Parking spaces in front of supermarkets and discounters can quickly become the norm. What applies to drivers.
Drivers not only have to deal with numerous sometimes strange rules note. There is one area where probably very few people immediately think regarding traffic rules – the Parking in front of the supermarket or discounter. Which is now how most grocers like Lidl or Kaufland one of them is the parking disc. But if you pull up in your car, you should definitely observe a few more rules.
The fact is that the road traffic regulations (StVO) also apply in the parking lot of a discount store or supermarket. But the classic right before left is not enough here. The enterprise Parkster explains: “Since multi-storey car parks and parking spaces are used for so-called stationary traffic, drivers must adhere to Section 1 of the StVO and pay attention to constant caution and mutual consideration.”
Lidl/Kaufland: These rules apply to the supermarket car park
This also makes it clear that if there is a crash in a parking lot, the right of way rule does not apply completely. Both drivers must reckon with partial blame. According to the StVO, the situation is similar when you come from a play street – you have to give way.
However, the situation is different if the tramlines have a street character and are therefore used for access and exit. In such cases, drivers must remember the rule of right-of-way before left. Traffic rules for drivers in a Lidl or Kaufland car park do not differ significantly from the applicable rules in other traffic areas. The biggest difference is probably the speed. Most of the time you can only drive at ten kilometers per hour.
Battle for the parking space at Lidl and Kaufland: who wins in the event of a dispute
The StVO also regulates the fight for free parking spaces. According to §12 paragraph 5 sentence 1 StVO, the driver who reaches the parking lot first and directly has priority. The right to the free space is retained even if you first drive past it to park backwards.
Anyone who pushes past a waiting car into a free space is breaking the rules. And be careful, according to § 12 paragraph 5 StVO, a fine is due for the parking lot theft.
Keep the parking lot free: Drivers can also go to jail here
Just keeping a parking space free by standing on it is not a good idea and also not permissible. According to the StVO, anyone who does so impedes other road users. Besides, it can be dangerous. It is not uncommon for drivers to forcefully enforce their right to a parking space.
But anyone driving towards the “placeholder” in order to drive it away is committing a criminal offense of coercion. There is a risk of a fine or even imprisonment of up to three years if something happens.
Supermarket car park: regulations for Sundays, nights and public holidays
There are quite different regulations for parking outside the opening times of supermarkets and discounters. Grocery retailers such as Lidl or Kaufland can decide freely whether to release their parking spaces on Sundays, nights and public holidays. In most cases, drivers can continue to use the parking spaces even following the markets are closed.
And if you then manage to park properly before going shopping, you only have to know where else you can park your car. Parking in the crossing area can get pretty expensive. But there are gradations, how much someone parks wrong and how long plays a role.
