No waiting sign

What it means

Yellow lines along the edge of the road show a waiting restriction, and this plate tells you when it applies. Outside the times shown, this restriction doesn't apply, although other restrictions might.

The symbol is a blue circle with a red border and one red diagonal line. On its own, without times, it is used on portable signs to mark temporary waiting restrictions.

Read the plate carefully. If it doesn't list days of the week, the restriction applies at the same times every day, including Sunday. It still applies on a bank holiday unless the plate says it doesn't.

Loading restrictions are shown separately, by yellow marks on the kerb and white plates. These may be combined with the yellow no waiting plate.

What the symbol shows

The small blue circle crossed by one red diagonal line is the 'no waiting' symbol. The times underneath tell you when the restriction applies.

Memory tip: One line: don't wait. Two lines, a cross: don't stop at all.

Where you'll see it

On posts or walls beside roads with yellow lines where waiting is restricted at certain times. Double yellow lines mean no waiting at any time and normally have no plate.

Rules to know

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

  The Highway Code, Rule 238

• Where the plate does not show days of the week, the restrictions apply at the same times every day, including Sunday.

  Know Your Traffic Signs, p. 44

• If a bank holiday falls on a day when the restrictions operate, they apply in the normal way unless the plate says otherwise.

  Know Your Traffic Signs, p. 44

• Double yellow lines mean no waiting at any time throughout the year, normally without a plate.

  Know Your Traffic Signs, p. 45

Spot the difference

No waiting vs No stopping (clearway)

The key difference: A red cross means no stopping on a clearway. A single red diagonal line means waiting is restricted during the times shown.

Differences between the No waiting and No stopping (clearway) signs

	No waiting	No stopping (clearway)
Symbol	One red diagonal line, usually on a yellow plate	Red cross
When it applies	During the times shown	At any time (24-hour clearway)
Road markings	Yellow lines along the kerb	None: the signs tell you

Know Your Traffic Signs, On-street parking control, pp. 44 and 64

Common mistakes

• Mistake: Assuming the restriction only applies on weekdays.

  Instead: If the plate doesn't show any days, it applies every day, including Sunday.

• Mistake: Confusing it with the No stopping (clearway) sign.

  Instead: No waiting has one red diagonal line and applies at the times shown. The clearway sign has a red cross and bans stopping on the main carriageway altogether.

Test yourself

Recalling the answer helps it stick. Pick an answer to see how you did.

Question 1 of 2

What does this sign mean?

• AA 20 mph speed limit applies throughout the zone.
• BNo stopping on the main carriageway at any time, not even to pick up or set down passengers.
• CNo stopping during the times shown, except to pick up or set down passengers.
• DYou must not wait or park here during the times shown.

Full road sign quizzes are coming soon. See what's planned