In the United Kingdom, there is a little-known law that can result in a £500 fine for drivers who park over manholes.
The Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 (Section 42) means that parking over a fire hydrant can lead to a fine of up to £500 (around US$675).
But what does a fire hydrant have to do with manholes? It turns out that in the UK, some fire hydrants are covered by manholes, so parking over them can prevent firefighters from accessing firefighting equipment.
The issue came to light after a post made last week by the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service on Facebook. “What’s wrong in this picture? A vehicle parked over a hydrant,” says the caption of the post.
“Recently, this exact situation delayed our crews in Lancaster and prevented firefighters from immediately securing a water supply during an emergency. It’s not just inconsiderate parking, it’s illegal.”
“Under the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 (Section 42), parking over a hydrant can result in a fine of up to £500. Firefighters are also authorized to move obstructing vehicles, which may include breaking a window to release the handbrake if necessary,” the post also states.
In the comments, drivers were very shocked by the information, which had previously been unknown to many. “Maybe I should know the answer, but are they clearly marked everywhere? Perhaps I’ve been guilty without realizing it,” commented one user.
Photos: Unsplash / Facebook. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
