Growing number of cars parking on wrong side of the road

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Growing number of cars parking on wrong side of the road

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#3262641 22-Jul-2024 10:08

Senecio:

Even if it wasn't illegal, I just don't understand why you would want to? Pulling out of a parrallel park into oncoming traffic while sitting in the drivers seat close to the curb with no/limited visibility is a recipe for disaster. If there's a park on the opposite side of the road just go up further a do a u-turn in someone's driveway and come back to park correctly on that side of the road.

It's simply more convenient. It it wasn't illegal I would do it. Generally I am parking in quite residential area's, where (as evidenced by other people parking on the wrong side of the road), doing so doesn't cause major issues. Often the roads are so narrow, vehicles can only pass parked cars in one direction at a time anyway.

Currently I do as you suggest, but it is not without it's issues:

Driving to a place suitable to do a U turn can take some time.
It's a bit of a chore to do the multipoint turn, especially I know I am going to need to do it again when I depart.
The park might not still be available. etc.

Actually, I will park on the right in situations where the road is de-facto (but not officially) one way. Situations like the below image. There is a no entry preventing traffic from entering the road in the opposite direction to the camera, but the road is not formally one way (a vehicle could depart from a driveway and drive in the opposite direction). Technically illegal, but I haven't seen Auckland transport enforce such spaces (and they do enforce parking against the flow of traffic in general). I feel the vehicles parked with their bonnets over the footpath are the bigger issue in this image.

I suspect the reason for the park only in direction of travel law is because of the risks of people getting into spaces on the opposite side of the road on busier / higher speed bits of road. Quite a dangerous situation. And for simplicity the law needs to apply to all roads, including sleepy suburban streets.

johno1234

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#3262648 22-Jul-2024 10:20

I wonder if there are insurance consequences where parked like this and there's damage?

scuwp

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#3262652 22-Jul-2024 10:30

Scott3:

I suspect the reason for the park only in direction of travel law is because of the risks of people getting into spaces on the opposite side of the road on busier / higher speed bits of road. Quite a dangerous situation. And for simplicity the law needs to apply to all roads, including sleepy suburban streets.

2 reasons, mostly safety. To move over onto that side you have to travel on the wrong side of the road, then again when pulling out, where you have more visibility issues seeing if the way is clear. Second is that the reflectors on the car doesn't show up at night if facing the wrong way. Risk of crashes increases. Yes consistency in laws is preferable. Traffic and traffic movements must be predictable.

If you cut through all the justification (i.e. excuses) it's nothing more than laziness.

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

jonathan18

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#3262666 22-Jul-2024 10:43

I find couriers are some of the worst offenders for parking the wrong way. They’ll also often drive off at a really shallow angle, driving on the wrong side of the road for quite some time (often on their phone!).

I’m sure I sound like an old fogey but there appears to be little policing of all these smaller matters, both parking and driving, which all seem to be growing in prevalence, whether from councils or the cops (eg incorrect signaling on roundabouts; turning into the correct lane at an intersection). Man, we’re bad drivers in this country!

One of the other things I’ve seen on the rise over the past few years is the significant number of cars with only one operating main headlight; I’m interested to know if they know about it and just don’t care (or haven’t yet had it repaired) or just aren’t aware. Maybe the longer gap between WOFs means these things don’t get picked up as much either.

RunningMan

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#3262668 22-Jul-2024 10:48

Here's the actual rule:

6.12 Parallel parking

(1) Unless clause 6.13 applies, a driver or person in charge of a vehicle must not stop, stand, or park the vehicle otherwise than parallel with the direction of the roadway and with the left side of the vehicle as close as practicable to the left side of the road.

(2) However, in a one-way road, the vehicle must face in the same direction as the vehicles proceeding along the road and as close as practicable to either side of the road.

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Scott3

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#3262690 22-Jul-2024 11:32

scuwp:

2 reasons, mostly safety. To move over onto that side you have to travel on the wrong side of the road, then again when pulling out, where you have more visibility issues seeing if the way is clear. Second is that the reflectors on the car doesn't show up at night if facing the wrong way. Risk of crashes increases. Yes consistency in laws is preferable. Traffic and traffic movements must be predictable.

If you cut through all the justification (i.e. excuses) it's nothing more than laziness.

For clarification, the justification was for why I would park on the right if it were legal (such as the UK). Not excuses for doing so here.

Only time i park on the right in NZ is when the road is one way, or defacto one way. (the latter is a bit naughty, and largely comes down to laziness yes)

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GV27

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#3262692 22-Jul-2024 11:40

This is common in my area. It's frustrating as the cars will often also be left for days at a time if it belongs to one of the residents. I have literally not once seen an AT officer in my suburb and the only real enforcement of anything we get is the speed camera van on the main road.

We also get people parking on verges and across driveways as there is a playground and cafe nearby - there's plenty of parking on the surrounding streets but that would involve walking and we can't have that now, can we?

The easiest way to stop our driveway from being parked across now is to just make sure one of our cars is in the park closest to it.

Groucho

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#3262695 22-Jul-2024 11:48

Senecio:

Even if it wasn't illegal, I just don't understand why you would want to? Pulling out of a parrallel park into oncoming traffic while sitting in the drivers seat close to the curb with no/limited visibility is a recipe for disaster.

Exactly this! There might be tourists unaware of NZ law or simple arrogance of they 'do it all the time' and they're used to it... but kiwi drivers are not.

I've been in the situation of driving along a city street when a car pulled out of a parallel carpark on my left in front of me and had that split second flash of a head on collision. They didn't indicate and I didn't see them until they pulled out as there was a massive SUV parked behind them blocking my view which I guarantee meant they couldn't see me! I swerved to avoid them and was very fortunate there wasn't any oncoming traffic in the lane I partially swerved in to.

kiwifidget

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#3262700 22-Jul-2024 11:58

jonathan18: I find couriers are some of the worst offenders for parking the wrong way. They’ll also often drive off at a really shallow angle, driving on the wrong side of the road for quite some time (often on their phone!).

Today's offender is the NZ Post courier van.

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gzt

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#3262709 22-Jul-2024 12:21

scuwp: If you cut through all the justification (i.e. excuses) it's nothing more than laziness.

Same incomprehensible reason people wait to turn right holding up traffic when they could go around that roundabout less than one minute away and not take that risk and cause that problem at all.

gzt

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#3262758 22-Jul-2024 12:24

Personally don't mind the couriers doing what they do. Generally they are experts at staying out of everyone's way and do things safely. They're usually easily identifiable don't want to lose a license with a spectacularly dumb move because that's their job gone and otherwise are very well behaved I find.

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#3262762 22-Jul-2024 12:27

Probably the same people who leave their supermarket trolleys in the middle of the isle while looking for an item. Seems to be a whole lot of them too these days.

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coffeebaron

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#3262766 22-Jul-2024 12:36

kiwifidget:

jonathan18: I find couriers are some of the worst offenders for parking the wrong way. They’ll also often drive off at a really shallow angle, driving on the wrong side of the road for quite some time (often on their phone!).

Today's offender is the NZ Post courier van.

We all know that courier drivers have their own road rules! Same if you turn those magical flashing lights on, then you can park however and whereever you like :)

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RunningMan

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#3262768 22-Jul-2024 12:39

kiwifidget:Today's offender is the NZ Post courier van.

Couriers have an exception in some circumstances:

6.20 Exceptions under this Part

(1) This clause contains exceptions to this Part that are in addition to the exceptions in clause 1.8.

(2) A driver or person in charge of any goods vehicle is not in breach of clause 6.11 or clause 6.12 if he or she proves that the act or omission complained of—

(a) took place in accordance with the directions of a notice, traffic sign, or marking on the roadway; or

(b) was necessary for the loading or unloading of the vehicle in the course of trade, and took place with due consideration for the safety and convenience of other road users, and either—

(i) that alternative access for the purpose of loading or unloading the vehicle was unavailable; or

(ii) if alternative access was available, that the circumstances existing at the time were such that it was unreasonable to require the alternative access to be used.

(3) A driver of any small passenger service vehicle is not in breach of clause 6.11 if the driver proves that—

(a) the act or omission complained of took place during the picking up or setting down of passengers in connection with their carriage for hire or reward and took place with due consideration for the safety and convenience of other road users; and

(b) either—

(i) alternative access for the purpose of picking up or setting down passengers was unavailable; or

(ii) if alternative access was available, that the circumstances existing at the time were such that it was unreasonable to require such access to be used.

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John19612

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#3262770 22-Jul-2024 12:43

There needs to be a crackdown on the fools that reverse into parks. It should be made illegal like it is for reversing into angled parks.

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