A Reddit thread after a streetwide ticketing incident has highlighted Highway Code Rule 248: do not park at night facing against the direction of traffic unless in a marked space. Penalties can reach £1,000 for cars and up to £2,500 for larger vehicles.
Highway Code Rule 248 prohibits parking on a road at night facing against the direction of traffic unless in a designated parking space.
The rule exists to make parked vehicles more visible at night by presenting rear reflectors to approaching traffic.
A quick visual check of which way your car faces before leaving it at night can prevent a costly penalty.
A driver posted on Reddit after receiving a penalty for "parking the wrong direction" on a residential street where neighbours were parked facing mixed directions. The post prompted attention to a specific Highway Code rule many motorists overlook.
Rule 248 of the Highway Code states motorists must not park on a road at night facing against the direction of traffic flow, unless parked in a designated parking space. The provision applies to on-road parking after dark, not to cars in marked bays.
The rule is about visibility. Rear reflectors and lamps make parked vehicles easier for approaching drivers to spot in dark or poorly lit conditions. A car parked against the traffic flow presents its front to oncoming drivers, so they miss the benefit of rear reflectors that headlights normally pick up.
Motorists who breach Rule 248 can face a fine of up to £1,000. The possible fine rises to £2,500 for goods vehicles and passenger vehicles carrying more than eight people. The article does not describe how local enforcement identifies this specific breach, but the Reddit example shows enforcement can occur on residential streets.
The article presents a single social-media-driven example where a driver was surprised to be fined on a residential street. It uses that incident to remind readers of the existing Highway Code requirement rather than reporting on a wider enforcement campaign.
If you park on the road at night, face the same direction as the flow of traffic unless you're in a marked parking space. The rule is short, simple, and carries a significant fine if breached, so a quick check when you exit your car can avoid a costly ticket.
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