It’s a little-known rule of the road
Millions of drivers get it ‘wrong’.
Millions of drivers are parking on their driveways the ‘wrong’ way, and breaking Highway Code rules in the process.
It’s one of the least-known rules of the road amongst the British public.
Walk down almost any street in the country and you’re bound to see someone going against the code in this way.
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It’s something most homeowners won’t give a second thought to during their busy days as they’re coming home from work or picking up the kids from school.
It’s all to do with which way cars are faced when parked on driveways.
It’s common for people to pull onto their drives facing forwards – but the Highway Code states they shouldn’t do this.
They should instead reverse onto their driveways.
While this guidance might seem trivial on the face of it, there is an important reason for it.
It’s with safety in mind as drivers are less likely to see pedestrians or other vehicles when reversing out onto roads.
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This potentially creates the risk of crashes or other serious incidents.
Most people wouldn’t know they are doing anything ‘wrong’ by pulling onto their driveways facing forwards.
The Highway Code states: “Do not reverse from a side road into a main road.
“When using a driveway, reverse in and drive out if you can.”
Motoring experts at Yell said: “It’s a habit many drivers don’t think twice about – pulling straight into the driveway after a long day, ready to head inside and relax.
“But did you know that this common parking manoeuvre could actually go against Highway Code guidance? According to the rules of the road, drivers should reverse into their driveways rather than driving in forward and reversing out later.
“When you reverse into your driveway, you have a clear view of approaching traffic, pedestrians, and cyclists.”
