Parking rules

Parking, whether in a built-up area or outside a built-up area is subject to a number of specific rules.

Rules to be applied in built-up areas

On a two-way road

·         stopping or parking is on the right, in the direction of travel, along the sidewalk

·         stop or parking is prohibited on the left

·         the stop or the parking is authorized in the car parks or on the defined places

On a one-way road

·         the stop or the parking can be done on the right and on the left, along the sidewalk and in the car parks or on the defined places

At night or in poor visibility

·         it is not necessary to light its lights when the road is lit

·         however, it is necessary to switch on the front and rear position lamps when the road is not lit.

Rules to be applied outside built-up areas

On a two-way road

·         stopping or parking is on the shoulder. It is allowed on the left if the right shoulder is not passable or if it is not wide enough

At night or in poor visibility

·         whether the road is illuminated or not, the user must light his front and rear position

Prohibition cases

Stop and Parking Prohibited

Stopping and parking is prohibited from the Highway Codesign (1), from the side of the sign to the next intersection.

When a continuous yellow line is drawn on the edge of the roadway, stopping and parking is prohibited along the entire length of this continuous yellow line.

No parking but authorized stop

Stopping is permitted but parking is prohibited from the sign (2), from the side of the sign to the next intersection. When a discontinuous yellow line is drawn on the edge of the road, parking is prohibited but stopping is allowed all along with this line.

Semi-monthly parking ban

Parking is prohibited on the side indicated by the sign (3/4) only during the period of the month marked on the sign.

Parking awkward but stop tolerated

In the following cases, the user may stop but can not park:

·         in front of the building entrances

·         in the double-file by making a niche

·         in front of charging terminals of electric vehicles

·         on a place reserved for delivery vehicles

Excessive parking

Users are not allowed to stay more than seven consecutive days in the same place. Local regulations may impose a shorter term. For example, parking is limited to 24 hours in Paris.

The signs are used to specify the scope of the ban from the panel.

Dangerous stop and parking

The stop is, like parking, considered dangerous if the visibility is insufficient for one of the following reasons:

·         it takes place at an intersection

·         it takes place at a turn

·         it takes place at the hilltop

·         it takes place at a level crossing

Interfering stop and parking

In the following cases, users are not allowed to stop or park :

·         on the sidewalks

·         on pedestrian crossings

·         on lanes reserved for cycles, buses, taxis or slow vehicles

·         in double file

·         on bridges or in tunnels

·         near a continuous line

·         on the emergency stop strips

·         if the vehicle obscures the signal or the lights

·         on a GIG or GIC location

·         next to a fire hydrant

·         on an emergency stop location

What precautions should be taken?

When a user is stopped or parked and his vehicle is immobilized, he must:

1. engage the parking brake
2. turn the front wheels toward the sidewalk if parked on a slope
3. activate a speed, always if it is parked on a slope

It can also use anti-theft devices (blocked steering wheel, alarm, ...) to prevent any risk of theft. It is also necessary to properly close the vehicle and remove valuable papers and valuables from the passenger compartment. Finally, to exit the vehicle, the user must open the door carefully and must lower the passengers side of the sidewalk, so as not to impede traffic.