Drivers have been warned of new enforcement measures coming into effect next week, which will see thousands slapped with £100 penalties.
Fife Council will begin enforcing a pavement parking ban from Monday, September 1, with drivers facing penalties for breaching the new rules.
Under the measures, drivers will be banned from parking on pavements, double parking and parking at dropped kerbs across the region.
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Drivers will be issued a £100 fine for breaking the new rules, but the council noted that this can be discounted to £50 if paid within 14 days.
Drivers can be fined £100 for pavement parking from next week
|GETTY
The ban hopes to promote safe travel and stop cars from taking up crucial space on the pavement, which is being used by pedestrians and vulnerable users, including visually impaired people and pram users.
Councillor Altany Craik detailed how the new law aims to improve the safety of pedestrians, particularly those with mobility issues or visual impairments, and parents or carers with pushchairs.
He shared: "Parking attendants have been issuing warning notices for pavement parking, double parking, and parking over kerbs dropped for pedestrians to cross since July 1, to give drivers time to adjust to the new legislation."
Mr Craik explained that the ban aims to keep communities safe and encourages drivers across Fife to support this "important step in making footways safer for everyone."
Drivers have been warned of new pavement parking fines coming in across the area
|FIFE COUNCIL
Before the penalties come into effect, drivers will be issued warning notices instead of a fine. However, from next week, the council has warned drivers not to park one wheel or more on the pavement, which could result in a penalty charge.
Drivers should also not park on the road adjacent to another vehicle, which could also result in a fine, the council urged.
Motorists have also been warned that parking at a dropped kerb can also incur a £100 penalty charge, as the section of the pavement provides crossing points for pedestrians and must be kept clear.
Mr Craik said there are some streets where an exemption to the pavement parking ban may be introduced, as well as certain vehicles being exempt from fines. This includes emergency services, roadworks, waste collection, and postal services.
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On exempt streets, pavement parking fines will not be issued as they have already been assessed by the council and qualify for an exemption.
The council stated that a list of potentially exempted streets can be viewed online and that drivers parking on the footways in any of the streets listed must still leave 1.5 metres of the pavement clear for pedestrians.
Mr Craik added: "On streets that are not listed as potential exemptions, drivers should not park on the pavement. Across Fife, the default rule is do not park on pavements."
While the new rules have safety in mind, local residents have reacted with mixed responses.
The parking rules hope to keep pavements clear for pedestrians
|GETTY
Taking to Facebook, one person shared: "Good luck to ambulances, fire engines, bin lorries. Trucks go up and down when cars from each side of the street are parked on the road. Lives at risk!!"
Another person commented that while in theory introducing pavement parking bans is a good idea, "there's been next to no thought on it".
The resident shared: "I live on a busy main road where cars have been written off while half the car is on the pavement.
"It's only going to cause chaos when only one car can get through at a time. It's even more chaotic when the Standing Stane Road gets closed because of an accident."