Parents warned of £100 school drop-off fines as wardens brought in

Some schools are also being covered by new technology including traffic cars and ANPR cameras

Parents are being warned they could face fines of up to £100 and three points, or even have their vehicles towed, if they violate little-known school parking laws designed to increase safety. There is a temptation to quickly park outside school gates or in restricted zones designed to protect pedestrians during the school rush. However, experts at One Sure Insurance are warning parents they could face severe consequences by violating these parking laws.

"Parents often find themselves in a rush and may not fully consider parking regulations”, an expert at One Sure Insurance explained. “But even a brief stop in a no-parking zone can land drivers with fines of up to £100, up to three points, and in some cases, their vehicle could be towed.

“Drivers should understand the laws around parking near schools to ensure the safety of students and avoid potential fines.”

To prevent illegal school parking, Councils are using specialist measures including ANPR and GPS systems to identify vehicles and enforce a penalty charge notice (PCN). Other measures include using Civil enforcement officers, monitored static CCTV cameras and CCTV vehicles. Some areas have also introduced police-employed traffic wardens who may issue a fixed penalty notice (FPN), enforceable through the criminal justice system.

Experts at One Sure Insurance are advising parents to be wary of these signs when dropping their kids off this term:

Zig-zag Lines:

Yellow or white zig-zag lines often seen outside schools mark a strict no-stopping zone. Parents cannot park on these lines even if the car engine is still running, since stopping briefly to let children out can result in a £100 penalty and three points. The primary purpose of zig-zag lines is safety, as parked cars can block the drivers’ view of children crossing the road. Drivers should pay attention to yellow regulatory signs next to the markings since they may have the relevant enforcement times, where the absence of a sign may indicate no stopping at all.

Double Yellow Lines:

Double yellow lines outside schools prohibit stopping or parking at any time. Rule 238 of The Highway Code makes it clear that stopping on markings when prohibited is illegal, even if just for a moment. Here, it is important to check with the school since parents may be allowed to briefly stop on these lines to let their children out. Any extended parking, or stopping the engine while waiting, could result in fines or towing.

Single Yellow Lines:

Single yellow lines come with specific time restrictions that vary depending on the location. Parents need to check nearby signs to confirm when parking is prohibited. Often, restrictions will coincide with the school rush hour, adding complexity to school-run parking.

With these rules in mind, One Sure Insurance advises parents “to leave with ample time to drop off or collect their children. You should be prepared to park further from the school gates to safely drop off your children and be considerate of residents’ driveways, especially during peak times.

“Try to collect and drop your children on the kerb side of your vehicle for added safety and look around before opening doors. Be sure to read signage and road markings to avoid fines but remember If you do receive a fine, paying within 14 days usually leads to the fine being halved.”