A to Z of services

Lancashire County Council authorises yellow road markings (known as waiting restrictions) where there is a need to restrict parking to help improve traffic flow and to prevent obstructions on the highway.

• A single yellow line at the edge of the carriageway means that there is no parking at certain times shown on nearby plates. If no days are shown on the plate, the restrictions are in force every day, including Sundays and bank holidays.
  

• A double yellow line at the edge of the carriageway means no parking at any time. Time plates have not been required since January 2003, unless the restrictions are seasonal.

• Loading and unloading on yellow lines is allowed unless there are also kerb markings (or "blips"). Note that "loading and unloading" does not include going into a shop to buy something, but collecting a heavy item which you have already bought does.
  

• Where there are kerb markings, you may stop only to let passengers in or out of the vehicle.
  

• Red lines ban vehicles from stopping to park, load/unload or to let passengers in or out (although licensed taxis may stop to pick up or drop off passengers). Double red lines apply at all times and single red lines apply usually during the working day. There are exceptions and they are indicated on plates where they apply.

• Blue Badge holders may park for up to three hours on single or double yellow lines but not if there are also kerb markings. See our page on the Blue Badge Scheme for more information about where Blue Badge holders can and cannot park.

• A single white continous line at the edge of the road is simply an edge of carriageway marking, usually found on unlit classified roads or where there are no clearly defined raised kerbs. It does not indicate any parking restriction.
  

• Double white lines in the centre of the carriageway mean no overtaking or parking (although the parking restriction does not apply if there is more than one traffic lane in each direction). Parking where there are double white lines, even when the side nearest to you is broken, is an endorsable offence and can result in three penalty points being added to your driving licence. These are enforced by police officers rather than Lancashire Parking Services.
  

Did you know...?

Waiting restrictions apply from the centre of the carriageway and include the verge and footway - in fact everything up to the building line of property or adjacent land. That means that if you park on a footway or verge adjacent to a yellow line, you are still parked in contravention of the restrictions and may be served with a Penalty Charge Notice by a civil enforcement officer.

Online services:

• Report a problem with yellow lines or request new lines on the highway (external lnk).

• Pay or challenge a Penalty Charge Notice (external link).