{"id":9514,"date":"2021-01-21T16:07:33","date_gmt":"2021-01-21T16:07:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/roadsandtransport\/?page_id=9514"},"modified":"2026-06-30T13:22:52","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T12:22:52","slug":"parking-and-congestion-issues-outside-schools","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/roads-and-transport\/safe-travel\/road-safety\/schools\/parking-and-congestion-issues-outside-schools\/","title":{"rendered":"Parking and congestion issues outside schools"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone size-large wp-image-9525\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"399\" id=\"longdesc-return-9525\" longdesc=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/roads-and-transport?longdesc=9525&#038;referrer=9514\" tabindex=\"-1\" src=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/roads-and-transport\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/160\/2021\/01\/Drivers_Park-considerately_-landscape-800x399.jpg\" alt=\"Drivers . Please park considerately away from the school entrance\" class=\"wp-image-9525\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/roads-and-transport\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/160\/2021\/01\/Drivers_Park-considerately_-landscape-800x399.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/roads-and-transport\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/160\/2021\/01\/Drivers_Park-considerately_-landscape-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/roads-and-transport\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/160\/2021\/01\/Drivers_Park-considerately_-landscape-768x383.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/roads-and-transport\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/160\/2021\/01\/Drivers_Park-considerately_-landscape.jpg 1421w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Drivers. Please park considerately away from the school entrance<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Traffic congestion and problems at school travel time can be an issue outside many schools. Often this is caused by the volume of parents\/carers who stop or park, sometimes inconsiderately or inappropriately, near the school entrance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is not one magic solution to fix this. It will require a range of measures applied regularly throughout the school year and commitment from the school and wider school community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/roads-and-transport\/report-a-problem\/report-a-parking-problem\/\" target=\"_blank\">Report a parking problem<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where not to park<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Near the school entrance.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>On the SCHOOL KEEP CLEAR yellow zigzag lines.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>On single yellow lines when a restriction is in place.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>On double yellow lines.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Where it will affect visibility or make it difficult for others to walk or cross the road.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>See school parking <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/reel\/1560886298739099\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/reel\/1560886298739099\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Video 1<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/reel\/1278148193925389\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/reel\/1278148193925389\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Video 2<\/a> by Sgt Owen Messenger in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.devon-cornwall.police.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Devon and Cornwall Police<\/a> Roads Policing <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What we do<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"float: none;background-color: #ffffff;color: #000000;,sans-serif;font-size: 16px;font-style: normal;font-variant: normal;font-weight: 400;letter-spacing: normal;line-height: 1.5;text-align: left;text-decoration: none;text-indent: 0px;text-transform: none\">We can <\/span><a style=\"color: #743399;quot;quot;quot;quot;,sans-serif;font-size: 16px;font-style: normal;font-variant: normal;font-weight: 400;letter-spacing: normal;line-height: 1.5;text-align: left;text-decoration: underline;text-indent: 0px;text-transform: none\" href=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/roads-and-transport\/safe-travel\/road-safety\/schools\/\">help schools set up many free projects<\/a><span style=\"float: none;background-color: #ffffff;color: #000000;,sans-serif;font-size: 16px;font-style: normal;font-variant: normal;font-weight: 400;letter-spacing: normal;line-height: 1.5;text-align: left;text-decoration: none;text-indent: 0px;text-transform: none\"> to encourage children to walk and cycle. This can reduce the number of children driven to school.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What the school and wider school community can do<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">School <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/roads-and-transport\/safe-travel\/road-safety\/schools\/school-travel-plans\/\">School Travel Plan<\/a> is  an opportunity to formally record what measures the school are taking to discourage parents driving children to school and parking near the school. The plan should tackle the issue of inconsiderate parking and congestion outside the school.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Extend the times children can enter the school premises as this will result in spreading the number of drivers\/parents arriving at school over a longer period of time. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Consider opening up <strong>other<\/strong> school entrances\/exits, if possible, to reduce congestion at one location.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/roads-and-transport\/report-a-problem\/report-a-problem-with-road-markings-and-signs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Report a problem with road markings and signs<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lightsonindevon.co.uk\/Public\/ReportFault.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">lights<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Enforcement<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/roads-and-transport\/report-a-problem\/report-a-parking-problem\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong><span style=\"float: none;background-color: #ffffff;color: #000000;, sans-serif;font-size: 16px;font-style: normal;font-variant: normal;letter-spacing: normal;line-height: 1.5;text-align: left;text-decoration: none;text-indent: 0px;text-transform: none\">Report a parking problem<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"float: none;background-color: #ffffff;color: #000000;,sans-serif;font-size: 16px;font-style: normal;font-variant: normal;font-weight: 400;letter-spacing: normal;line-height: 1.5;text-align: left;text-decoration: none;text-indent: 0px;text-transform: none\">Try and establish a working relationship with Devon County Council\u2019s Civil Parking Enforcement (CPE) team and also the local Police officer.<\/span><b><\/b><i><\/i><u><\/u><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"float: none;background-color: #ffffff;color: #000000;,sans-serif;font-size: 16px;font-style: normal;font-variant: normal;font-weight: 400;letter-spacing: normal;line-height: 1.5;text-align: left;text-decoration: none;text-indent: 0px;text-transform: none\">Dangerous or inconsiderate parking that is causing an obstruction should be reported to the <\/span><a style=\"color: #0066cc;quot;quot;quot;quot;,sans-serif;font-size: 16px;font-style: normal;font-variant: normal;font-weight: 400;letter-spacing: normal;line-height: 1.5;text-align: left;text-decoration: underline;text-indent: 0px;text-transform: none\" href=\"https:\/\/www.devon-cornwall.police.uk\/contact\" rel=\"noopener\">Police.<\/a><b><\/b><i><\/i><u><\/u><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.devon-cornwall.police.uk\/ro\/report\/rti\/rti-beta-2.1\/report-a-road-traffic-incident\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Report a road traffic incident | Devon &amp; Cornwall Police<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Education<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Fewer parents driving and less cars near the school gates can go a long way to reducing the issue.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tell parents that do drive, to park considerately and away from the school.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Parents that drive and wait for their children MUST NOT leave their vehicle engine &#8216;idling&#8217;. See <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/guidance\/the-highway-code\/general-rules-techniques-and-advice-for-all-drivers-and-riders-103-to-158\" rel=\"noopener\">Highway Code Rule 123.<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>School staff positioned outside the school <span style=\"float: none;background-color: #ffffff;color: #000000;,sans-serif;font-size: 16px;font-style: normal;font-variant: normal;font-weight: 400;letter-spacing: normal;line-height: 1.5;text-align: left;text-decoration: none;text-indent: 0px;text-transform: none\">to verbally discourage inappropriate parking and to<\/span> welcome pupils and parents.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Purchase no parking\/stopping banners and fix to school railings\/fence.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Deliver lessons in school to promote and encourage sustainable travel. Lesson plans are available on the government websites <a href=\"https:\/\/www.think.gov.uk\/\" rel=\"noopener\">THINK!<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/bikeability.org.uk\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Bikeability.<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sustainable Travel Days rewards and incentives for children who walk, cycle, scoot or catch public transport. See <a href=\"https:\/\/www.livingstreets.org.uk\/walk-to-school\" rel=\"noopener\">Living Streets \u2018Walk to School\u2019<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Help parents and children with their school journeys<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Provide information to encourage children cycling to school, for example, details of the cycle parking at the school or create <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spexe.org\/1552\/cycling-to-st-peters\" rel=\"noopener\">videos of popular routes<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.traveldevon.info\/cycle\/cycle-routes\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Maps<\/a> identifying cycling and walking routes, footpaths or cut-throughs, shared paths and quiet streets.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Set up <a href=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/roads-and-transport\/safe-travel\/road-safety\/schools\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Park and Stride or Walking Bus<\/a> <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Traffic congestion and problems at school travel time can be an issue outside many schools. Often this is caused by the volume of parents\/carers who stop or park, sometimes inconsiderately or inappropriately, near the school entrance. There is not one magic solution to fix this. It will require a range of measures applied regularly throughout [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":124,"featured_media":0,"parent":2118,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-9514","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-08-03 06:31:33","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/roads-and-transport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9514","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/roads-and-transport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/roads-and-transport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/roads-and-transport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/124"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/roads-and-transport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9514"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/roads-and-transport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9514\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26886,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/roads-and-transport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9514\/revisions\/26886"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/roads-and-transport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2118"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/roads-and-transport\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9514"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}