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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:
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18
Original poster
PuncturedBicyclette · 20/10/2023 12:42

OK. I'm drawing a line under it. It seems I was allowed to do what I did. The cyclist was allowed his opinion, but shouldn't have been so abusive.
But next time I will not pull up on the main road, but round the corner.

OP posts:
boqq · 20/10/2023 12:40

I'm flabbergasted that noone addressed the abuse by the cyclist...

IncompleteSenten · 20/10/2023 12:40

I think it depends on the additional signs doesn't it?

You can apparently stop to let a passenger out on double yellows assuming there's no signs detailing additional restrictions.

Double yellows can indicate no parking, no waiting and also no stopping and the rules are slightly different for each. They can say no stopping to load or unload or they can say loading and unloading is fine or fine at certain times.

Original poster
PuncturedBicyclette · 20/10/2023 12:39

PizzaPastaWine · 20/10/2023 12:35

I don't get too excited when it's a double yellow on a high street for example, but this was outside a school. That is my issue.

It's hammering down, visibility will have reduced and you've just added to the risk to other people's children.

I take your point.

If I do it again, I will pull up further away. Probably round the corner, in a residents-only side street 2 mins walk away. But it's only for 30 seconds, so all good.

OP posts:
PizzaPastaWine · 20/10/2023 12:35

I don't get too excited when it's a double yellow on a high street for example, but this was outside a school. That is my issue.

It's hammering down, visibility will have reduced and you've just added to the risk to other people's children.

anotherside · 20/10/2023 12:34

Oh was he annoyed because he was delayed for a few seconds?
Oh dear, how sad

Exactly. As long as she indicated etc and stopped in a safe manner. It seems some road users are just crunched up balls of anger waiting to unleash a foul mouthed rant at anyone whose journey causes the slightest tiny disruption to their own. (and ironically their suppressed anger usually makes their use if the road more unsafe than that of an average person).

renata2485 · 20/10/2023 12:34

In London we have "red routes" on main roads - double red lines which do mean no stopping at all. So what is the point of them existing if you aren't allowed to stop momentarily on a double yellow?

I think I would stop briefly on double yellows in a similar situation. I do think outside a school though, you're opening yourself up to criticism / accusations of selfishness.

Original poster
PuncturedBicyclette · 20/10/2023 12:31

qazxc · 20/10/2023 12:15

yes you are in the wrong.
If everyone did like you, it impedes the flow of traffic, it can impact on pedestrians vision and safe crossing, ....
If you don't want to do the whole walk in the rain, park somewhere that is suitable and walk your kid to the school gates, takes 2 minutes.

Define "suitable".

OP posts:
GonnaGetGoingReturns · 20/10/2023 12:30

qazxc · 20/10/2023 12:15

yes you are in the wrong.
If everyone did like you, it impedes the flow of traffic, it can impact on pedestrians vision and safe crossing, ....
If you don't want to do the whole walk in the rain, park somewhere that is suitable and walk your kid to the school gates, takes 2 minutes.

Well accordingly to Highway Code she isn’t in the wrong. Had she stopped on the white zigzags she would be in the wrong!

RunningFromInsanity · 20/10/2023 12:29

DataColour · 20/10/2023 11:57

Next time buy him a good rain jacket. 1.5miles in the rain in perferctly possible with the right gear, both my DCs do this and not get wet even in heavy rain.

Their school is always emailing parents about legal, but inconsiderate, parking outside the school, citing the risks to the students arriving at school, so it is a thing.

Yes it’s possible to walk 1.5miles in the rain.
But why should he when his mum can and was willing to take him in the car and legally drop him off?
Do many adults choose to walk in the rain instead of driving? Why must kids have to get cold and wet to prove resilience?

GonnaGetGoingReturns · 20/10/2023 12:29

I’ve always thought you can stop briefly to let someone out, I did this with a friend the other week.

anotherside · 20/10/2023 12:27

Seems not only @Flickersy and others don’t know the rules - they can’t admit they’re wrong either. 😄

PuttingDownRoots · 20/10/2023 12:25

We had police outside the school moving on people trying to do this a couple of days ago.

I do have some sympathy with the parents as there is very limited parking but the catchment is massive.

maddening · 20/10/2023 12:22

enchantedsquirrelwood · 20/10/2023 11:51

The OP didn't put anyone at risk, she momentarily delayed a cyclist we don't know if the cyclist was put at risk

Edited

A man that was happy to stop and verbally abuse a woman and child does not come across as being at risk.

qazxc · 20/10/2023 12:15

yes you are in the wrong.
If everyone did like you, it impedes the flow of traffic, it can impact on pedestrians vision and safe crossing, ....
If you don't want to do the whole walk in the rain, park somewhere that is suitable and walk your kid to the school gates, takes 2 minutes.

HaveANiceFuckingDay · 20/10/2023 12:15

I work in a school I was talking about this yesterday with the traffic wardens about the double yellows . Apparently they get 5 minute grace . He was telling me lines on the kerb AND double yellows is no grace whatsoever. Yellow doubles 5 minutes and he showed me the countdown on a car that was parked . He said as long as they are back within the 5 minutes they can't touch the car
He had 3 minutes left on this countdown thing and he drove off so he deleted the timer.
It's a nightmare outside schools for double parking and just general selfishness
So no you wasn't doing anything wrong

PhantomUnicorn · 20/10/2023 12:12

goodness.
you absolutely can drop off/pick up passengers on double yellows.

i dont know why people keep saying you can't.

Stopped on a double yellow
Iwasafool · 20/10/2023 12:12

Graciebobcat · 20/10/2023 12:11

Why not just accept you should have parked a bit further away?

Why not just accept that you are wrong.

Yes morally wrong to consider the safety of children.

Such selfish entitled people who can't ever think of others.

Timeisallwehave · 20/10/2023 12:11

This is why London has the red lines for absolute no stopping.

Graciebobcat · 20/10/2023 12:11

Why not just accept you should have parked a bit further away?

Why not just accept that you are wrong.

Iwasafool · 20/10/2023 12:10

PuncturedBicyclette · 20/10/2023 12:08

OK, by "outside" the school, I meant "near". Not on the zig-zags, which I made clear. But maybe 30 seconds walk to the school gate.

I should have put "near".

But this is not about the proximity to the school, it's about this cyclist swearing at me for being on the double yellows. If I'd been further away from the school he'd probably also have got angry.

Show quote history

Funny how stories change when people don't get a pat on the back from everyone. Why not just accept you should have parked a bit further away?

Graciebobcat · 20/10/2023 12:10

I suggest you read the update @Iwasafool

Iwasafool · 20/10/2023 12:08

Graciebobcat · 20/10/2023 12:04

But obviously not right outside or there would have been zigzags. "Outside the school" can be an area of hundreds of metres.

Show quote history

Outside means hundreds of metres away? Right I'm sure the OP meant she was hundreds of metres away.

Original poster
PuncturedBicyclette · 20/10/2023 12:08

Iwasafool · 20/10/2023 12:02

My reading skills are great thanks, I actually managed to read that the OP parked outside the school Although I have to confess that wasn't difficult for most of us.

Show quote history

OK, by "outside" the school, I meant "near". Not on the zig-zags, which I made clear. But maybe 30 seconds walk to the school gate.

I should have put "near".

But this is not about the proximity to the school, it's about this cyclist swearing at me for being on the double yellows. If I'd been further away from the school he'd probably also have got angry.

OP posts:
Iwasafool · 20/10/2023 12:07

Graciebobcat · 20/10/2023 12:00

On TV this morning they were reporting about not being allowed to drive along the road where there is a school and fines being handed out to people flouting the rule. I hope they bring that in round the country and protect children.

I can't see that working unless its a no through road or there is a car park, drop off area or park and ride scheme so there is no need to drive up to or past the school.

This link seems to indicate it is working in many places. http://schoolstreets.org.uk/where/

Where are existing School Streets? - School Streets Initiative

Map of School Street Schemes in the UK - Find out where in the UK, local authorities have implemented school street schemes | School Streets Initiative

http://schoolstreets.org.uk/where

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