A recent survey reveals that four out of five UK drivers want the Government to introduce stricter rules on pavement parking in England. While opinions vary on the approach, there is strong consensus on the need for action.
Currently, London and Scotland are the only regions in the UK where pavement parking is banned. In 2020, the Conservative Government consulted on proposals to grant councils outside of London the authority to prohibit pavement parking, but no new policies were enacted. The Labour Government has since announced its intention to announce “the next steps” on this matter soon.
The survey, which polled 1,709 drivers across the UK and was commissioned by the RAC, found that 83% support new pavement parking regulations. Among them, 42% favor an outright ban in England, while 41% want councils to have stronger powers to prohibit pavement parking on specific roads. Only 13% oppose any ban.
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Two-thirds of respondents reported regularly seeing vehicles parked partially or fully on pavements near their homes. Of these, 44% frequently observe pedestrians being forced to walk in the road due to blocked pavements, with a similar number witnessing this occasionally.
Outside London, English councils must go through costly and time-consuming Traffic Regulation Orders to ban pavement parking on specific streets. This procedural hurdle limits swift action.
RAC Senior Policy Officer Rod Dennis commented, “Pavement parking creates serious problems in some communities, forcing pedestrians and those with mobility aids into the road. The vast majority of drivers want to end this inconsiderate practice, but there is debate on the best solution. Future policies must balance eliminating dangerous parking with ensuring roads do not become clogged by parked vehicles.”
Rachel Toms, Connected Neighbourhoods Director at Sustrans, a walking, wheeling, and cycling charity, urged the Government to give English councils enforcement powers matching those in Scotland and London. “This issue heavily impacts vulnerable people and demands urgent action,” she said.
A Department for Transport spokesperson stated, “We aim to make travel as accessible as possible and recognise the challenges pavement parking presents nationwide. The Government is reviewing this issue and will provide an update in due course.”
The survey was conducted by research company Online95 in June and July.