Motorists warned 'be aware of age limit' for parking in Aldi, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and Asda

Daily Record

2 days ago

Not adhering to this common rule can leave drivers out of pocket
Parking in the supermarket is pretty straightforward with bays all set out and disabled areas clearly marked. But motorists are being warned that they need to follow the 'age limit' in stores such as Asda, Aldi, Sainsbury's and Morrisons or face fines.
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The rules of parent and child spaces, which are a feature in most supermarket car parks, give families extra space to allow getting children in and out of the vehicle safer. This extra room is helpful for parents who are getting buggies or car seats out of their vehicles.
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They are usually closer to the store entrance as well to prevent youngsters from having to walk across busy areas.
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But the rules around who can and cannot use them is not always clear unless there are visible signs to lay out the conditions of use.
Drivers could be subject to fines, however, if they break a simple upper 'age-limit' rule for these bays, reports The Express.
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Experts at EMG Motor Group claimed rules were "fairly simple" to understand with bays only available for use by parents or guardians who are taking a child under 12 into the shop.
The age is set at 12 as this is when youngsters must still use car seats or restraints when in the passenger seat.
And although there is no hard rule, road users could be at risk of a hefty £100 charge in a nightmare end to a shopping trip.
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The experts explained: "No, there is no law against parking in a parent and child parking space without a child under 12 with you, but you are risking a PCN (Parking Charge Notice), the same as if you incorrectly used a disabled parking bay.
"This is because the car parks are usually owned privately, for example, by supermarkets, and so they enforce rules allowed by their Accredited Trade Association (ATA) status.
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"If you're confused as to the rules in a particular car park, it's worth checking with the store or destination that you're parking at, so that you don't risk a fine, which could be up to £100, being slapped on your windscreen."
However, there is still a grey area around whether expectant mothers can use the bays and take advantage of the extra space.
Officials at the RAC said: "Parent and child bays are reserved for parents or guardians with one or more children under 12 years old.
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"It's unclear whether pregnant women can use the spaces and probably best to ask an individual store manager what their rules are."
The RAC also advise speaking to the store manager if you spot someone using a parent and child space who shouldn't be.
They suggest it is a better idea than approaching the driver yourself as this could lead to a hostile situation.