A new camera car in the Vale of Glamorgan is set to catch drivers parking dangerously from next month.
Drivers caught parking on zig zags outside of schools, bus stops and taxi bays will be fined if caught by the camera car, even if just stopping quickly to drop off passengers.
The camera car will begin driving test routes across the Vale in September, but drivers caught parking dangerously won’t be fined for at least the first month.
Similar cars already patrol the streets of Cardiff and Bridgend, and another car will start driving around Newport on August 24.
The camera car in Bridgend has been on patrol since 2018, while the one in Cardiff was first launched in 2015. Last year, drivers caught by the Cardiff camera car were fined a total of £366,000.
Parking wardens currently find it “very difficult” to catch parents parking on zig zags outside schools, the Vale of Glamorgan council said.
A spokesman said parking on zig zags “tends to cease” when a warden can be spotted.
Peter King, cabinet member for transport, said: “Schools regularly report dangerous parking to the council’s transport team.
“Although the majority of Vale residents are careful and considerate when parking, a minority cause problems, particularly around schools and town centres. We hope introducing the camera car to these areas will be welcomed.
“Elsewhere, taxi bays and bus stops areas are also often used for an immediate drop-off and we anticipate a mobile enforcement vehicle — with instant evidence gathering — will be invaluable to deter and enforce against these dangerous drop-off locations.”
The camera car could cost the Vale council £70,000, including the licence and specialist equipment needed.
School children will be asked to help name the car, and a campaign on social media will be launched shortly inviting suggestions.
The council didn’t specify which part of the Vale the car will patrol, but it could be across the whole of the area.
The plans were welcomed by Plaid Cymru councillor Ian Johnson, who said: “First and foremost, this must be about improving safety around schools and locations where dangerous parking puts people’s lives at risk.
“The purpose of the camera car shouldn’t be to punish people through fines, but to ensure that everybody follows the rules and parks safely.
“As a local councillor with six schools in my ward, I frequently get complaints about dangerous parking at drop off and pick up times. Hopefully this will make people think twice about where they park.”
