How to read parking signs
We’ve all been there. You’re searching for a parking spot on a busy street and you finally pull up to a space only to be confronted with a cluster of signs that seem to be fighting one another for space on the pole.
Rather than obstruct traffic while trying to decipher this confusion of regulations, times and dates, you pull into the space and hop out. But even when you have time to stand there and study the signs, what each one means and how they relate to each other might not be immediately apparent.
Also, if you got your licence a long time ago, there have likely been some significant changes to parking signs and laws in the interim. This refresher course will explain how to interpret them and help you park quickly and legally, avoiding pesky fines.
Basic restriction signs
No stopping
According to the NSW Government website, the ‘No Stopping’ sign means you must not stop at any point on the road or kerb in the direction of the arrow, unless in an emergency.
No parking
If a ‘No Parking’ sign is displayed, you must not park on that road or area.
You may stop for less than two minutes if you are:
- dropping off or picking up passengers
- loading or unloading items.
However, you must remain within three metres of your vehicle and it must not block the flow of traffic or become a danger to other road users.
NSW also used to have ‘No Standing’ signs, which permitted a driver to stop to pick up or set down passengers, but these signs were phased out back in 2008 to fall into line with the rest of Australia.
Day/time limited parking
This is what results in those bewildering clusters of signs. They tend to proliferate in busy areas such as cities and industrial zones, where there are large numbers of people and roadsides need to be kept clear or used for a wide variety of purposes.
How to decode parking signs
Step 1: Look at the colours
Major restrictions on parking (no stopping or no parking) will be in red, while permitted parking information will be in green. Read red first, as disobeying these instructions will result in the biggest penalties.
Step 2: Check the day
The majority of parking signs restrict or limit parking during periods of high traffic flow (morning and afternoon peak for example) or frequent use (business hours). If it’s Sunday but the ‘No Stopping’ sign is marked MON-FRI, you’re okay to park there.
Step 3: Check the duration
Most parking signs will display a time limit – anything from five minutes up to four hours. These can be rendered with a simple 1P (one hour parking) or written out as 1 HOUR PARKING depending on the sign. 2P = two hour parking, and so on.
Step 4: Check the time
Once you’ve made your way through the first three steps, look for time limitations. When added to a green 1P sign, for example, they will tell you the time frame in which you can legally park there for one hour.
Here are two real-world examples of confusing signs and how to read each one fluently.
1. Colour: We have a red NO STOPPING sign pointing left and a (rather faded) NO PARKING SIGN pointing right.
As there are no days or times applying to the No Parking sign, we know immediately we can’t park to the right, as the arrow indicates, at any time.
The No Stopping sign applies to the left, as the arrow indicates, but it has time limitations and there are green 1P signs, so parking is a possibility and it’s time to move to the next step.
2. Day: The No Stopping sign applies Monday to Friday, so if it’s a weekday during the times shown, you’ll need to look elsewhere for a parking spot.
The green sign indicates which days you can park there. In this case it’s Monday to Friday and Saturdays, but only at certain times (see below). Sunday isn’t mentioned on the red or green signs, which means you can park there without restrictions on a Sunday.
3. Duration: 1P = one hour. Outside the restricted days/times, parking is free and unlimited in duration.
4. Time: On first glance, it seems confusing that both the No Stopping and 1P signs display the same days (MON - FRI), but the times clarify things. You can park there for one hour between 10am and 3pm Monday to Friday, and between 9am and 12:30pm on a Saturday. Note that the MON-FRI sign also has METER beneath it, meaning you must pay for parking at the provided parking meter during that period (this is sometimes also designated with TICKET).
Any period not covered by these signs – in this case between 6pm and 6am Monday to Friday, before 9am and after 12:30pm on a Saturday, and anytime Sunday – is unrestricted.
Now that you’re warmed up, here’s a doozy:
Never fear, our four steps will quickly alleviate confusion.
1. Colour: The red No Stopping sign pointing left with no mitigating days or times means we can’t park there, ever. The red No Stopping sign pointsg right, but it has days and times, plus green signs beneath it – onto step two.
2. Day: MON - FRI on the No Stopping sign, but also MON - FRI on the green signs, so we can park here at certain times.
3. Duration: Again, 1P = 1 hour. But wait! This sign has an extra sticker – if you’re only going to be parked a short time (less than 30 minutes in this case) you don’t need to pay, merely put your number plate into the parking meter.
4. Time: Ah, on the No Stopping sign there are those familiar peak hour periods again (in this case 6:30am-9:30am and 3:30pm to 6:30pm). The 1P METER sign slots in nicely between those periods (9:30am-3:30pm), so during that time you can park there for a full hour provided you pay at a meter.
On Saturdays between 9am and 12pm you can only park there for one hour, but you don’t have to pay. All other times are unrestricted.
Know your parking signs
The NSW Government website provides a variety of parking sign images and explanations for what each one means. Part of being a licenced motorist is brushing up on the road rules from time to time, and that includes parking restrictions. The better you understand them, the less likely you are to become frazzled when it’s time to park on a busy road.
