Traffic halts, brief stops and parking: pausing and moving off safely

Three meanings of a stationary vehicle

An arresto is imposed by traffic: for example, a red light, a queue, a duty to yield or an officer's instruction. The driver moves again when the cause ends. A car waiting at a red light is therefore classed as arresto, not as fermata or sosta, even if it remains still for several minutes.

A fermata is voluntary and very short, for example to let someone board or alight; the driver stays present, ready to move, and causes no obstruction. Sosta lasts longer and allows the driver to leave. Duration is not the only test: the reason for being stationary and the driver's presence also matter.

• Traffic-imposed halt: the road situation requires it
• Brief stop: voluntary, short and attended
• Parking: prolonged and possibly unattended

Choosing a place and pulling in

Before slowing, check mirrors and the surrounding space, signal early and draw in smoothly. A place where stopping is formally permitted may still be unsafe if sight lines are poor, the road is narrow or the vehicle would hide a vulnerable road user from approaching traffic. A brief stop must remain no longer than necessary and cannot turn a live lane into an avoidable obstruction.

As a rule, stop or park close to the right-hand edge, parallel to it and facing the direction of travel. Outside built-up areas, remain off the carriageway, but not on cycle tracks or the shoulder unless signs allow it; if that is impossible, stay as far right as possible. Without a pavement, leave pedestrians at least one metre. On an urban one-way road, parking on the left is allowed only when one traffic lane remains clear and the free width is at least three metres.

Places where even a brief stop is prohibited

Stopping and parking are prohibited at or near level crossings; on railway or tram tracks, or close enough to obstruct rail vehicles; in tunnels and underpasses, beneath flyovers, arches and porticoes unless signs permit otherwise; and on crests and bends. Outside built-up areas and on urban through roads, the ban also applies near them. Do not stop where the vehicle hides a sign or traffic light, covers lane-selection markings or occupies a channelled lane.

Keep pedestrian passages and crossings, cycle crossings, cycle tracks and their exits clear; stopping or parking on pavements is prohibited unless signs permit otherwise. Outside built-up areas, the ban covers junctions and their vicinity; in built-up areas, the junction and, unless signed otherwise, five metres from the extension of the nearest edge of the intersecting carriageway. Hazard lights do not make a prohibited stop lawful.

Parking and securing the vehicle

A properly parked vehicle must fit fully within the available space, without occupying traffic lanes, pedestrian routes or neighbouring bays. Follow the markings and avoid trapping a vehicle already parked. Double parking narrows the carriageway and forces others to deviate; remaining close to the car does not turn this obstructive position into an acceptable brief stop.

Before leaving, prevent unintended movement and unauthorised use. Apply the parking brake, select an appropriate gear or the transmission's parking position, and consider the gradient as one combined check. Switch off the engine, take the keys and make sure doors and loads are secure. Resting a wheel against the kerb is no substitute for proper restraint and does not excuse an irregular position.

• Keep the whole vehicle inside the permitted space
• Secure it appropriately for the gradient
• Leave every access and route unobstructed

Parking restrictions, access and reserved bays

Parking is prohibited at a driveway exit or wherever it blocks a parked vehicle. It is prohibited in a second row except for two-wheelers, and at public-transport stops; if no bay is marked, do not park within fifteen metres of the sign. While a roadside fuel station operates, the restriction covers the dispensers and five metres before and after them.

Spaces reserved for people with disabilities, taxis, public transport, loading, charging electric vehicles and other signed uses remain reserved. Before leaving, read the sign, supplementary panel, line colour, hours and arrows together: they state who may park, when and over which stretch. An empty bay does not lose its reserved purpose.

Time controls, payment and emergency parking

Where parking is time-limited, show the starting time with the required device and move when the allowance expires; simply changing the displayed time while leaving the vehicle in place defeats the restriction. In a paid-parking area, follow the payment method, active hours and duration displayed. A meter, digital session or receipt regulates use of that space but never overrides a separate prohibition.

Emergency parking results from a breakdown, illness or another genuine inability to continue, not from convenience. If the vehicle becomes unusable, make it visible and reduce people's exposure while following the special rules for that kind of road. Move it to a safer place as soon as possible. The unexpected event explains why the vehicle stopped, but the continuing duty is to limit danger and summon appropriate help.

Doors, passengers and the safer side of the road

Opening a door is a manoeuvre into space that a cyclist, motorcycle or other vehicle may already be using. Check mirrors and the blind area, preferably with a direct glance, then open gradually. The law forbids opening or leaving doors open when danger or obstruction may result. The driver should also warn passengers, who may not recognise traffic approaching from behind.

Where possible, passengers board and alight on the pavement side or whichever side is better protected. Children, older people and passengers with reduced mobility need extra time and space, so the chosen location must allow assistance without exposing them to traffic. Even quick loading must not occupy a cycle track or force a pedestrian into the carriageway.

Preparing and moving off predictably

Before departure, adjust the seat, head restraint and mirrors, fasten the seat belt, and check doors, passengers and loads. Complete these tasks while stationary; correcting a driving position in motion diverts attention. After starting, observe the instruments and the outside environment. A running engine means the vehicle is ready, not that it is entitled to enter the traffic stream.

A driver moving away from parking must yield to traffic already in motion. Mirrors, a direct blind-spot check and a timely direction indicator precede a smooth entry, with special attention to cycles, motorcycles and pedestrians alongside the vehicle. The signal tells others what is intended; it does not grant priority. Release the brake and enter the lane only when the path and the necessary space are genuinely clear.

• Complete preparation before moving
• Check mirrors and the blind area
• Yield to road users already in motion