Definition of stopping
The vehicle is regarded as ‘stopped’ when it is stationary for other reasons than the following:
- In a jam, or as a result of other traffic conditions
- To avoid danger
- When parking
Definition of parking
A vehicle is regarded as ‘parked’ when it is stopped (whether it is attended or not) for other reasons than following:
- To avoid danger
- In a jam, or as a result of other traffic conditions
- To pick up or disembark passengers, or load and unload goods
General rules about stopping and parking
On a priority road parking is usually prohibited (even on the hard shoulder), unless it is an emergency.
The basic rule about parking is that you should not park so that this would endanger others or inconvenience others. For example, it is prohibbited to park at places where your vehicle would block the view for other road users or to park in front of someone’s garage entrance.
When you are exiting your vehicle you may not endnager other when opening the doors.
When stopped or parked you should ensure that the vehicle is properly stopped and will not roll away. Apply handbrake if necessary.
You must ensure that no one else can use your vehicle by accident. For example, children.
You should always stop or park as close to the curb as possible. You may only stop or park on the right hand side of the street, unless it is a one-way street. On a one-way street parking on the left-hand side is allowed.
Parked vehicle may be removed if:
- vehicle causes danger to obstructs traffic
- vehicle causes inconvenience
- vehicle obstructs cleaning of the road
- vehicle is parked on a pedestrian or cycling path
- vehicle is parked on a parking space for disabled
- vehicle obstructs public transport
- vehicle is parked closer than 5 meters to a pedestrian crossing
As the owner of the vehicle you will bear the costs of vehicle removal. If your vehicle has been removed, you should contact the police.
Stopping (and parking) is prohibited:
- At road junctions, or 10 meters before a junction
- At a railway or tram way junctions
- Before, after or at bends
- Before and after the brow of a hill
- At pedestrian crossings or closer that 10 meters to a pedestrian crossing
- Under the tunnels
- On a bicycle or pedestrian path or on a bicycle lane
- On a lane specialized for public transport
- Alongside a solid line if the distance between your vehicle and the solid line is less than 3 meters
- On a lane specialized for public transport
- At a bus stop
- In front of an entrance to someone’s property blocking the way in or out
- So that any of your wheels is outside allocated parking space
- So that it would obstruct other parked vehicles from driving away
- Closer than 30 meters to a level crossing
You may stop at a bus stop only to pick up or disembark passengers, providing that this does not create inconvenience for the bus driver.
Parking signs and supplementary plates
Parking in the city is often regulated with the help of parking signs together with supplementary plates. Supplementary plate refers to the parking sign above it and provides details about the times and days when the parking is allowed. On a supplementary plate you will find black or white figures that refer to weekdays except a weekday before Sunday or a public holiday (usually Mon-Fri), figures in brackets that refer to weekdays before Sunday and holidays (usually Saturdays), and red figures that refer to Sundays and public holidays.
In case of a breakdown
In case of a breakdown when you have to stop in an emergency, you should stop as far right to the side and further from the carriageway as possible. Switch on your hazard warning lights and place the warning triangle at least 50 meters behind your car (if the road you are on permits the speed over 50 km/h). Familiarize yoru self with the course of actions in an emergency situation in the section devoted to Breakdowns and incidents.