Double yellow lines are generally painted onto the carriageway where it is percieved there are safety issues, usually found on busy roads & junctions among other locations. Some would argue that in town centres they’re there to force drivers into ‘Pay & Display’ car parks though that is open to debate.

Why is it unsafe to park my car on double yellow lines but perfectly safe for someone with a blue badge to park their car, probably of the same size or larger, on a set of double yellow lines. Surely the same safety issues apply, they are both causing the same obstruction thus creating the same safety issues.

Double yellow lines along the edge of the carriageway indicate that parking restrictions apply to the road, which includes the carriageway, pavement and verge. A driver may stop for passengers to board or alight and to load or unload unless there are also 'loading restrictions' indicated by two yellow lines on the kerb. The restriction applies from the centre of the carriageway to the back of the footway. However blue badge holders can park on double yellow lines for up to 3 hours if there are no ‘loading lines’.

Last week on Church Lane, outside the hospital, I observed  a string of cars parked along double yellow lines. What made it more alarming was it was on the brow of the hill totally obrustcting the view of drivers travelling in the easterly direction who had to chance whether there was anything coming in the opposite direction..

 Cars parked on brow of hill along Church Lane  

In these circumstances should the same law apply to blue badge holders as to other road users, should blue badge holders apply a bit of common sence as to where they park. Blue badge holders also get larger parking bays nearer to the amenities they are visiting so do they really need to park, in some cases, in what have been identified as unsafe places?