The private parking sector single Code of Practice was published in June 2024 by the two independent trade associations representing private car park operators – the British Parking Association (BPA) and the International Parking Community (IPC) – and came into force on 1st October 2024.
The Code is a consolidated set of rules and guidance that the UK’s private car park operators are expected to follow. Much of the new Code was already in force under the previous BPA Code of Practice – the new Code has aligned both the BPA’s and IPC’s previous codes and provides for much greater consistency of approach across the whole sector. Our detailed FAQ explains what the introduction of the Code means for motorists, car park users and owners.
One of the key areas covered by the Code relates to signs and surface markings, and how they should give drivers clear information when they enter controlled/private land. Read on to discover more about what this means in practice.
What are the standards for signs and surface markings?
Signs must provide information to drivers, indicating that they are entering controlled land, and to display the parking/access terms and conditions, including payment details where applicable. Surface markings should be used in conjunction with signs to direct traffic movements and to delineate parking bays.
Crucially, the Code explains that “Signs and surface markings must be designed, applied and maintained in such a way as to be visible, legible and unambiguous to drivers.“
A common complaint from motorists is that signs are often inadequate, with the text being too small, confusing, or worse, misleading. The rules around signage aim to raise standards in this area, ensuring that all information required by the driver is easy to read and understand.
To achieve this, the Code of Practice provides detailed guidance concerning:
- Entrance signs and the information they must include
- The size and positioning of all signs that display terms and conditions
- Text choices to aid readability (font, size, colour in relation to background)
- Maintenance of signs so that they remain legible
Furthermore, additional signs should be placed in car parks where the parking terms have changed, making it clear that new terms and conditions/charges apply, so that regular visitors, who may be familiar with the pre-existing terms, are notified about the new terms.
When do these rules come into effect?
As of October 2024, signage at new sites must comply with the new Code requirements. Existing signage must be Code complaint by December 2026.
As with many elements of the Code, Creative Car Park already delivered high standards of signage and surface markings prior to its introduction, as part of our responsibility to provide a positive experience for our clients and their car park users. All of our signs are highly visible, utilising a large clear typeface, and are fully Code compliant, so you can be sure your car park is in safe hands.
If you want more information about the private parking Code of Practice, check our blog regularly as we’ll be posting more about it in the coming weeks.
