.I. 2007/2053, arts. 1(2), 3(1)(2)(c) (with arts. 5-8) (as amended (17.3.2008) by S.I. 2008/757, arts. 3, 5)
Words in s. 85(3) substituted (26.5.2015) by Deregulation Act 2015 (c. 20), s. 115(3)(d), Sch. 9 para. 2
Pt. 6: functions made exercisable concurrently (5.2.2025) by The Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/115), regs. 1(2), 12
Pt. 6: functions made exercisable concurrently (28.2.2024) by The East Midlands Combined County Authority Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/232), regs. 1(2), 17
Pt. 6 applied by 2006 c. 12, s. 16(3) (as inserted (14.2.2012) by London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (Amendment) Act 2011 (c. 22), ss. 6(4), 10(1))
Pt. 6: functions made exercisable concurrently (20.12.2023) by The York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/1432), arts. 1(2), 15
Pt. 6 amendment to earlier affecting provision 2006 c. 12, s. 15 15A (as amended) (14.2.2012) by London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (Amendment) Act 2011 (c. 22), ss. 5(2)-(6), 10(1)
S. 85(9) inserted (26.1.2009) by Local Transport Act 2008 (c. 26), ss. 127(3), 134(2)
Pt. 6: functions made exercisable concurrently (5.2.2025) by The Lancashire Combined County Authority Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/118), regs. 1(2), 12
Pt. 6: functions made exercisable concurrently (5.2.2025) by The Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority Order 2025 (S.I. 2025/113), arts. 1(2), 9