Swindon Police have issued a clear warning about illegal parking in the town, saying they are clamping down on drivers who stop on zigzag road markings, according to a Facebook Reel shared by Swindon Police.
In the post, Swindon Police said it is a criminal offence to stop for any duration on zigzag markings, explaining that the road markings are there to protect pedestrians. The message was aimed at all drivers, with police making it clear that the law applies equally to taxi drivers as well.
The Reel also addressed passengers directly, urging them not to ask drivers to stop on zigzags for convenience. Swindon Police said that while it is always the driver’s responsibility to follow the law, putting pressure on a driver to make an illegal stop is unfair.
Taxi drivers were also given a direct warning in the same message. Swindon Police said drivers must find a safe, suitable and legal place to drop off passengers, and added that blaming a passenger for asking them to stop illegally would not be a legal defence.
DM News Commentary
This is a simple but important reminder for the trade. Pickup and drop-off pressure is something most taxi and private hire drivers will recognise, especially in busy areas where passengers want to be let out as close as possible to their destination. But as this warning from Swindon Police makes clear, stopping on zigzag markings is not worth the risk.
It is also a fair point aimed at passengers. Many drivers face awkward moments when customers ask to be dropped “just there” even when the location is clearly unsafe or illegal. The responsibility stays with the driver, but public reminders like this help make it clear that convenience should never come before pedestrian safety.
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