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Original poster

Stopped on a double yellow

271 replies

PuncturedBicyclette · 20/10/2023 11:07

DS usually walks to school. Today it was chucking it down, so I drove him. Stopped briefly on double yellows outside the school. NOT on the zigzags. No kerb markings or other signs. As far as I know it's fine to stop (not park) on a double yellow, to let passengers out.

Was there 30 seconds. Stopped, DS got out, I left.

As I was pulling back out, man on bike shouts through my window "Do you know it's f*ing double yellows?". I reply "Yes thank you, I was letting a passenger out". He swears at me again and cycles off.

I'm not doing any thing wrong, am I?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
18
Mistressanne · 20/10/2023 11:28

There’s a road in Bradford that is really tight to turn out of. Obviously it has double yellows. It’s also fairly near the town centre.
The amount of times I’ve watched large vehicles trying to get round a car that has put a disabled badge in the window and not given a moment’s thought to why the yellow lines are there. Really annoys me.

Op your dc will not melt in a drop of rain on top of which the lines are there to stop people like you from endangering children’s lives. Yabu.

timetorefresh · 20/10/2023 11:27

Double red is no stopping at all. Not great to stop in double yellows near a school though

CasperGutman · 20/10/2023 11:26

DeathMetalMum · 20/10/2023 11:20

You can stop on double yellows like pps have said. A single white line is no stopping for any reason.

Eh? No. A single white line just marks the edge of the carriageway. It doesn't have any meaning in terms of stopping or waiting restrictions.

RunningFromInsanity · 20/10/2023 11:26

Flickersy · 20/10/2023 11:25

Pausing for whatever reason is waiting.

Show quote history

Not when talking about road and traffic laws.

Webex · 20/10/2023 11:25

What are double red lines for then if double yellows mean no stopping at all (which they don't).

McIntire · 20/10/2023 11:25

Look, as a cyclist you had probably made his journey a lot more hazardous and he was venting.
Also, as he was passing by he wouldn’t have been aware how long you had been parked there.

If you knew you were legally ok to do it then why are you bothered? Personally I would have been slightly more empathetic as I know how chaotic the roads get when it rains, visibility is poor, and it’s far more risky for cyclists.

CornishGem1975 · 20/10/2023 11:25

From the police.

  • Can I ever stop on double yellow lines?
  • You can only stop to load or unload (unless there are no loading restrictions) or while passengers get in or out.

HTH

Flickersy · 20/10/2023 11:25

RunningFromInsanity · 20/10/2023 11:24

Yes but ‘waiting’ has a different meaning to dropping off passengers or loading and unloading.

Show quote history

Pausing for whatever reason is waiting.

Flickersy · 20/10/2023 11:25

CasperGutman · 20/10/2023 11:23

(i) Which "link posted"?
(ii) I think you'll find it says "no waiting at any time" on double yellows. Pausing briefly to let a passenger out is not "waiting". This would be prohibited by a "no stopping" restriction, but double yellow lines do not indicate such a restriction.

Show quote history

It is waiting. Letting a passenger out, picking one up, even if you're only 10 seconds - it is still waiting.

RunningFromInsanity · 20/10/2023 11:24

Flickersy · 20/10/2023 11:23

You mean this one?

"Double yellow lines indicate a prohibition of waiting at any time even if there are no upright signs."

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/waiting-and-parking-238-to-252

Show quote history

Yes but ‘waiting’ has a different meaning to dropping off passengers or loading and unloading.

NerrSnerr · 20/10/2023 11:24

Wrong picture (not link 🙄)

Stopped on a double yellow
Flickersy · 20/10/2023 11:24

Webex · 20/10/2023 11:22

I love these threads where people just make up their own rules but then post them so confidently. A quick google shows this is allowed.

I used to live on a street with double yellows and no drive and I often stopped the car outside my house to unload.

The highway code makes it clear it's not.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/waiting-and-parking-238-to-252

"Double yellow lines indicate a prohibition of waiting at any time even if there are no upright signs."

The Highway Code - Waiting and parking (238 to 252) - Guidance - GOV.UK

Rules for waiting and parking, including rules on parking at night and decriminalised parking enforcement.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/waiting-and-parking-238-to-252

BungleandGeorge · 20/10/2023 11:24

Btw blue badge holders can also generally park on double yellows as long as it’s not causing a dangerous obstruction. They’re generally there to aid traffic flow. Double red lines mean no stopping at all

CasperGutman · 20/10/2023 11:23

NerrSnerr · 20/10/2023 11:19

The link posted means you can unload for single yellows. It says no stopping at any time on double yellows.

Show quote history

(i) Which "link posted"?
(ii) I think you'll find it says "no waiting at any time" on double yellows. Pausing briefly to let a passenger out is not "waiting". This would be prohibited by a "no stopping" restriction, but double yellow lines do not indicate such a restriction.

Flickersy · 20/10/2023 11:23

Shade17 · 20/10/2023 11:21

Unfortunately she's not. Double yellows mean no waiting at any time. Single yellows mean you can drop people off / load or unload etc subject to restrictions.

You might want to check your facts there.

You mean this one?

"Double yellow lines indicate a prohibition of waiting at any time even if there are no upright signs."

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/waiting-and-parking-238-to-252

The Highway Code - Waiting and parking (238 to 252) - Guidance - GOV.UK

Rules for waiting and parking, including rules on parking at night and decriminalised parking enforcement.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/waiting-and-parking-238-to-252

NerrSnerr · 20/10/2023 11:22

Buttercup2023 · 20/10/2023 11:19

I just looked it up, and turns out you can stop to let passengers in/out on double yellows... So you are right OP! From what I've read the only exception is if there are restriction signs or kerb markings:

"These exceptions won't always apply though, so check for local signs or kerb edge markings. If there are pairs of short yellow lines over the kerb edge you're not allowed to load at any time."

www.theaa.com/driving-advice/legal/parking-guide-yellow-lines

So worth checking if there are these markings on the kerbs outside the school, otherwise its fine!

That was for single yellow lines. The attached is what is says for double. Unless her child is 'heavy goods' she can't unload them on double yellows

Stopped on a double yellow
Original poster
PuncturedBicyclette · 20/10/2023 11:22

For what it's worth, where I live there's a main road where, every lunch time when I go for a walk, there's a constant stream of taxis and delivery vans on double yellows, picking up/dropping of passengers, making deliveries, and so on. Often for quite a long time.

I stop for 30 seconds to let a passenger out, which I think is OK, and I get sworn at. Hence wondering if IABU.

OP posts:
Webex · 20/10/2023 11:22

I love these threads where people just make up their own rules but then post them so confidently. A quick google shows this is allowed.

I used to live on a street with double yellows and no drive and I often stopped the car outside my house to unload.

Flickersy · 20/10/2023 11:21

Buttercup2023 · 20/10/2023 11:19

I just looked it up, and turns out you can stop to let passengers in/out on double yellows... So you are right OP! From what I've read the only exception is if there are restriction signs or kerb markings:

"These exceptions won't always apply though, so check for local signs or kerb edge markings. If there are pairs of short yellow lines over the kerb edge you're not allowed to load at any time."

www.theaa.com/driving-advice/legal/parking-guide-yellow-lines

So worth checking if there are these markings on the kerbs outside the school, otherwise its fine!

The link you posted makes it clear that's the exception, rather than the rule.

The general rule, as stated in the link you posted, is no waiting at any time.

Shade17 · 20/10/2023 11:21

Unfortunately she's not. Double yellows mean no waiting at any time. Single yellows mean you can drop people off / load or unload etc subject to restrictions.

You might want to check your facts there.

DeathMetalMum · 20/10/2023 11:20

You can stop on double yellows like pps have said. A single white line is no stopping for any reason.

RunningFromInsanity · 20/10/2023 11:20

Flickersy · 20/10/2023 11:18

Unfortunately she's not. Double yellows mean no waiting at any time. Single yellows mean you can drop people off / load or unload etc subject to restrictions.

Show quote history

You can stop on double yellows briefly to pick up/drop off a passenger or if continuously loading/unloading.
You can’t wait on double yellows.

Buttercup2023 · 20/10/2023 11:19

I just looked it up, and turns out you can stop to let passengers in/out on double yellows... So you are right OP! From what I've read the only exception is if there are restriction signs or kerb markings:

"These exceptions won't always apply though, so check for local signs or kerb edge markings. If there are pairs of short yellow lines over the kerb edge you're not allowed to load at any time."

www.theaa.com/driving-advice/legal/parking-guide-yellow-lines

So worth checking if there are these markings on the kerbs outside the school, otherwise its fine!

CasperGutman · 20/10/2023 11:19

YANBU, as long as you didn't cause a significant obstruction when you stopped. Some other posters need to take their own advice and read the Highway Code.

Here's a summary from the AA (not the highway code, but a pretty respectable source):

"A 'no waiting' or 'no parking' sign lets a driver stop temporarily, maybe to let out a passenger or unload some goods, but you can't linger there.

  • A 'no waiting' sign with a single yellow line means you can't wait there during the times shown on the sign.
  • 'No waiting' with double yellow lines means no waiting or parking at any time, unless there are exceptions listed on nearby signs."

Source: https://www.theaa.com/driving-advice/legal/parking-guide-yellow-lines

Parking restrictions - everything you need to know | The AA

Our guide on UK parking tells you what the rules are for parking on single and double yellow lines and other road markings to help you avoid a parking ticket.

https://www.theaa.com/driving-advice/legal/parking-guide-yellow-lines

NerrSnerr · 20/10/2023 11:19

PuncturedBicyclette · 20/10/2023 11:14

Well thanks everyone for your insults. Have you actually read the highway code?

Waiting restrictions indicated by yellow lines apply to the carriageway, pavement and verge. You may stop to load or unload (unless there are also loading restrictions as described below) or while passengers board or alight

The link posted means you can unload for single yellows. It says no stopping at any time on double yellows.