Study the Curb Color Rainbow
There are many rules for driving a motor vehicle that every driver needs to learn. But did you know there are many rules about parking a vehicle, too? Instructor Liz talks us through the five curb colors: red, blue, green, white, and yellow, and tells us the meaning of each one!
Notes from Instructor Liz
Almost everybody knows not to stop or park at a red curb, right? But do you know what all of those other curb colors mean?
Either way, you'll want to stay tuned because we are going to breakdown all FIVE of the different curb colors AND show you actual questions from the DMV Permit Test that will test your curb-color-knowledge.
In case we haven't met, it's me again, driving instructor Liz, here once more to help increase your driving intellect. Let's get right to it!
Now, the California Driver Handbook explains that there are FIVE painted colored curbs and that each has its own special parking rules:
Red: No stopping, standing, or parking.
In other words, NEVER ever (ever ever ever) stop or park at a red curb. It's important to keep red curbs clear because these red zones are usually reserved for emergency vehicles, fire hydrants, and sometimes buses may stop at a red curb if a sign allows it.
Blue: Blue curbs allow stopping or parking only for a disabled person with a disabled placard or plates, or someone who is driving a disabled person.
Blue curbs are easy to remember because most parking signs for disabled persons are also blue. On public city streets, disabled drivers can park at blue curbs for an UNLIMITED amount of time.
Also, never park in the area next to a disabled parking space that is often painted with blue diagonal stripes or crosshatched lines - this space is reserved for van ramps that assist in loading and unloading disabled people into their vehicle.
Green: You can park at a green curb, but only for a limited time.
How LONG you can park at a green curb is different from place to place, but there is usually a sign posted letting you know the time allowed for parking. Sometimes the time limit is painted directly on the green curb. Don't overstay the posted time limit or you could be cited or even towed!
White: Stop only long enough to pick up or drop off passengers or mail.
White curbs are for quick pick-ups and drop-offs of people or mail. Never park your vehicle at a white curb long term. Instead, keep your stay short and sweet... move along so other vehicles can use the white curb as well for pick-ups or drop-offs.
Yellow: Stop no longer than the time posted to load or unload passengers or freight. Drivers of noncommercial vehicles are usually required to stay with the vehicle.
At a yellow curb, drivers can only stop for a short amount of time to load or unload people, packages, or make a shipment. While commercial drivers (for example UPS, FedEx, or Amazon drivers) can leave their vehicle while making a delivery --"regular" or noncommercial drivers are expected to stay with their vehicle when stopped at a yellow curb.
That's it, that's the five colors of the "curb rainbow" you need to know, here's a rapid recap:
RED: Don't park EVER!
BLUE: Disabled parking only!
GREEN: Short term parking!
WHITE: Quick pick up and drop off only, people and mail!
YELLOW: Short stop to load and unload passengers and freight!
Now that we've got that ironed out, you'll know where you CAN and CANNOT park once you start your independent driving life.
Thanks again for watching, stay safe, and we'll see you out there on the road... as long as it's not stopped in front of a red painted curb. Goodbye!