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LOW RISK DRIVING |
Road Safety PLUS - by Dieter R. Fischer ISBN No. 0 09577 426 0 6 |
| 5. Manoeuvres |
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LOW RISK DRIVING |
Road Safety PLUS - by Dieter R. Fischer ISBN No. 0 09577 426 0 6 |
| 5. Manoeuvres |
38. ANGLE PARKING
Mishaps in car parks are usually minor, but are nonetheless a nuisance. Good judgement, patience and observation are the same skills needed for angle parking, as well as normal driving.
The system of car control, as described in Chapter 5, can be applied even for a simple task like parking your vehicle in a public car park:
1. Course - look for a vacant space in the carpark.
2. Mirrors and signal, once you have located where you will park.
3. Adopt correct speed. In a carpark always move at walking pace.
4. Gear, first gear is best in a car park, to maintain a low speed.
5. Give Way. You may need to wait and give way to another vehicle.
6. Go! Enter the car parking space.
How to position for angle parking:
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1. Parking in space on left: 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. This makes parking easier, especially between vehicles. | |
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2. Turn steering sharp left, allowing for the rear wheels to trail the front wheels by one meter or so. It appears the car has moved too far forward. The rear wheels matter most, not the front, as the rear is fixed. |
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3. Move slowly into the car parking space. T The wider your approach has been, the more room you have to position your vehicle parallel to the white lines and in the centre. |
Likewise, when parking in a space to the right, approach wide from the left, which you should be driving on, anyway. Indicate right and check for overtaking traffic, even a bicycle of pedestrians, before entering the space.
Common angle parking problems:
Turning the steering wheels too soon. The car will be too close to other parked cars. Since the rear wheels are fixed they turn up to one meter right or left of the front wheels.
Reversing out without giving way. Before leaving a space reversing, check in all directions and behind. A common mishap are two vehicles exiting 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 front wheels the car is moving sideways.
General rules:
Move at walking pace. The speed limit may be as low as 10 km/h. Car parks can be busy with children and pedestrians. Use the horn if necessary, before moving.
Stay well to the left on exiting. If you block others from entering as you exit, you may cause a blockage to entering traffic. On busy main roads this leads to rear-end collisions.
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.
Disclaimer: Above information is for Australian learner drivers. Regulations could vary in your part of the world. We take no responsibility for any accidents, failed driving tests, even if the advise in this book has been followed. We recommend to use above information in conjunction with a professional driving instructor.
