[https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/northern-ireland-drivers-face-fines-28015452](https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/northern-ireland-drivers-face-fines-28015452)
New parking restrictions come into operation this Friday, November 3rd
Drivers in Northern Ireland are being urged to ‘Think Before You Park’ ahead of the introduction of new parking restrictions later this week or they could face a fine.
The new rules, which come into operation this Friday, November 3 aim to crack down on the problem of pavement parking.
The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) said the new parking restrictions will help to address this issue by prohibiting parking wholly or partly on a footway at a number of specific locations.
This includes footways adjacent to:
a bus lane;
the limits of any bus stop in a lay-by or any bus stop as delineated by markings on the carriageway at any time;
the limits of any bus stand in a lay-by or any bus stand as delineated by markings on the carriageway at any time;
the limits of any mandatory cycle lane as delineated by markings on the carriageway at any time;
and the limits of any mandatory school keep clear as delineated by markings on the carriageway at any time. The Rule also revokes and re-enacts existing prohibitions on footways.
All vehicles found to be in breach of the new restrictions will receive a £90 Penalty Charge Notice, discounted to £45 if paid within 14 days.
Drivers are being urged to abide by the new rules and to show consideration at all times when parking to ensure they are not causing an obstruction and inconvenience to others.
A Dfi spokesperson said: “The Department treats vehicles parked in contravention of parking restrictions very seriously with Traffic Attendants employed across Northern Ireland to help keep traffic moving freely and safely.
“Parking on pavements is a particular area of concern. Drivers often mistakenly think they are doing the right thing by keeping the road clear but fail to consider the needs of people on the footway causing them inconvenience and often putting them in danger.
“This is a particular risk for people with disabilities, older people, children, and people pushing prams who may have to go onto the road to get around the parked cars.”
by Warbler_
10 comments
This is all well and good and I’d go a little further even, but there’s very little sense in having restrictions and penalties if they’re rarely actually enforced.
I’ve never seen a redcoat out and about on either of the two major spoke roads I live near, both of which have bus lanes, urban clearways, double yellows, school zones etc., yet still have drivers just vaguely abandoning cars (often with the hazards on) all over the show. The people that park in the crossing outside Russell’s Castlereagh Road stand out in particular.
This is just another tax on people who are already struggling. Belfast streets are not designed for 2 cars to park each side of the road. Whoever thought this was a good idea is deluded.
I wish they would crack down on dopey cunt lorry drivers who just throw on the hazard lights and start to unlock the stock for the shop typically done in 1) blind corners 2) junctions, blocking your view and 3) narrow roads.
Should be fun round dunluce etc.
> “This is a particular risk for people with disabilities, older people, children, and people pushing prams who may have to go onto the road to get around the parked cars.”
I’ve no issues with this. I’ve threw the car up onto a path before, so I’m as guilty as the next person.
But many times I’ve had to go onto the road while pushing the kids in the pram. Ive seen a person in a wheel chair having to get round a car on the road. Seen someone sitting in a car parked up on the kerb and wouldn’t move their car when a person was trying to get past with a pram while they sat in the driver seat. They just rammed past and ran a scrape right up the car with the pram. The dude got out and tried to start, she told him to fuck clean off. Was brilliant :).
I find it easier steering wide around a parked car than steering around pedestrians who are forced to walk on the road due to parked cars.
Thank fuck for this!!! Long overdue, especially with the delivery driver mantra since lockdown….”….I’ll only be a few minutes…” And screw everyone else, I’ve stuff to deliver.
Who is going to enforce this? If you’re parked on a double yellow, that is the traffic warden, but if you bump your car over the double yellow and park full on the pavement, then they shrug and say “we can do nothing about parking on the footpath” (Literally word for word what two traffic wardens said to me a couple months ago)
Can find all new ways to fine people but can’t fix the numerous potholes, build proper road infrastructure around the city and pedestrianise the city.
Cars shouldn’t have an opportunity to park up in busy city roads.
Oul cunts parking on paths and roads while they go in and worship the smoke monster on Sunday morning. Tow the fuckers away.