How Close to an Intersection Can You Park?

The Basic Rule: At Least 10 Meters

According to the Swedish Traffic Ordinance (Trafikförordningen, Chapter 3, §53),
you’re not allowed to park closer than 10 meters (about 33 feet) from an intersection.

That applies both before and after the intersection — on both sides of the road.

Ten meters sounds like a lot, but it’s roughly the length of two average-sized cars.
The reason is simple: visibility and safety.
Drivers turning into the intersection must be able to see pedestrians, cyclists, and other vehicles clearly.

What Counts as an Intersection?

An intersection means any place where two roads meet, whether it’s:

• Two residential streets
  
• A main road and a side street
  
• A T-junction or a four-way intersection
  

However, driveways or property exits (like from garages or parking lots) don’t count as intersections.
In those cases, the rule is simply that you must not block visibility or traffic,
but there’s no exact distance requirement.

If there’s a pedestrian crossing or cycle lane nearby, different rules apply — see below.

When There’s a Pedestrian Crossing

If a pedestrian crossing (zebra crossing) is connected to the intersection,
you must park at least 10 meters away from the start of the crossing — not from the corner itself.

So measure from the first white stripe, not from the curb.
This is where many drivers get fined — they measure from the wrong point.

Cycle Crossings and Bike Lanes

The same rule applies here:
Stay 10 meters away from the start of the cycle crossing or bike lane.

The goal is to give cyclists and pedestrians a clear line of sight when crossing the street.

How to Measure Correctly

• Look at where the roads meet, not where the sidewalks curve.
  
• Imagine two full car lengths between your car and the corner.
  
• If you’re unsure, move a little farther away — better one meter too far than one too close.
  
• You can also use drain covers or signposts as visual markers; they’re often placed near corners —
  park at least two of those away.
  

Common Misunderstandings

<div class="knowledge-table"><div class="knowledge-table_header"><div class="knowledge-table_header-cell">Myth</div><div class="knowledge-table_header-cell">Reality</div></div><div class="knowledge-table_row"><div class="knowledge-table_cell">“It was just a driveway, not an intersection.”</div><div class="knowledge-table_cell">Still counts if it’s a drivable road.</div></div><div class="knowledge-table_row"><div class="knowledge-table_cell">“There was no sign.”</div><div class="knowledge-table_cell">Doesn’t matter – the 10-meter rule always applies.</div></div><div class="knowledge-table_row"><div class="knowledge-table_cell">“I was parked after the corner.”</div><div class="knowledge-table_cell">Too close after the corner still breaks the rule.</div></div><div class="knowledge-table_row"><div class="knowledge-table_cell">“I was only there for five minutes.”</div><div class="knowledge-table_cell">Time doesn't matter — only distance does.</div></div></div>

Parking rules aren’t about time — they’re about sightlines and safety.

If You Break the Rule

Parking too close to an intersection can lead to:

• A parking fine (yellow ticket)
  
• A fee of around 1,000 SEK (may vary by municipality)
  
• In serious cases, your vehicle can be towed if it’s considered a traffic hazard
  

It’s rarely worth the risk — move one meter more and sleep easy.

Parkit’s Perspective

We believe rules should feel clear, not stressful.
Parking near intersections isn’t about technicalities — it’s about keeping everyone safe.

When you understand why the rule exists, it stops feeling like a trap.
At Parkit, we explain to simplify — so parking rules feel like common sense, not confusion.