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Highway Code · Rule 239

Highway Code Rule 239

Waiting and parking (238 to 252). A legal requirement (MUST / MUST NOT).

  • Waiting and parking
  • Legal requirement
  • OGL v3.0

What the rule says

Law · MUST

Rule 239 (Parking (rules 239 to 247)) Use off-street parking areas, or bays marked out with white lines on the road as parking places, wherever possible. If you have to stop on the roadside:

  • do not park facing against the traffic flow
  • stop as close as you can to the side
  • do not stop too close to a vehicle displaying a Blue Badge: remember, the occupant may need more room to get in or out
  • you MUST switch off the engine, headlights and fog lights
  • you MUST apply the handbrake before leaving the vehicle
  • you MUST ensure you do not hit anyone when you open your door. Check for cyclists or other traffic by looking all around and using your mirrors
  • where you are able to do so, you should open the door using your hand on the opposite side to the door you are opening; for example, use your left hand to open a door on your right-hand side. This will make you turn your head to look over your shoulder. You are then more likely to avoid causing injury to cyclists or motorcyclists passing you on the road, or to people on the pavement
  • it is safer for your passengers (especially children) to get out of the vehicle on the side next to the kerb
  • put all valuables out of sight and make sure your vehicle is secure
  • lock your vehicle. Before using a hand-held device to help you to park, you MUST make sure it is safe to do so. Then, you should move the vehicle into the parking space in the safest way, and by the shortest route possible. When you use a hand-held device to help you to park, you MUST remain in control of the vehicle at all times. Do not use the hand-held device for anything else while you are using it to help you park, and do not put anyone in danger. Use the hand-held device according to the manufacturer’s instructions. When using an electric vehicle charge point, you should park close to the charge point and avoid creating a trip hazard for pedestrians from trailing cables. Display a warning sign if you can. After using the charge point, you should return charging cables and connectors neatly to minimise the danger to pedestrians and avoid creating an obstacle for other road users. Laws CUR regs 98, 105, 107 & 110, RVLR reg 27 & RTA 1988 sect 42 Rule 239: Check before opening your door

Rule text reproduced verbatim from the official Highway Code (Crown copyright) under the Open Government Licence v3.0, see the attribution at the foot of this page.

In plain English

Stripped of the formal wording, Rule 239 comes down to one idea: rule 239 (Parking (rules 239 to 247)) Use off-street parking areas, or bays marked out with white lines on the road as parking places, wherever possible. Because it is written with “MUST” or “MUST NOT”, it carries the force of law, ignore it and you are committing an offence, not simply driving badly.

It belongs to the waiting and parking part of the Code, the habits a confident, considerate driver builds until they are automatic. The aim is not to memorise the sentence word for word, but to understand the hazard it protects you from, so you apply it without having to think when it counts.

If you are learning, treat this rule as one piece of a connected set rather than an isolated fact. The related rules below sit in the same section and reinforce each other, reading them together is how the waiting and parking part of the Code starts to feel like common sense rather than a list to revise.

Because this is a legal rule, the consequences of ignoring it reach beyond the test: a “MUST” or “MUST NOT” breach can mean a fixed penalty, points on your licence, or in serious cases prosecution. Either way, the safe move is to build the habit early, while a driving instructor can correct it, rather than relearning it under test pressure. That is exactly what the practice routes and coaching in the DriveRoutes app are designed to help with, turning the rules below into the way you naturally drive.

Why rule 239 matters on the road

Stopping and parking badly creates hazards for everyone, blocking sightlines, forcing others into the path of oncoming traffic, or trapping pedestrians. Doing it cleanly keeps the road flowing and prevents the close calls that careless parking causes.

Common faults examiners record

In the waiting and parking part of the Code, the faults most often written on the marking sheet tend to be the same handful. Knowing them in advance is the quickest way to drive them out of your own habits:

  • Insufficient observation during the reversing manoeuvre.
  • Finishing the manoeuvre poorly positioned or too far from the kerb.
  • Moving off afterwards without a proper all-round check.

On the day

Picture the examiner asking for a manoeuvre. Applying Rule 239 means choosing a safe, legal spot, taking all-round observation before and during the exercise, and finishing tidily positioned. The manoeuvre itself matters less than the observation and control you show around it.

Quick checklist

  • Pick a safe, legal place to stop or manoeuvre.
  • Take all-round observation before and during the exercise.
  • Check fully again before you move off.

More from Waiting and parking

Related Highway Code rules

Rule 239, your questions

Rule 239 (Parking (rules 239 to 247)) Use off-street parking areas, or bays marked out with white lines on the road as parking places, wherever possible. It is a legal requirement, it uses “MUST” or “MUST NOT”, so breaking it is a criminal offence that can mean a fine, penalty points, or disqualification.

DriveRoutes is an independent study aid and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).