Loading Areas

Special loading bays may be provided along with parking bays, or in areas where waiting and loading are otherwise prohibited. The bays may be reserved for use by goods vehicles (where indicated on signs) or may be used by all vehicles, e.g., outside shops where heavy purchases have to be carried to a car. However, these bays should not be used prior to making the purchase, but only for collection of pre-paid items when they are too large or heavy to carry to where the car is parked. Once loading is complete, the vehicle must leave the bay. Some loading bays may be used for other purposes at different times of the day. For example, the bay may be reserved for blue badge holders during the day and for loading during early morning and late afternoon. In such cases the bay will not be marked "LOADING ONLY"; it is therefore important to read the upright signs to see who can use the bay at certain times of day. There may be times, such as morning and evening peak periods, when loading is not permitted. In such cases there will be a single yellow line running through the bay and single "no loading" marks on the kerb.

Bay reserved for loading and unloading by all vehicles at all times

Bay reserved for loading and unloading by goods vehicles at all times

Waiting and loading are prohibited from Monday to Saturday during the times shown in the top and middle panels. The bay may be used for loading only during the times shown in the bottom panel, including Sunday

Off-highway areas may be designated "loading areas" where waiting is restricted except by permitted vehicles. Signs are used without road markings to indicate this.