Parking

Whenever possible, park off the road or in a car park. If you have to park on the road, choose a safe place.

Ask yourself

• Is it safe?
• Is it convenient?
• Is it legal?

Road signs and markings

These will help you recognise places where you shouldn’t park your car, such as

• the approach to pedestrian crossings
• school entrances
• near junctions
• other restricted places.

Road signs and markings will also tell you if there are restrictions

• at certain times of the day
• on particular days of the week.

In general, The Highway Code lists places where you should not or must not park. Make sure you know these.

Never use your hazard warning lights as an excuse for stopping where you shouldn’t.

Never copy another driver’s bad example. It won’t excuse you from any penalties.

Parking on the road

Always use the MSM routine and signal, if necessary, before you park.

Try not to touch the kerb when you park. Scraping your tyres can weaken them, possibly with serious results.

Don’t park so near to other vehicles that it will be difficult for you and them to get out. This is especially important if the other vehicle is displaying a Blue Badge. Allow room for a wheelchair to be manoeuvred or loaded in these cases. As a general rule, park parallel with, and close to, the kerb.

Always switch off the engine and headlights (and fog lights) when you park.

Before you leave the vehicle, make sure that it’s in gear and the parking brake is applied firmly.

Remember that unless your vehicle is parked in an authorised parking place, it could cause an obstruction. Never leave your vehicle where it could prevent emergency vehicles passing, particularly in narrow residential roads where vehicles often park on both sides of the road.

You’ll acquire better parking skills with practice.

When parking you should

• take care to plan your parking
• always manoeuvre your vehicle slowly
• never park in a space reserved for a Blue Badge holder unless you, or the passenger you’re carrying, are the holder of a Blue Badge.

You should also make sure that you won’t hit another road user, or cause another driver or rider to swerve, when you open your car door. Look out particularly for bicycles and motorcycles. Make sure any passengers do the same and also that they don’t hit pedestrians on the pavement when opening their door.

Consideration

Always consider other road users when you park. Don’t park where you would cause an obstruction – for example, where the kerb has been lowered for disabled access, or across a driveway or entrance.

Don’t park on the pavement, as this could obstruct or seriously inconvenience pedestrians, people in wheelchairs or with visual impairments, and people with prams or pushchairs. In London, it’s illegal to park either partially or wholly on the pavement.

In some areas, where the local authority wants to keep the road free from parked cars, signs will indicate that you’re permitted to park on the verge or footway. This is an exception; parking on verges or footways anywhere else could lead to a fine.

Parking on hills

If you park your vehicle on a hill, remember the following.

Parking facing uphill

• Stop your vehicle as close as you can to the nearside kerb, if there is one.
• Leave your steering wheel turned to the right. If the vehicle rolls backwards, the front wheels will be stopped by the kerb.
• If there’s no kerb, leave your steering wheel turned to the left. If the vehicle rolls backwards, it won’t roll across the road.
• Leave the vehicle in first gear, with the parking brake firmly applied.

Parking facing downhill

• Leave your steering wheel turned to the left. The kerb should stop any forward movement.
• Leave your vehicle in reverse gear, with the parking brake firmly applied.

Leaving a gap

Parking on a hill is more difficult than on the flat and can take more room. You should leave a bigger gap to allow extra space for manoeuvring. A larger gap will help both you and others.

Vehicles with automatic transmission

When you park facing either uphill or downhill in a vehicle with automatic transmission, make sure your vehicle is stationary and the parking brake is firmly applied before using the selector setting ‘P’ (Park).

If your vehicle has no ‘P’ setting

• turn your front wheels to the kerb
• make sure your parking brake is firmly applied.

Reverse parking

This makes use of the vehicle’s manoeuvrability in reverse gear to park in a restricted space.

Remember, while you’re carrying out this manoeuvre, you could be a hazard to other road users.

Position and observation

Good all-round observation is essential throughout this manoeuvre.

Don’t start to manoeuvre if you’re likely to endanger other road users.

Other drivers might not be aware of your intentions, so before you pull up at the place where you’ve chosen to park, remember to carry out the MSM routine.

Positioning your vehicle

Stop your vehicle reasonably close to, and parallel with, the parked vehicle ahead of the gap.

Your vehicle should be about level with, or slightly ahead of, the parked vehicle. This will depend on the size of the gap and the length of your vehicle.

You can start practising using only one parked car. When you’ve mastered the technique, you should be able to park between two vehicles.

The gap should be at least one-and-a-half times the length of your own vehicle.

Manoeuvring into the gap

Apply the parking brake, if necessary. Show your brake lights by pressing the footbrake. Select reverse gear to show the reversing light(s). This warns other road users of your intentions. Check all round.

Bring the clutch up to biting point and, if it’s still safe, release the parking brake if you applied it. Ease the clutch pedal up just enough to start to move.

Hold the clutch pedal steady at, or just above, the biting point. Reverse slowly using left lock, but watch the corner of the parked vehicle.

Don’t forget to look round as you begin to reverse into the space. The front of your vehicle could swing out into the path of passing traffic.

Try lining up the rear offside (right-hand side) of your vehicle with the nearside headlight of the vehicle behind the space you’re entering.

Straightening up in the gap

Straighten up by taking off the left lock. Keep a careful eye on the position of your vehicle. There’s a danger of ‘clipping’ the vehicle in front at this point.

When you’re sure the front of your vehicle is clear of the parked vehicle, use sufficient right lock to gradually bring your vehicle parallel with, and reasonably close to, the nearside kerb. Straighten up by taking the right lock off and adjust the position of your vehicle as necessary.

Defensive driving

Other road users may not understand your intention. Showing your reversing lights should help. If another vehicle pulls up close behind, move on and park somewhere else.

Parking-assist technology

Some modern vehicles are fitted with technology which assists drivers in parking their vehicle.

The technology uses a variety of sensors to detect obstacles and is controlled by instruments on the dashboard.

This vehicle technology shouldn’t be relied upon solely and good observation should be used at all times.

Car parks

Arrow markings and signs show you which lanes to take inside the car park.

Follow these. Don’t drive against the traffic flow.

Indoor car parks

Use dipped headlights in multi-storey, underground or other indoor car parks. This helps other drivers and pedestrians to see you.

Parking

Unless there’s space at the end of the row, you’ll have to fit in between two other vehicles.

Check that there’s

• enough space for you to centre your vehicle
• enough room to open the doors safely.

Whether you’re reversing in or going forward, move slowly so the steering has the maximum effect and gives you time to make corrections.

Reverse parking

Unless other cars are badly parked, you’ll nearly always find it best to reverse into a parking space. You’ll have a better view when you drive away, especially with back-seat passengers or at night.

You can line up by

• driving forward past the space and then turn as you reverse into the parking space, or
• turning as you approach the space, so that you’re in a position from which you can reverse into the space.

Choose whichever method suits the configuration of the car park or a combination of both.

Park squarely in the marked spaces

Always try to park squarely in the marked spaces, otherwise the car next to you might have to squeeze in, or there might not be enough room for its doors to be opened.

Parking forwards

Some car parks are designed for you to park forwards to make it easier to load shopping. In these cases take extra care as you reverse out of the parking space because pedestrians and vehicles may be passing behind.

You might also find it more difficult to drive out because your wheels may be at the wrong angle when you reverse to leave.

If you haven’t enough room to go forward all the way into a tight space, you might need to nose in then back out and straighten up to move into the space.

Remember the following when parking.

• Before entering the car park, use your mirrors and signal.
• Look at the layout, markings and signs to guide you. Choose a space.
• Use your mirrors and signal again if necessary.
• Check your position and keep your speed down. Look out for pedestrians.
• Make sure your vehicle is parked squarely between the white lines in one space.