Nearly three out of four Walloon drivers (72%) admit that they sometimes park their vehicles in a way that causes an obstruction. This is according to a study by the Walloon Road Safety Agency (AWSR).
The most common situations involve parking too close to a crosswalk, on a sidewalk, or double-parking. The AWSR points out that a car parked “just for a moment” can trigger a chain reaction of dangerous situations.
No shame
The AWSR survey reveals that nearly one in two drivers (45%) admit to occasionally parking too close to a crosswalk, and one in ten (10%) even reports parking on the crosswalk itself.
More than one in three respondents, or 36%, also say they sometimes park on the sidewalk. Double parking is also a common practice: more than one in four respondents (28%) have done it.
Finally, nearly one in four Walloon drivers (22%) admit to having stopped on a bicycle waiting lane at least once, and more than one in ten (13%) on a bike path.
Underestimate the impact
AWSR points out that it is, however, prohibited to park or even stop on a sidewalk – even for just a few minutes – unless specifically indicated by signage. It also notes that many drivers severely underestimate the impact of their improper parking habits.
In addition to severely disrupting traffic flow, double parking or parking on a sidewalk or bike path increases the risk of accidents by forcing other road users onto the roadway or into dangerous maneuvers.
Fines
To highlight the dangers of this practice, AWSR has launched an awareness campaign. The goal is to emphasize the applicable rules and their importance for protecting road users, particularly people with reduced mobility, pedestrians, and cyclists.
In 2024, 7,606 tickets were issued in Wallonia for parking on a sidewalk, the most common violation. This was followed by parking in a prohibited area despite a traffic sign (6,890) and parking in a space reserved for people with reduced mobility (1,939).
These violations are generally classified as first-degree (€58) or second-degree (€116).
