Using cable protectors
When charging your car on the road, vehicles should be parked as close to the property as possible, so that the cable can be placed flat across any public areas and at right angles to the direction that most people are walking in.
You must use an appropriate cable protector to enable the safe passage of pedestrians, including people using mobility aids, and you should not consider this option in areas with high footfall. Cable protectors are regularly used in public spaces to cover cables or wires on a temporary basis. Your cable protector should cover the whole of the length of cable that may be walked across, including the full width of any pavement and verge between the property and the vehicle.
To minimise risk of trips and falls, the cable protector must have a height of 20mm or less, with ramps of a 1 in 12 gradient or shallower, a non-slip base that is at least 200mm wide, be made of a flexible material (for uneven paths) and have high contrast warning stripes to highlight its presence. It must be removed from public areas when not in use. The cable protector must always be used in full accordance with manufacturer's instructions. The images on this page (of D-Line Ultra Cable Cover) are for guidance only.
Cables must not cross the carriageway therefore your vehicle should always be parked on the same side of the road as your property. You may not hang a cable from any street furniture including lampposts or trees. Any extension leads must be suitable for external use and must be used as recommended by the manufacturer.
Where a vehicle cannot be parked immediately outside the property, the cable must be run in the road against the kerb and a warning sign should be used. It is good practice to ensure that your cable is as visible as possible by choosing one in a contrasting colour to the road or adding coloured banding. The Highway Code (Rule 239) advises you should display a warning sign if you can.
Removal of cables
Although no permit is currently required, where a location is not suitable then the Council has powers under Section 129 of the Roads Scotland Act 1984 to seek to have the cable removed. Cables and cable protectors should only be connected while the vehicle is charging and must be removed from public areas when not in use.