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Parking on pavements: the debate that鈥檚 actually dividing UK drivers

September 01, 2025 by

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Should pavement parking be banned? Drivers weigh in on this.

Most drivers in England are fed up with pavement parking and want the government to step in 鈥 but they鈥檙e split over how tough the rules should be, new RAC research shows.

Eight in 10 (83%) think ministers need to act, but opinions differ on what that looks like: 42% back a full ban across England, while almost the same number (41%) would rather see councils get extra powers to deal with problem roads.

It鈥檚 not a small issue either. Two-thirds of drivers say they regularly spot cars parked partly or fully on pavements near their homes. For a third of people, it happens daily. And nearly half of those who see it say pedestrians 鈥 from parents with prams to wheelchair users 鈥 often end up forced into the road.

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But when it comes to penalties, drivers are more forgiving. Around 44% think rule-breakers should get a warning first, before facing fines. One in five, though, believe pavement parking shouldn鈥檛 be against the law at all.

London has banned it since 1974, and Scotland brought in 拢100 fines earlier this year. In the rest of England, councils can only ban pavement parking street by street 鈥 a process many say is slow and expensive.

The government is expected to set out its next steps soon, with a debate in Westminster due this week.

RAC鈥檚 Rod Dennis said pavement parking clearly needs tackling, but any solution has to strike the right balance: 鈥淣o pavement user should be forced into the road because of someone parking inconsiderately. But on narrow streets, drivers sometimes park partly on the kerb to let traffic through. A blanket ban could cause its own problems unless councils have some flexibility.鈥

MPs are now ramping up the pressure. Labour鈥檚 Marsha De Cordova has tabled a bill to reform the law, while Lib Dem Helen Maguire will lead this week鈥檚 debate.

For now, drivers and pedestrians are left waiting to see if ministers will finally clear up England鈥檚 pavement parking problem.

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