| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Stopping | standing still only as long as needed to let people in or out or to load or unload (1.29) |
| Standing | standing still for another reason, longer than a stop (except to avoid a collision or obey the rules) (1.31) |
| Forced stop | stopping because of a fault, the load, the driver’s or a passenger’s condition, or an obstacle (1.30) |
| Parking | standing in designated parking places (1.32) |
Where and how
- On the right-hand side — on the shoulder, or at the edge of the carriageway if there is none, in one row. Only motorcycles without a sidecar, mopeds, bicycles and small electric vehicles may stop in a second row (52.I).
- On the left — in built-up areas when tram tracks prevent stopping on the right, and on one-way roads (lorries over 3.5 t only to load or unload) (52.II).
- Only cars, motorcycles, mopeds, bicycles and small electric vehicles may stand at the edge of the pavement next to the carriageway, without hindering pedestrians (52.II).
- Outside built-up areas, long rests and overnight stops only at special areas or off the road (52.III).
Stopping is banned
| Place | Distance / condition |
|---|---|
| On or next to tram tracks | if it hinders the tram |
| Level crossings, tunnels; bridges and flyovers (under 3 lanes each way) and beneath them | always |
| Next to lines 1.1, 1.3, 1.11 | if less than 3 m is left between the line and the car |
| Pedestrian crossing | on it and within 5 m |
| Dangerous bend, crest | if visibility is under 100 m |
| Junction | in it and within 5 m of the edge of the crossing road |
| Public-transport stop | within 15 m of the stop area or sign 5.12, 5.13 |
| Where you hide a light or sign or block others | always |
| Pavement, cycle track, taxi rank (5.14) | unless signs allow; at a taxi rank, anything but a taxi |
| The 3.27 zone and line 1.4 | always |
| Motorways and roads marked 5.3 | outside areas marked 5.15 or 6.11 |
Leaving the vehicle
When you leave the vehicle standing: switch the engine off, apply the parking brake, turn the wheels towards the kerb or other edge obstacle, and lock the doors. A vehicle over 3.5 t on a slope also needs a chock under at least one wheel (52.V). Do not open a door if it would hinder others (52.VIII). After a forced stop in a no-stopping place, do everything you can to move the vehicle away (52.VII).
Paid parking
- A parking place is marked with sign 5.15 and lines; vehicles normally park parallel to the carriageway, at an angle only where lines show it; the method may also be given by plates 7.6.1–7.6.9 (53.IV).
- The first 15 minutes are free; start the session by SMS or app on arrival and end and pay when you leave (53.XV). If you paid in advance, you have 10 minutes after the time runs out to leave (53.XVI). One parking session may not exceed 24 hours (53.XIX).
- 5% of places (at least one) are for people with disabilities (line 1.24) — only vehicles with the «Person with disability» sign may stand there (53.X). Places with plate 7.5.9 are only for charging electric vehicles (53.X-I).
- Parking lorries over 3.5 t, «reserving» places or blocking others, and parking across the marked bay lines are all forbidden (53.XXIII, 53.XXIV).
Near a level crossing
Problem
May you stop for a minute 30 m before a level crossing to drop off a passenger? And may you leave the car there and go into a shop?
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Solution
Dropping off a passenger is stopping, which is allowed if you are not on the crossing itself (52.IV.2 bans stopping only on the crossing). Leaving the car is standing, which is banned within 50 m of a level crossing (52.VI.4).
Parking on a hill
Problem
You are leaving your car on a street with a kerb, facing downhill. What must you do?
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Solution
Switch the engine off, apply the parking brake, turn the wheels towards the kerb (to the right) and lock the doors (52.V). If the car starts to roll, the wheel will catch on the kerb.
Remember
- Stopping is short, for people or loads; standing is longer.
- On the right, one row; only two-wheelers in a second row.
- 5 m — crossings and junctions; 15 m — stops; 3 m — to a solid line; 50 m — no standing near a level crossing; 100 m — visibility.
- Leaving the car: engine off, parking brake, wheels to the kerb, doors locked.
- Paid parking: 15 minutes free, start and end the session, 24 hours at most.