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Understanding parking signs and road markings

Our campus roads and car parks have signs and markings to identify different areas where you can and cannot park. These areas are regularly patrolled to ensure smooth and safe flow of traffic on our campuses.

Parking signs

Permit zones, loading zones, bus zones, no stopping and other parking areas are each are identified with specific signs. The most common parking signs that you will find when you are parking on campus are listed here.

Loading Zones
Bus Zones
Permit Zones
Disability Permit Zones
No Stopping Zones

Loading Zones

Loading zones are areas provided for eligible vehicles to complete loading and delivering of goods, or dropping off and picking up passengers.

You can park in a loading zone if you are driving:
- a truck that is dropping off or picking up goods.
- a goods-carrying, courier or delivery vehicle that is dropping off or picking up goods.
- a public passenger vehicle or taxi that is dropping off or picking up passengers.
Courier and delivery vehicles must be permanently marked with a sign at least 5cm high. Magnetic signs or signs on windscreens or roof racks are not acceptable.
You can park in a loading zone for a maximum of 30 minutes, unless signed otherwise.
You cannot park in a loading zone with a private passenger car, even if you are loading or unloading.
Loading zones are subject to road rule 179 – Stopped in a loading zone.
There are two offences relevant to loading zones:
- 720 Stopped in a loading zone
- 721 Stopped in a loading zone longer than 30 minutes

Bus Zones

A bus zone is an area allocated specifically for buses to drop off and pick up passengers. Parking in a bus zone can endanger the passengers getting on or off the bus by obstructing the view of the passengers and other drivers.

You cannot park in a bus zone under any circumstances if you are not driving a bus.
A driver must not stop in a bus zone unless the driver is driving a public or other bus (except where a particular type of bus is not permitted by information on the bus zone sign).
Bus zones are subject to road rule 183 – Stopped in a bus zone.
1. A driver must not stop in a bus zone unless the driver is driving a public bus
2. A bus zone is a length of a road to which a bus zone sign applies

Bus Zone - 30 minute sign

Permit Zones

A driver must not stop in a permit zone unless their vehicle is issued with a current permit by the university which permits the vehicle to stop in the zone.

Regulations do not apply outside of the signed hours.

You cannot park in a permit zone unless you have been issued a parking permit to park in the zone, or you have started a relevant parking session in your OPark account.
Permit zones apply in all car parks and other areas around the university campuses. Parking in a permit zone without a permit deprives staff, students and visitors the ability to park within the university parking areas.
Permit zones are subject to rule 185 – Stopping in a permit zone.
1. Subject to subrule (3), a driver must not stop in a permit zone unless the driver's vehicle displays a current permit issued by the person or body responsible for the care and management of the permit zone that permits the vehicle to stop in the zone.
2. A permit zone is a length of a road to which a permit zone sign applies.
3. A driver may stop in a permit zone without displaying a current permit in the driver's vehicle if the permit is otherwise held by the driver in a manner determined to be appropriate by the person or body responsible for the care and management of the permit zone that permits the vehicle to stop in the zone.

Permit Zone signs

Disability Parking Zones

A parking space reserved for the disabled can only be used by someone with a current blue-on-white disabled parking permit, or by a driver who is parking the car so that the disabled permit holder can get in or out of the car.

You can park in a disability parking zone if you hold and clearly display a current parking permit for people with disabilities, and you comply with the conditions of use for your particular permit.
Disability zones are subject to rule 203 – Stopping in a disability zone.
1. A driver must not stop in a parking area for people with disabilities unless—
  1. the driver’s vehicle displays a current parking permit for people with disabilities; and
  2. the driver complies with the conditions of use of the permit.
2. A driver who stops in a parking area for people with disabilities or parks in accordance with rule 206 (time extension for people with disabilities) must, when requested by a police officer or authorised person—
  1. state his or her name and address; and
  2. produce his or her driver licence; and
  3. produce a current parking permit for people with disabilities or satisfy the police officer or authorised person that he or she, or a passenger of the vehicle, holds a current parking permit for people with disabilities.
3. If a driver fails to comply with a request under sub rule (2), a police officer or authorised person may direct the driver to move the vehicle from the parking area for people with disabilities or the length of road or area where the vehicle is parked (as the case requires).
4. A driver who is given a direction by a police officer or authorised person under sub rule (3) must obey the direction.

Disability Permit Zone sign

No Stopping Zones

A driver must not stop on a length of road or in an area to which a no stopping sign applies.

No Stopping means no stopping at all – even if you are only letting someone out of the car, and regardless of whether you leave the engine running and stay in the car.
Stopping in a No Stopping zone is an offence, unless you are outside the times specified on the signs. If there are no times on the sign, the zone applies at all times.
Road rule - 167 No stopping signs
- A driver must not stop on a length of road or in an area to which a no stopping sign applies.

No Stopping sign

Road Markings

Unbroken Yellow Line

A yellow line may be painted along a kerb to indicate there are parking restrictions in that area. An unbroken yellow line means that you cannot stop in that location.

A yellow line may be used in conjunction with a No Stopping sign or used instead of one. Stopping in a zone with indicated yellow lines may result in a parking infringement being issued.

You cannot stop or park next to an unbroken yellow line marking.
It is important to abide by these yellow lines as they are painted in areas where it is unsafe to stop. Stopping may impair visibility for other motorists, the road may be too narrow for parking, or it may be too close to an intersection or a slip lane. Yellow edge lines are used to ensure the safety of all road users.
Road rule - 169 No stopping on a road with a yellow edge line
1. A driver must not stop at the side of a road marked with a continuous yellow edge line.

Painted Islands

Parking your vehicle too close to or on a painted island can endanger other drivers by blocking view of the traffic.

You must not drive over a painted island surrounded by a single continuous line unless:
- Entering or leaving the road or part of a road.
- Entering a turning lane that begins immediately after the painted island.
- Accessing angle parking on the opposite side of the road.
Road rule – 197 Stopping on a path, dividing strip, nature strip, painted island or traffic island
1. A driver must not stop on a bicycle path, footpath, shared path or dividing strip, or a nature strip adjacent to a length of road in a built-up area, unless—
  1. the driver stops at a place on a length of road, or in an area, to which a parking control sign applies and the driver is permitted to stop at that place under these Rules; or
  2. the driver's vehicle is a motor cycle and the driver stops in a place where the motor cycle does not inconvenience, obstruct, hinder or prevent the free passage of any pedestrian or other vehicle; or
  3. the driver is using a vehicle for the purpose of the operation of a detection device prescribed for the purposes of section 66 of the Road Safety Act 1986.

Pedestrian Crossings

Parking your vehicle too close to a pedestrian crossing can endanger pedestrians and other drivers by blocking view of the traffic.

Unless signs say otherwise, you must park at least 20 metres from the approach side of a pedestrian crossing and 10 metres from the departure side.

No, you cannot park on or near a pedestrian crossing.
Road rule 172 - Stopping on or near a pedestrian crossing (except at an intersection)
1. A driver must not stop on a pedestrian crossing that is not at an intersection, or on the road within 20 metres before the crossing and 10 metres after the crossing, unless the driver stops at a place on a length of road, or in an area, to which a parking control sign applies and the driver is permitted to stop at that place under these Rules.