School keep clear markings: what they mean
School keep clear markings show where you should not stop, even to drop off a child. An upright sign makes stopping prohibited at the times shown.
What do school keep clear markings mean?
Yellow zigzags outside a school show where you should not stop, even briefly to pick up or drop off children. Know your traffic signs says they help children see and be seen when crossing.
Where an upright sign gives a stopping restriction, stopping is prohibited during the times shown. Rule 238 says you must not wait, park or stop to pick up or set down passengers when that prohibition applies.
Quick quiz
What does the picture at the top of this page show?
- Yellow zigzags outside a school: do not stop.
- Single and double yellow waiting restrictions.
- This bay is for loading and unloading only.
Show answer
A. Yellow zigzags outside a school: do not stop. Yellow school zigzags mark a length of road where you should not stop, including to pick up or drop off children (Know your traffic signs). Source: Know your traffic signs: on-street parking control signs and road markings, GOV.UK; The Highway Code, rule 238, GOV.UK
Where will you see it?
Outside school entrances. Similar yellow zigzag markings can also appear outside hospitals and fire, police or ambulance stations.
What should you do?
Keep the marked length of road clear when choosing where to stop, including for a quick drop-off. Check any upright sign for the times when stopping is prohibited.
What do people get wrong?
A quick drop-off still counts as stopping. The guidance says not to stop on the markings even to pick up or set down children.
Common questions
Can I stop on school zigzags to drop off my child?
Know your traffic signs says you should not stop there even to drop off children. Where an upright sign prohibits stopping, you must not stop during the times shown.
Do school keep clear markings need a sign?
Know your traffic signs says an upright sign makes stopping prohibited during the times shown. The yellow zigzags themselves still indicate where you should not stop.
Compare with
Zigzag linesNo parking, waiting or overtaking near a crossing.
Yellow linesSingle and double yellow waiting restrictions.
Want to test someone else? Play a road-sign quiz with friends and family.
Sources
Checked on 5 November 2026 against Know your traffic signs (on-street parking control signs and road markings) and The Highway Code rule 238.
- Know your traffic signs: on-street parking control signs and road markings, GOV.UK
- The Highway Code, rule 238, GOV.UK
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. The diagram is our own simplified drawing, not to scale. Sources and image credits.