Sunday 14 June 2009

White courtesy line fever

As I was forced to take two days holiday last week, thanks to Brother Crowe and the absence of any moral courage from Boris Johnson, I popped in to the local Parish Council (open 10 to 4, weekdays only) to ask about the white line that extends across my and my neighbour's driveways - some people park exactly between the two driveways which can make it really tricky for me to get out (photo to illustrate what I mean accompanies this post).

I explained that the traffic wardens won't do anything, because they only patrol the marked parking bays (if you're in a marked bay without a permit, you get a fine - but if you're parked on a white line without a permit, they ignore you). Similarly, the local police told me that they can only do anything about cars parked on yellow lines. The ladies thought this was very puzzling and rang the chap in the county council who's in charge of that sort of thing.

He explained that the white lines are "courtesy lines", which means effectively that people can park their cars on them in exactly the same way as if there were no markings at all, which renders the whole exercise pretty pointless.

So that's that little mystery solved.

4 comments:

Pavlov's Cat said...

Much like the 'KEEP CLEAR' boxes on the road then. Which I always though should say 'KEEP CLEAR PLEASE'

sobers said...

If the bays are controlled parking areas(ie resident permits only or metered) why in Gods name aren't the non-bay areas double yellows then? Otherwise what is the point of the bays?

Anyway, surely the best thing for you is to park your car on the white line outside your own house. Then you can't get blocked in at least. Of course you might still come home to find your entrance blocked, but that could happen now.

Mark Wadsworth said...

S, exactly, the whole thing flies in the face of any sort of logic. To be fair, they never make it impossible for me to get in or out, just bloody awkward.

Gregg said...

You're not advocating yellow lines Mark, surely?