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Regulations on stopping and parking

Stopping

Stopping means that the vehicle has come to a halt for a reason other than:

Avoiding danger.
It being required by the traffic conditions.
Parking.

No stopping or parking (stopping prohibition):

No stopping or parking

Where the No stopping or parking sign is displayed.
On a solid yellow line.
Where it creates a traffic hazard or unnecessary obstruction.
At a junction and within 10 metres from the junction.
Where you obscure visibility (top of a hill, a bend) or road signs.
In an underpass or a tunnel.
On a road where there is a solid centre line on your side, if there is less than 3 metres between your car and the line.
On a roundabout.
In a public transport lane.
In a bicycle lane.
In a prohibited zone.
At the intersection between a road and a railway or tramway.
On a motorway or clearway.
On public places that are off-road (e.g. grass) within built-up areas.
On or within 10 metres before a pedestrian crossing, footpath, bicycle passage, bicycle crossing or bicycle path.

Clarification on before/after a pedestrian crossing

It is forbidden to stop or park within 10 metres before a pedestrian crossing, but not after.

Before a pedestrian crossing

Before a pedestrian crossing.
You cannot see the red area. When a pedestrian comes out from the red area, there is practically no margin, so if a pedestrian steps out from the red area, you will have almost no time to react in order to prevent an accident.

After a pedestrian crossing

After a pedestrian crossing.
Your view of the red area is still obscured, but the difference is that you will have a much greater safety margin in which to detect the presence of a pedestrian.

But would it not be safest to prohibit stopping and parking both before and after the crossing?
– Yes, but practical matters must also be taken into consideration. There is limited space in towns and cities, and a prohibition on parking after a crossing would mean the removal of many parking spaces. Compare with speed limits: country roads would be much safer if the speed limit was 30 km/h, but it would not be practical.

The sign says that you are not allowed to park after the pedestrian crossing. Also, you are not allowed to stop or park before the pedestrian crossing due to the 10 metre rule.

Parking

Parking means that a vehicle, with or without a driver, is stationary for a reason other than:

Avoiding danger.
It being required by the traffic conditions.
Loading and unloading.
Dropping off or picking up passengers.

No parking (parking prohibition):

No parking

In places where stopping is prohibited, parking is always prohibited.
Where the No parking sign is displayed.
On a broken yellow line.
Within 30 metres of a railway or tramway crossing.
Where the vehicle is facing the direction of traffic (wrong side of the road).
On a priority road.
- Exception: Not applicable if there is a parking sign.
If you would be blocking someone’s exit.
Alongside another vehicle or obstruction (double parking).
- Exception: Not applicable if you park next to a bicycle, moped or motorcycle (two-wheeled vehicles).
If one of the wheels is outside a parking space or similar line marking.
At a passing place (M sign).

More about stopping and parking

Parking

A single blue parking sign means that parking is permitted for a maximum of 24 hours on weekdays. On Saturdays (including days before public holidays) and Sundays (including public holidays) there is no time limit. Note that there are often additional panels that stipulate a time limit.
A parking disc is an alternative to a car park ticket. An additional panel indicates the use of a parking disc. Set the parking disc to your arrival time (nearest subsequent half-hour). The arrival time is when you arrive at the parking area and begin parking, not when you intend to come back to collect the car.
- Start parking at 13.02 – set the parking disc to 13.30.
- Start parking at 14.40 – set the parking disc to 15.00.
It is prohibited to leave the car keys in a parked car. It should, for example, be impossible for a child to start the car and cause an accident.
In the summer, it can get very hot in the car. Never leave children or pets alone in a parked car during the summer.
Parking spaces for disabled drivers (road sign T7) may only be used by those with a parking permit. Without a permit, you are only allowed to stop in order to drop off or pick up passengers.
You are only permitted to stop or park on the right-hand side of the road.
- Exception 1: You may park on the left-hand side of a one-way street.
- Exception 2: You may park on the left if there are railway or tramway tracks on the right-hand side.
Stopping and parking shall take place as far from the middle of the road as possible.
If you park on the side of a road in the dark, you must turn on your parking lights so that other road users can see your car.
Turn the wheels on an uphill or downward slope in order to prevent the car from rolling out into the street:
- Uphill slope: Away from the kerb – turn the steering wheel to the left so that the wheels are turned towards the road.
- Downhill slope: Towards the kerb – turn the steering wheel to the right so that the wheels are turned towards the kerb.

No parking without a permit (dropping off or picking up passengers is allowed).

Time indications on additional panel

Monday is indicated. This means that it is prohibited to park even if Monday is a public holiday.

It is normally said that the times within parentheses “are applicable on Saturdays”. This is nearly always the case. However, it would be more correct to say that the times within the parentheses are applicable on the weekday before a Sunday or public holiday. If New Year’s Day (public holiday) falls on a Wednesday, the day before (i.e. Tuesday) is considered a Saturday, as it is the weekday before a Sunday or public holiday.

If a certain day is indicated, the regulation applies to this day regardless of whether the day is a weekday, Sunday or public holiday.

Please note: In Swedish traffic law, a normal week has 6 weekdays: Monday–Saturday.

Date parking

Even-numbered dates: It is prohibited to park on the side of the road with even house numbers (e.g. 2, 16, 40).
Odd-numbered dates: It is prohibited to park on the side of the road with odd house numbers (e.g. 3, 17, 41).
Applicable during the times indicated on the sign.
These areas exist to facilitate the work of snowploughs, etc.

Zone sign

The Zone sign means that parking within the controlled zone is prohibited.
- Exception: Parking is permitted in allocated spaces (where a parking sign is displayed).

No parking zone

Bus stops

You may stop to drop off or pick up passengers, as long as you do not obstruct a bus or tram.
Loading and unloading is not permitted.
If the bus stop is not marked, this is applicable 20 metres before and 5 metres after the bus stop, as the bus requires more room to pull into the stop than to exit.

If doing so does not obstruct a bus, you may stop to drop off or pick up passengers.

The vehicle may be towed away if it

Is parked where it is unsafe, blocks traffic or hinders road maintenance.
Is stopped/parked where it is not allowed.
Is not suitable for traffic (e.g. driving ban, wreck or unpaid debts).

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