Once you become the proud owner of your brand, spanking new caravan you are now legally responsible for where, how and when it’s parked. Better to get up close and personal with the legal requirements and what your responsibilities are.
That’s exactly what this article is going to discuss, regarding your legal obligations to parking caravans on residential roads.
First, it’s a bit of a grey area. There doesn’t seem to be a specific law denying the right to park a caravan on a residential road. But if we go a little deeper into this, it still might not be the wisest decision you could make.
What Do The Police Say?
Checking on the website www.askthe.police.uk they point out that as far as they explain, it’s not a road traffic offence. However, they suggest unless you follow these guidelines, you will commit an offence:
Do not park your caravan or trailer in a way that causes an obstruction or parked in a breach of other legal requirements. For example, parking the caravan dangerously.
The caravan must be lit at night and parked on the road in the same way other vehicles have to park legally at night, i.e. nearside wheels at the kerb, with rear lights facing on-coming traffic. And a brake, chain, chock or some other means must lock the wheels to immobilise the caravan.
They also make a good point, local councils are likely to take legal action against you. A lot of councils take great offence if they see caravans parked on the road, even if the police aren’t interested. It would pay you to check on the local council bylaws, where you live or plan to park your van before you try it out.
Even if your local council is happy enough to see caravans parked on their roads, your insurance company might not be. Check your policy. Does your insurance cover you if your van not hitched and parked on the road?
Advice Regarding Parking Caravans On The Road
If you have checked with the police and your local council and it appears your ready, just a few thoughts on the best way to go about it.
Consider other road users and don’t park it in a way that it obstructs other road users or pedestrians crossing the road.
Don’t perform any maintenance on your caravan while you have it parked, and under no circumstances use it as accommodation.
Remember what we said at the start of the article – it’s a grey area. The police while they won’t charge you with an offence for parking your van, if you break any other law as they see it, they can report you for an offence.
Most of this is at the discretion of the police officer himself. If he reports you for causing an obstruction, let’s say, you’ll have the devil of a job proving he was wrong to do so.
The Last Word
Finally, how much do you want your neighbours to hate you? The legal situation is one thing, but how it looks to your neighbours is the more complicated problem you need to resolve.