Drivers are set to benefit from fairer parking arrangements which will stop them from being hit with unjust fines and give them a 10-minute grace period.
The British Parking Association and the International Parking Community unveiled a new Code of Practice which will be rolled out across the UK in the coming months.
The reforms to private parking rules come as British motorists were slapped with 35,000 fines a day last year by private parking firms.
Each ticket can cost up to £100 for parking fines with the private companies raking in thousands for infringements, prompting drivers to demand action.
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Drivers to benefit from 10 minute grace period before being fined
PAIn response, the Private Parking Sector Single Code of Practice now looks to crack down on discrepancies within private parking and limit the number of drivers being unfairly fined.
It also introduces an Appeals Charter, which gives motorists the chance to appeal against a parking charge.
For drivers who park in Blue Badge bays without the right to, the code adds further protective measures to prevent motorists from abusing the bays.
There will also be consistent signage standards across private parking to avoid confusion as well as a 10-minute grace period for motorists to navigate parking on private land.
Andrew Pester, chief executive of the BPA, said: “We are delighted to introduce a single Code of Practice across the private parking sector.
“This is a crucial milestone as we work closely with Government, consumer bodies and others to deliver fairer and more consistent parking standards for motorists.
“We will continue to push for a positive outcome for all.”
The Code will take force from October 1 later this year, with existing sites expected to update their signage and be fully compliant by late 2026.
Drivers have been calling for a Code of Practice since 2019 when the Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 was launched and debated in Parliament.
However, it failed to successfully pass through Parliament with the sector taking matters into their own hands as a result.
Will Hurley, chief executive officer of the IPC, added that the sector has been calling for a single Code of Practice for a long time which will benefit all compliant motorists and will present “clear consequences” for those who decide to break the rules.
He stated: “The sector has listened to the motoring community and today we are acting.”
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Over 35,000 fines were issued every day in 2023
PAAt least 32.2 million tickets have been issued by private companies in Britain since 2019 when the Bill nearly came into effect.
