Editing Rest area (section)

== Europe ==
In some countries, such as [[Spain]], rest areas are uncommon, as motorists are directed to establishments that serve both the traveling public and the local population. In other areas, access to a rest area is impossible other than from a motorway. The Dutch rest area, ''De Lucht'',<sup>[[:nl:Verzorgingsplaats De Lucht (A2)|(nl)]]</sup> is fairly typical of many European rest areas,<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.voa.gov.uk/corporate/Publications/Manuals/RatingManual/RatingManualVolume5/sect710/b-rat-man-vol5-s710.html
|title = Section 710 : Motorway Service Areas/Major Road Service Areas
|publisher = Valuation Ovvice Agency
|access-date = July 12, 2013
|quote = MSAs must ... not ... allow rear access to the site to be used other than by MSA staff, delivery vehicles, and the emergency services}}</ref> in that it has no access roads—other than from the motorway, itself.

=== Austria and Germany ===
[[File:Bad Fischau Raststaette.JPG|thumb|left|Raststätte [[Bad Fischau-Brunn|Bad Fischau]] at the [[Süd Autobahn]] in [[Austria]]]]

''{{lang|de|Raststätte}}'' ([[:de:Autobahnraststätte]]) is the name for service areas on the German and Austrian [[Autobahn]]. They often include a fuel station, public phones, restaurants, restrooms, parking and, occasionally, a hotel or a motel. If the service area is off the motorway, it is named ''Rasthof'' or ''{{lang|de|Autohof}}''.

Smaller parking areas, mostly known as a ''{{lang|de|Rastplatz}}'' ([[:de:Rastplatz]]), are more frequent, but they have only picnic tables, and sometimes, toilets (signposted).

=== Finland ===
Rest areas are constructed and maintained by the Finnish government, while the local municipality provides area maps and sanitary services. If there are commercial services, the shop inherits the responsibility for cleanliness and upkeep of the area. Rest areas are designed mostly for long-distance drivers. The recommendation in Finland is that there should be a rest area each 20&nbsp;km (12.4&nbsp;mi).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://alk.tiehallinto.fi/thohje/pdf2/pysakoimis_ja_levahdysalueet.pdf |title=Pysäköimis- ja levähdysalueet |access-date=May 22, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120124632/http://alk.tiehallinto.fi/thohje/pdf2/pysakoimis_ja_levahdysalueet.pdf |archive-date=January 20, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== France ===
[[File:Aire d'autoroute - station essence.png|thumb|upright=0.75|left|French rest area signage  used on [[controlled-access highway]]s]]

In France, both full-service rest areas and picnic sites are provided on the [[Autoroutes of France|autoroute]] network,{{citation needed|date=September 2024}} and regulations dictate there to be one such area every {{convert|20|km|mi|1|lk=on|abbr=on}}.<ref name="Abelard aires intro">{{cite web|url=http://www.abelard.org/france/motorway-aires1.php|title=motorway aires, an introduction / France zone at abelard.org|access-date=January 25, 2010}}</ref> Both types may also be found on national (N-class) highways, although less frequently than on autoroutes.{{citation needed|date=September 2024}} They are known as ''{{lang|fr|aires}}'',<ref name="Abelard Garonne notes">{{cite web|url=http://www.abelard.org/france/motorway-aires15-garonne.php#en1|title=motorway aires – aire de Garonne, A62 / France zone at abelard.org|access-date=January 25, 2010}}</ref> or ''{{lang|fr|aire de service}}'' and ''{{lang|fr|aire de pique-nique}}'', respectively; ''{{lang|fr|aire de repos}}'' ("rest area")<ref name="Abelard Garonne notes"/> usually refers to a picnic stop. These areas are not usually stated on approach signs, but are rather distinguished by the symbols used. A name is usually given, generally that of a nearby town or village, such as "{{lang|fr|aire de Garonne}}". {{clear}}

=== United Kingdom and Ireland ===
{{Main|Motorway service area}}
[[File:Cherwell Valley Services Sign.jpg|thumb|Signage for services provided at [[Cherwell Valley services]], UK. Most motorway services accommodate restaurants, fast food outlets, and coffee shops.]]

The term "rest area" is not generally used in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The most common terms are ''motorway service areas'' (MSA), ''motorway service stations'' or simply "services".  As with the rest of the world, these are places where drivers can leave a motorway to refuel, rest, or get refreshments. Most service stations accommodate fast food outlets, restaurants, coffee shops, general goods, stationary and book shops and mini supermarkets. Some service stations also incorporate hotels.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sixty years of motorways |url=https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2019/mar/24/what-a-journey-sixty-years-of-motorway-service-stations | work = The Guardian | first1 = Sam | last1 = Wollaston | date = 24 March 2019| access-date = 17 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=WH SMITH moto |url=https://moto-way.com/brands/whsmith/}}</ref>

Services may also be present on non-motorway roads, as well; many [[A-roads]] have services, possibly only providing a petrol station and, in some cases, a restaurant or café.

The majority of service areas within Ireland are operated by [[Circle K]] or [[Applegreen]], and contain fuel stations, truck stops, shops and fast food outlets, such as [[McDonald's|McDonalds]], [[Burger King]], [[Subway (restaurant)|Subway]] or Chopstix; they differ, from the United Kingdom for example, in that only one service station contains a hotel (the M7 services in [[Portlaoise]], [[County Laois]]).

====Lay-bys====
[[File:Lay-by on the A35 - geograph.org.uk - 379192.jpg|thumb|Signage for a larger lay-by with some facilities near [[Dorchester, Dorset|Dorchester]], UK]]
The term "lay-by" is used in the UK and Ireland to describe a roadside parking or rest area for drivers. Equivalent terms in the United States are "turnout" or "pullout".

Lay-bys can vary in size, from a simple parking bay alongside the carriageway (sufficient for one or two cars only) to substantial areas that are separated from the carriageway by verges, which can accommodate dozens of vehicles.
Lay-bys are to be found on the side of most rural UK roads, except [[motorway]]s that are not on sections of [[smart motorway]]s (but for emergencies only) where the [[hard shoulder]] is missing. They are marked by a rectangular blue sign bearing a white letter P, and there should also be advance warning of lay-bys to give drivers time to slow down safely.<ref>Lay-by and advance warning of lay-by signage from the [http://www.drivingschoolireland.com/signs-information.html Irish highway code].</ref><ref>Advance signage of lay-bys instructions in [http://www.standardsforhighways.co.uk/dmrb/vol6/section3/td6907.pdf Standards for Highways], sections 4.8 and 4.9, from the [[Highways Agency]].</ref><!-- also distinguish between Highways Agency practice and legal requirements for local roads. -->