Vehicle Access Markings
A vehicle access marking is a white line across your drive, extending to the top of the kerb, either side of the dropped kerbs. They are often called dog bone markings or H-bars, and highlight the location of driveways so that other drivers don’t park there.
These road markings have no legal standing. This means we cannot enforce them, but they can stop ongoing obstruction of driveways and entrances to properties.
Access highlight markings will only be considered if:
- They are installed across a properly constructed vehicle access, approved by Kent County Council, with dropped kerbs
- The roads are adopted as highway by Kent County Council
- You can provide evidence of regular parking obstruction
- You are not asking for the markings to reserve a parking space or help with vehicle turning
- Double yellow lines are not already in place
- You can show ownership of the property or have written consent from your landlord
There is an installation and administration fee of £121 to have a vehicle access marking installed.
If you share access to your drive with a neighbour, you will need to make separate applications.
Are these markings enforced?
Vehicle access markings are a nationally recognised marking to highlight the presence of a driveway but have no legal standing.
Ashford Borough Council's Civil Enforcement Officers do not issue penalty charge notices to vehicles which have parked over a vehicle access marking.
Where a vehicle is parked causing an obstruction to a driveway or an entrance to any premises and you are unable to find the driver or owner to politely request that it be moved, you should contact the Police on 101.
To cause an obstruction there must be a dropped kerb and/or an access road. If there is not a dropped kerb or access road, there is no implied right to leave or enter a road over the pavement.
