Parking at night

FACTS Cars and light goods vehicles (up to 2500 kg laden weight), invalid carriages and motorcycles can park without lights on roads with a speed limit of 30 mph (48 km/h) or less. They must comply with any parking restrictions, and not park within 10 metres (32 feet) of a junction.

They must also be parked parallel to, and close to, the side of the road or in a designated parking place and facing in the direction of the traffic flow.

If you have to park on any other road, you should never

leave your vehicle without side or parking lights unless a sign indicates that lights aren’t required. It would be better to get it off the road altogether
leave your vehicle standing on the right-hand side of the road, except in a one-way street.

Always switch your headlights off when you stop, even for a short while. It’s an offence to leave them on when the vehicle is parked. The fixed glare can be very dazzling – especially if, for any reason, the vehicle is on the offside of the road facing oncoming traffic. Leaving lights on can also drain the battery.