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No stopping vs No waiting: what’s the difference?

The No waiting and No stopping signs look alike: both are blue circles with a red border. One red diagonal line means no waiting; a red cross means no stopping, which is much stricter.

The short version

  • No waiting (one red diagonal line): you must not wait, but you may stop briefly to let passengers in or out, and to load or unload unless that is also restricted.
  • No stopping (a red cross): you must not stop at all, not even to drop someone off.
  • Yellow lines along the kerb show waiting restrictions. On red routes, red lines show stopping restrictions.
  • Urban clearways ban stopping during set times, except to pick up or set down passengers.

At a glance

No waiting and No stopping compared
CompareNo waitingNo stopping (24-hour clearway)
SymbolBlue circle, red border, one red diagonal lineBlue circle, red border, red cross
Stop to let passengers in or out?YesNo
Stop to load or unload?Yes, unless loading is also restrictedNo
Lines on the roadYellow lines along the kerbNone on a 24-hour clearway

Know Your Traffic Signs, pp. 44, 64

No waiting: brief stops allowed

Waiting restrictions stop people parking where it would cause problems, but they still let you make a short stop.

Double yellow lines mean no waiting at any time. A single yellow line means no waiting during the times shown on a nearby plate.

  • You may stop to load or unload (unless there are also loading restrictions) or while passengers board or alight. Waiting restrictions apply to the carriageway, pavement and verge.

    The Highway Code, Road markings

  • You must not wait or park on yellow lines during the times of operation shown on nearby time plates or zone entry signs.

    The Highway Code, Rule 238

No stopping: clearways

A clearway keeps the main road free of stopped vehicles altogether. You will usually see 24-hour clearways on busy rural roads.

  • The red cross means no stopping, not even to pick up or set down passengers. On a 24-hour clearway, this applies to the main carriageway, slip roads and any acceleration and deceleration areas.

    Know Your Traffic Signs, p. 64

  • You may stop in a lay-by on a 24-hour clearway unless signs say otherwise. A 24-hour clearway has no special road markings.

    Know Your Traffic Signs, p. 64

  • You must not stop or park on a clearway.

    The Highway Code, Rule 240

Urban clearways: no stopping at set times

In towns, urban clearways keep main roads clear at busy times. They are a middle ground: no stopping during the times shown, but you may stop to pick up or set down passengers.

  • While an urban clearway is in operation, stopping is not allowed on the carriageway or verges, except to pick up or set down passengers.

    Know Your Traffic Signs, p. 65

  • You must not stop or park on an urban clearway within its hours of operation, except to pick up or set down passengers.

    The Highway Code, Rule 240

Red routes

On red routes, mainly in London, red lines replace yellow ones and control stopping rather than waiting.

  • Double red lines always mean no stopping at any time. Stopping to park, load or unload, or to let passengers on or off is prohibited, except for licensed taxis and Blue Badge holders.

    The Highway Code, Road markings

  • Single red lines mean no stopping during the days and times shown on the upright sign.

    Know Your Traffic Signs, p. 66

Test yourself

Check you can tell these signs apart with the Regulatory Signs Quiz: 10 questions, with an explanation after each answer.

Take the Regulatory Signs Quiz

Sources

Last reviewed 6 October 2026. This guide explains the rules in our own words; for the full rules, see The Highway Code. How we source and check content

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