6PROHIBITION OF WAITING AND LOADING
GENERAL
6.1 Management of road space, in respect of stationary vehicles, comprises either negative or permissive controls both of which can apply to the carriageway, footway and verge. Negative controls prohibit waiting and loading, and generally use yellow signs and markings (but see para 6.3). Permissive controls provide on-street parking places and loading bays, and use white signs and markings. This section deals with signs for negative controls. Signs for permissive controls, including those combined with waiting and loading prohibitions, are covered in section 7. Section 9 covers the more restrictive "no stopping" orders, except red routes which can be found in section 10. For zonal controls see section 11 (Pedestrian Zones), section 12 (Controlled Parking Zones) and section 13 (Restricted Zones).
6.2 Waiting and loading prohibitions on the side of a road generally apply from the carriageway centre line to the highway boundary. The prohibition therefore applies to any verge, footway or cycle track as well as to the carriageway.
6.3 Standard exemptions to a waiting prohibition are not shown on the signs. These exemptions include stopping to pick up or set down passengers, and causing a vehicle to be stationary for the purposes of loading or unloading goods from that vehicle. Loading generally refers to commercial loading or to objects that are too heavy or bulky to be carried very far by hand, but does not include time for purchasing the goods. Where loading is not permitted, additional signs are provided. These have a white background, to contrast with the yellow "no waiting" signs. Disabled badge holders are permitted to park for up to three hours where there is a waiting, but not a loading prohibition. Where a length of road is not suitable for parking by disabled badge holders, a prohibition of loading should be considered. However, if a loading provision is necessary, a loading bay should be provided as this cannot be used by disabled badge holders (see paras 7.27 to 7.29). A prohibition of loading still permits drivers to pick up and set down passengers.
6.4 Road markings comprise continuous yellow lines for waiting prohibitions and yellow kerb marks for a loading prohibition. Further details are given in Chapter 5, section 20 (see para 20.3 in Chapter 5 in respect of the use of transverse marks on yellow lines). The tables below the signs illustrated in this section indicate the appropriate road markings, if any, that are to be used in conjunction with the upright signs.
6.5 For sign design, size and siting see paras 6.31 to 6.37. Details of the correct design for most permitted variants are shown on the working drawings (see para 1.9). Reference should always be made to these.
PROHIBITION OF WAITING AT ANY TIME
6.6 As the double yellow line to diagram 1018.1 means no waiting at any time for a period not less than four consecutive months, signs are no longer prescribed for a prohibition of waiting that is in force for 24 hours a day, every day of the year. This restriction is now imposed solely by the road markings. Where signs to the former diagram 637 (no waiting at any time) prescribed by the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 1994 are still in place there is currently no time limit for their removal. However, they cannot be replaced if they become worn, damaged or go missing. There are other signs which may be varied to indicate no waiting at any time, but only in the circumstances described below (see also table 6-1). Where there is also a loading prohibition, the sign to diagram 638 is used for a 24-hour prohibition and the sign to diagram 638.1 for a prohibition that applies for only part of the day. These signs must be accompanied by the kerb marks to diagram 1020.1 or 1019 as indicated in table 6-2.
6.7 The sign to diagram 637.3 is used where a prohibition of waiting at any time applies for a period less than 12 months of the year, but for at least four consecutive months. Such a prohibition is likely to be imposed where there is seasonal traffic, for example at a holiday resort. The sign is used with the double yellow line to diagram 1018.1. The Regulations do not allow the date to be omitted in order to replicate the sign to diagram 637 described in para 6.6, nor should the date be varied to a twelve month period. If there is also a loading prohibition, the sign to diagram 640 is used, with the upper panel varied to diagram 637.3. If the loading prohibition applies for 24 hours each day and for a period of at least four consecutive months, the double kerb marks to diagram 1020.1 are used, otherwise the single kerb mark to diagram 1019 should be used.
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