Driving in to a parking bay
Introduction
December 4th 2017 had big changes to the driving test, the DVSA has taken the left, right reverse and the turn in the road exercise and replaced it with driving into a baying bay and park on the right hand side of the road and reverse back 2/3 car lengths.
Your instructor may still cover the left/right reverse around corners and the turn in the road just in case you ever went the wrong direction on your test and the road was a dead end so you will need to turn your vehicle around. So reversing around the corner and the turn in the road will (could) still be taught but to a lower level.
Once you have covered reversing in a straight line,(maybe left, right reverse around and the corner turn in the road), reversing behind a parked vehicle and reversing in to a parking bay with little or no help from your instructor you will be ready to undertake a more difficult and new manoeuvre driving in to a parking space exercise.
This exercise is needed for you to be able to park in a supermarket car park or even into a driveway.
There is never sufficient space to always reverse into a parking bay therefore your only option is to drive into a space and reverse out of it.
This exercise it is about using forward and revere gears and controlling the vehicle as your guiding your vehicle between other people's property. All around observations and clutch control is very important on this exercise.
Teaching Strategy
Your instructor will prompt you as much as you need on previous lessons covered i.e. … P.O.M, Hazard and L.A.D.A routines, open/closed junctions, roundabouts, Traffic lights, A180 and fine tune your general drive, however by this stage you should be independent and nearly fully trained.
General drive instruction will be given by your instructor to a level to suit you… Prompt or independent while driving to the reversing location.
Lesson aims
The aim of today’s lesson is to drive to a suitable location working on the hazard, L.A.D.A routines and your awareness and planning then be briefed on the drive in to a bay park and reverse back out, this is one of the new manoeuvres that has been introduced to the driving test. Then you can practice this manoeuvre using clutch control while driving in to a bay and reversing out of it slowly and working on your all round awareness.
During this lesson you will be assessed on your general drive to and from the training location and will be giving you as much support as you need to improve your driving skills. The biting point/clutch control is vital when you are reversing and you need all around observing out of the rear window (and all around your vehicle) and the proper effectiveness of the use of mirrors.
Objective
Your objective will to be as independent as possible and by the end of your lesson be able to understand the reference points on this exercise while reversing so you can complete the manoeuvre with little or no help from your instructor.
Lesson Brief
It is better to reverse into a parking space as you will find it easier to drive out, however if this is not possible the next best thing will be to drive into it the reverse out once you’re ready to leave.
You have the hard task of revering out of a parking space with your rear window misted up or even full of shopping, not forgetting the volume of people with trolleys passing you and also not forgetting children.
PLESE NOTE THAT SOME CAR PARKS CAN BE ONE WAY SYSTEMS SO PLEASE LOOK OUT FOR THE SIGNS.
Steering
Throughout this manoeuvre you will need to briskly move the steering wheel with accurate clutch control will guarantee success.
The key to this manoeuvre is quick hands and slow feet. (Fast steering and good clutch control).
Remember to achieve best clutch control move your clutch £1 up and down for the biting point position.
Positioning of the vehicle and Signal your intentions clearly
Position your vehicle alongside the bay you propose to park into.
But unlike reversing into a bay your vehicles position needs to on the opposite side of the lane the bay you propose to drive in to (diagram below).
Try to position your car parallel to the bays as this will allow sufficient room and you will not cut the white lines of the target bay you are driving into.
Ensure it’s free from obstructions and no debris on the road as you don’t want to get a puncher.
Signal your intentions clearly
Ensure you are clear of your intensions with use of signals:-
- Use your brakes (activate your brake lights) so other pedestrians/road users in the car park know your intension.
- While slowing down consider using your indicators.
Slow down to a walking to a crawling pace well before then stop at the P.O.T.
Reference point
Everyone sees differently so the reference points for this manoeuvre will be discussed on this lesson.
(The below diagrams and video below can visually help).
Point 1
Starting the manoeuvre-Preparing, observing and manoeuvre.
Prepare
1st gear.
Observations
6 point check so go from your left shoulder to the right shoulder.
Move
When no vehicles, cyclists and pedestrian are approaching towards and behind you.
Once you have done P. O. M
you are now ready to drive slowly (crawling pace) forward into the bay of your choice (as mentioned the reference for your vehicle will be discussed on the brief).
Make the Vehicle safe
Point 2
On the 1st couple off attempts on this new manoeuvre your instructor could ask you to stop at your point of turn and make your vehicle safe to discuss more about the brief.
So apply your hand break and put you vehicle into neutral.
At this point you start to turn your steering wheel (using the pull push method) to the right
maintaining observations to your left/right look all around your for pedestrians, cyclists and obviously and impatient drivers.
Also ensuring your vehicle is going into the targeted bay.
(If your vehicle is no going into the bay the best option is to stop and reverse it back to your start position and alter your P.O.T).
When to straighten your wheel
Point 4
Judge when you should begin to straighten up your steering as you enter the bay, use your near side and off side mirror being parallel with the bay line in front.
All round awareness
Because you may be parking between parked cars make extra observations to ensure you do not get too close to the ether side bays as the last thing you want is to damage someone's property.
Make the Vehicle safe
Once you are happy you have successfully parked into your targeted bay apply your hand brake and gear into neutral.
Now you are ready to reverse out of the bay you have just driven in to.
Reversing out of the bay.
Once you have driven into the bay you now need to reverse out of it safely.
Preparing to reverse out of the bay
Point 1
Preparing, observing and manoeuvre
Prepare
Reverse gear.
Observations
6 point check so go from your right shoulder to the left shoulder.
Move
When no vehicles, cyclists and pedestrian are around you.
Selecting reverse gear (your reverse lights are your indicators) this allows traffic know you are reversing out of the bay.
If you need to apply your brake lights (by pressing the brake pedal), this will warn vehicle, pedestrians and cyclists that may be passing the rear end of you of your intensions.
Point 2
Remember all round awareness and clutch control is equally important when reversing out as it is when you drive into the bay.
Point 3
Reverse back a safe distance
Slowly (crawling pace) reverse out of the bay until your driver’s seat (or middle of the driver's door) is out the parking bay you are exiting.
This will ensure the front end of your vehicle will not hit a potential car that is parked next to you.
At this point you start to turn your steering wheel full lock (using the pull push method) to the right maintaining observations over your left shoulder looking out of the rear window and occasionally look all around your for vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists always be on the lookout for impatient people wanting to rush past you, so please stop and let them pass you (reference points will be discussed on your lesson).
Point 5
The bays and parked cars behind
Ensure you look in the appropriate observations so you don’t reverse to far back and hit the adjacent parked vehicle behind you.
Point 6
Once you are at the below position (diagram) start to straighten up your wheels to make the next stage of driving forward easier.
Please not this is not essential so if you do not do it is not wrong its just makes the next stage easier.
Point 7
Preparing, observing and manoeuvre
Once your far enough back P.O.M to go forward and drive on when it’s safe to continue.
Prepare
1st gear.
Observations
6 point check so go from your left shoulder to the right shoulder.
Move
When no vehicles are driving towards and behind you.
When safe drive on.
All round awareness
Because you are reversing out of a car parking space make extra observations to ensure you do not miss anything especially children.
Observations are also needed to the front as the front of the car as you are driving into so you don’t drive to forward and into the bay in front of you.
Take extra care when you start to reverse out as your front end of your vehicle will swing out as you turn and may present a hazard to passing traffic in the car park.
Driving into a left hand bay.
Use the same technics as above but just reverse the position of your vehicle, steering and observations.
Reflect & Review
So remember your instructor is there to HELP you so on your driving lesson if you have any uncertainties or need anything rewording or recapping to make things any clearer, just ask.
Your training Vehicle is fitted with dual Controls and if necessary could be used throughout your lesson if needed. These are here for your safety so we can step in to keep you safe.
So don’t worry if the issues arise we will aid & guide you VIRBALLY or PHYSICALLY and we can go over the situation if happens to correct if in the future.
Risk management
Physical control of your vehicle
The aim is for you the student to have full control of this lesson with previous lessons and have full talk through on the new topic and then reducing the support throughout you decision making as best you can.
Your instructor’s job is to analyse any faults or new faults that may accrue in this lesson and put them right.
Talk about any issues if the situations happen on the driving lesson and put issues right.
- Fault identification.
- Fault analysis.
- Remedial action.
Level of instruction on your lesson
- Full talk through.
- Prompt.
- Independent.
End of lesson
- Feed back at the end of your lesson.
- Student’s responsibility of lesson and improvements.
- Plan for the next lesson
