bay parking tips

Viper_7

pavlovs_dog wrote: »

on my test i was taught to adjust the wing mirror for the reverse around a corner manouvre to bring the kerb into view. I did so on my test, completed the manouvre with no problems and was not penalised for adjusting my mirror.

the car i'm in now is significantly bigger than our last, it's also a lot newer and as it's a recent purchase the expense is still fresh in my mind. perhaps i'm just being over cautious with my parking? i have no issues with parallel parking

I'd give additional points for adjusting the mirror. You as the driver need to ensure you are aware of your surroundings and other people acting in your surroundings. Ie kids...other drivers etc. nothing wrong in taking ones time.

Practice makes perfect. Find a quite carpark and go for it. Get into the habit of reversing into spaces. It's ALWAYS better to pull out of a space moving forwards.

Same goes for more "advanced" driving or shall we say understanding and getting a feel for what happens when the wheels lock up in snow... or how ABS feels and how it feels and to feel for yourself in a non emergency situation how the vehicle reacts.

Generally when reversing the rear doesn't move much laterally, the front is what swings about, so point your inner rear end towards the inside line and swing the front around accordingly. As you can readily see the inside arc of the vehicle, concentrate on that and the rest should slip into place.


It really is something you need to practice and gain confidence with.

DaveF327

SailorSam wrote: »

you only need check your mirrors and you can see the lines either side and centre up.

Mirrors are good, but don't forget to check through the centre rear window too or you may squish someone walking directly from behind.

pavlovs_dog

DaveF327 wrote: »

Shame on your instructor for not teaching you this! It proves that many of them cut corners and only teach to a test rather than a life skill. Back in the day, I would teach it in a supermarket long before it became a test requirement

.....

Why not try the reversing approach? "Trolley to boot" arguments aside, it really is easier and safer than trying to drive forwards in where it's difficult to swing your bonnet, especially if your bonnet is long and you are short. Reverse in, and your bonnet can swing around in the big empty area while your boot is more controllable. TIP: a good start leads to a good finish.. be sure your car is equidistant between the rows of parked cars. As mentioned above, once you start too close to either side, it gets harder to do. A really slow speed helps together with regular different observations. Don't just stare at one mirror; compare several different viewpoints regularly and often.

Of course, it may be better to have an instructor show you in practice (you can still have a driving lesson after passing your test, you know ) but most importantly, practice makes perfect. Good luck!

thanks Dave - that's a really useful post. Having spoken to friends about it in the past it seems few of them were taught this manouvre as neither of our local test centres have parking bays. I know my driving instructor would be more than happy to give me a lesson on parking if i asked him, and i had considered that as an option if my problems persist. I am confident however that it's a lack of practice that is at the root of my problem. once i get my head around what i need to do i'm sure i'll be fine, it's just a case of finding someone who could explain it in a way that it would make sense to my poor old brain.

vaio

my OH uses cardboard boxes and the works carpark to work out where the corners are whenever she gets a new car

creased-leach

Op, hats off to you for asking for help- most people are waaaay too proud.

dacouch

Its like anything else in driving, practice makes it become second nature.

The car is actually more responsive in reverse and you can get into tighter spots by reversing, have a practice at reversing as well

stokegal

I'm can't offer anymore help than what's been suggested sorry (as it took me 11 attempts to pass my driving test :eek::eek:) Just wanted to tell you that when you do have to do it for real just try and remain calm and if there are people waiting - let 'em wait. I'm sure that they would rather wait a few minutes than have a scratched car. I've hit enough things in my car (my poor old battered fiesta) to realise that panicking about what I'm trying to do just makes it worse, and there is no shame in re-adjusting if you don't get it in perfect, as soon as you get use to it you'll be doing it automatically and not even thinking about it. Nobody out there is perfect - I've just gone from a tiny megane coupe to a bus, well a picasso but they're the same size and I can't bay park in it for toffee so I shunt for a good 10 minutes whilst getting filthy looks at Asda and I've been driving for over 4 years now.

Good luck

Ebe_Scrooge

Reversing in is a lot easier. It's one reason why fork-lift trucks have rear-wheel steering, makes them a lot more manoeuvrable in tight factory spaces.

But driving in forwards is better in supermarkets as it leaves your boot accessible to load the shopping. Here's one trick which I was taught - I'll try and explain as best I can :

If the car park space is on your left, approach it driving on the right-hand side of the road if you can ( beware of oncoming cars ! ). When your front gets level with the space, turn hard left into it. When your front is about a quarter way into the space, turn hard right and inch forward very slowly - this will take your front towards the car parked on your right, so be careful. This bit, particularly, relies on you either being able to see or know where the front of your car is - not as daft as it sounds, as you very often can't see the corners of your car.

Anyway, when your front right-hand corner is about as far as it can get to the car on your right, then turn hard left again and finish going forward into the space.

It takes a bit of practice, but once you get used to it this little 'wiggle" part way through the manoeuvre means that you end up pretty much dead straight in the parking bay.

Hope this helps.

Indout96

(as it took me 11 attempts to pass my driving test :eek::eek:)

I've hit enough things in my car

I shunt for a good 10 minutes whilst getting filthy looks at Asda and I've been driving for over 4 years now

Is anyone else thinking the words BUS and PASS need to be applied

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

The simplest method is to drive slowly at a kerb from a very slight angle, and note the position on the bonnet that the kerb intersects, when your tyre rubs against it. That will tell you roughly where 'things are' when you're parking in a bay.