Clearview National August 2019 - Issue 213 | Page 91

INSTALLERSUPPORT
Can I park my
van at home?
» » VAN DRIVERS WHO INSURANCE
park their vehicles at home
overnight are being urged to
check whether they’re staying
within the law…
Tim Alcock from LeaseVan.
co.uk said: “If you’re working for
yourself or set off early in the
morning, then parking your van
at home makes sense. But it is
important to check all the rules
and regulations around doing
that. It’s not as simple as just
letting your neighbours know. You
need to check deeds, clarify the
position of your local council and
make sure you’re aware of any
parking restrictions.”
Here are LeaseVan.co.uk’s tips
for parking your van at home. Let your insurers know you’ll
be parking at your home address
to check it’s covered. If not you
could invalidate your cover.
COMPANY RULES
Before you take a work van
home, make sure your employer
allows vans to be parked off-site
overnight.
CHECK YOUR DEEDS
Generally, it’s fine to park a
work van on your drive or in
the garage. But, check the deeds
of your house in case there
are any planning restrictions or
enforced covenants which say you
can’t park trade vehicles at the
property.
PARKING RESTRICTIONS
Check there are no parking
restrictions on your street. If
you live in a controlled parking
area, check the times. If you use
a resident’s permit, confirm with
the local council that vans are
not excluded. If there are no
restrictions, make sure you’re
parked further than 10m from a
junction.
WEIGHT OF THE
VEHICLE
If your van weighs over 7.5
tonnes it must not be parked on
a verge or pavement unless you
have police permission. If it weighs
more than 2,500kg and is left on
the street, between sunset and
sunrise, the lights must be left on.
If your van weighs less, you can
leave the lights off if the road has
a speed limit of 30mph or less.
NEIGHBOURS
Be mindful of your neighbours.
They may not appreciate a huge
van parked in front of your house
or on the drive.
12 British driving
offences that carry
penalty points –
and how many
Driving offences which are generally
penalised with penalty points as well as
a fine in the UK have been revealed.
» » FROM THREE
penalty points for traffic light
offences to ten for failing
to report an accident, each
breach of the law that could
hurt drivers’ licences as well
as their pockets has been
highlighted.
Other infringements that
could see Brits hit with points
include failure to have a full view
of the road and traffic ahead and
inconsiderate driving.
British drivers who
accumulate 12 or more penalty
points through motoring
offences within a three-year
period can be banned from
driving for up to six months (or
more if they’ve if it’s not their
first ban), if disqualification is
not applied anyway at a court’s
discretion for a more serious
incident.
Accumulating six or more
penalty points within two years
of passing your driving test also
leads to a licence withdrawal
and re-test requirement.
Tim Alcock from LeaseVan.
co.uk said: “Safety should be
every vehicle owner’s priority
when driving and we’re always
right behind the police’s efforts
to remove dangerous drivers
from the roads. Motorists
should be acutely aware that
breaking the law while behind
the wheel doesn’t just mean
paying a fine and forgetting
about it.
“It will land them with
penalty points on their
licence, which could ultimately
lead to a ban from driving
and potentially affect your
job. We’ve highlighted the
12 UK driving offences
where disqualification isn’t
immediately obligatory and
how many penalty points they
can carry, to urge any drivers
who might consider bending
the rules to think again.”
1. Failing to stop after an
accident or failing to report
an accident –
5 to 10 points
2. Careless and inconsiderate
driving – 3 to 9 points
3. Driving without insurance –
6 to 8 points
4. Using a hand held mobile
phone when driving –
6 points
5. Failing to identify the driver
of a vehicle – 6 points
6. Driving when disqualified –
6 points
7. Speeding – 3 to 6 points
or 3 points fixed
penalty
8. Driving after refusal or
revocation of licence on
medical grounds –
3 to 6 points
9. Driving otherwise than in
accordance with a licence –
3 to 6 points
10. Failure to have proper
control of the vehicle or
full view of the road and
traffic ahead – 3 points
11. Using a vehicle in a
dangerous condition –
3 points in each case
12. Traffic light offences –
3 points
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