IAM Lobbies For Christmas Carpark Overnight Amnesty

With the party season fully underway, Britain’s largest independent road charity, the IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) has called for a seasonal amnesty on overnight station parking penalties.  

The road safety campaigners say penalties for leaving cars in station car parks overnight might tempt commuters to “chance” the drive home from the train after post-work drinks.

Kevin Delaney, IAM Head of Road Safety, said: “Drivers can be more tempted to drink over the Christmas period than at any other time of year, and reassuring commuters that their car will not be clamped or fined when they retrieve it the next morning will help avoid risk-taking behaviour."

“An amnesty will allow commuters a chance to get to the station and pay for the next day’s parking before getting a fine. Transport bosses should make it easier to leave the car alone if you have had a drink.”

Mr Delaney added: “It is always important to remember that you may still be over the limit if you’re planning to pick your car up from the station the next day. If you still feel ill or have had a large amount to drink the night before you shouldn’t risk drink driving.”

In 2007 there were around 493,000 commuters travelling into Central London by train per day.

In the run up to Christmas a commuters car displaying a valid ticket for the previous day should not be ticketed or clamped before 9:30 am so that the driver has time to get to the car park and buy a ticket for that day.

The amnesty should apply to railway station car parks and at other long stay car parks where commuters are encouraged to park.


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