Can I be fined if I park my car facing oncoming traffic?

IT can be a nightmare finding somewhere to park – but should you pick a spot which is facing oncoming traffic?

Drivers will want to know whether this will land them with a fine to pay – or points on their licence.

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We explain the rules so you can stay safe on the roads and avoid a penalty.

Can I be fined if I park my car facing oncoming traffic?

Yes – in some cases you could be fined £1,000.

The Highway Code says that you should not park your car facing the direction of oncoming traffic at night.

It says: “A car must not be parked at the side of the road facing against the direction of traffic”.

If you do, you could be slapped with a £1,000 fine.

This can rise to £2,500 for cars with over eight seats, or goods vehicles.

However, it is legal to park in the direction of traffic during the day.

Why is facing oncoming traffic dangerous?

You might be wondering why the rules state you can only park facing oncoming traffic during the day.

That’s because at night, oncoming traffic would not be able to see your car – the rear reflectors on the back of your vehicle would be hidden.

It could mean that there’s a risk of an accident happening.

Can I appeal the fine?

You can appeal parking tickets – but whether you should is a different matter.

You can challenge the fine if you were parked correctly – but if you are parked facing traffic at night, you are going against the rules and it’s unlikely you’ll avoid the charge.

If your car has broken down and you were waiting for it to be fixed, then you might want to challenge the ticjet.

But appealing could see you have to pay a maximum fine – usually if you pay in 14 days of the charge issued, you’ll only pay half price.