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39.
ANGLE PARKING
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This
chapter describes proper procedures and hints on parking safely in
large car parking areas (shopping centre etc). Parking bays are
marked with white lines at 90 degree angle. (Not to be confused with
45 or 60 degree angle parking). In some states the driver's licence
test includes angle parking as a mandatory manoeuvre.
Mishaps
in car parks are usually minor, but very frequent. Minor collisions,
nonetheless, may still be costly to repair. Good judgement, patience
and observation are skills good drivers must possess, not only when
driving, but also maneuvering their vehicle.
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Let's
apply the System of Car Control to angle parking:
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| 1.
Course |
You
are looking for a vacant bay to angle park. |
| 2.
Mirrors and signal ... |
...as
soon as you spot a vacant parking bay. |
| 3.
Adopt correct position / speed. |
Position
vehicle (see below). Maintain speed at walking pace (5
km/h). |
| 4.
Gear |
First
gear is best in a car park to maintain a low speed. |
| 5.
Give Way |
Wait
and give way to other vehicles. Same rules apply as on the
road. |
| 6.
Go! |
Enter
the car parking space. |
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Example:
Parking bay on left. Start from bottom (Diagram 1)
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3.
Move slowly into the car parking bay.
The
wider your approach has been, the more room you have to
position your vehicle parallel to the white lines and in the
centre.
Read
signs, for time limits and other restrictions. (Note: 90
deg. spaces on left, 45 deg. on right).
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2.
Turn steering sharp left, allow
for the rear wheels to trail the front wheels
by one meter or so.
It
may appear that this car has moved too far forward, but not
so. The rear wheel position matters most, not the front. The
rear wheels are fixed, while the front ones can be steered.
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|
| 1.
To park in bay on left: As
you approach slowly, indicate left to let others know what
your intention is.
Check
behind and for oncoming traffic. When clear move to the right
as far as practicable. (The car is strictly speaking on the
wrong side of the road, but this is necessary to be able to
fit into the centre of the bay!)
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When parking in
a space on the right, approach wide from the left (where
you should already be driving on). Check for overtaking traffic,
including bicycles or pedestrians, indicate right and
enter the vacant space slowly. Again, don't turn too early, to
allow the rear wheels to park in the centre of the space.
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| Common
angle parking problems: |
Turning
the steering wheels too soon.
The car will be too close to other parked cars.
Reversing
out without giving way.
Before leaving a space, check in all directions and
behind as you reverse. A common mishap occurs when two
vehicles, parked opposite each other, reverse at the same
time, not seeing each other.
Not
checking behind for
shopping trolleys, pedestrians, kerbing, signposts, trees
or other vehicles.
Turning
the wheels too early and/or
sharply when reversing out. Remember, as you turn the
steering wheel the front of your car is moving sideways.
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General
rules in car parks:
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| Move
at walking pace. |
The
speed limit may be as low as 5 km/h. Car parks can be busy
with children and pedestrians. Use the horn if necessary,
before moving. |
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Stay
well to the
left
on exiting.
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If
you block others from entering as you exit, you may cause
traffic to come to a stop on the main road. Many rear-end
collisions have occurred after traffic stopped on a busy
road, unable to enter a shopping centre. |
| Open
doors carefully... |
...
especially when there is little space between vehicles. In
windy weather, get a firm grip on the handle to keep it
under control. Teach children from an early age to not open
car doors carelessly. |
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Our
information could vary in your part of the world. We recommend
you use above information in conjunction with a professional
driving instructor.
Road
Safety by Dieter Fischer - Learner Driver Hub 2020.
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