Reverse parking is backing into a parking space, rather than driving in head first. This is an important maneuver for safety reasons, especially at a location with a high number of pedestrians. The driver can see pedestrians in front of him/her/them when exiting the parking bay more easily (rather than them being in his/her/their blind spot).
1. Check the spacing of the empty space vs your vehicle.
Some cars are wider than others (such as some SUVs, landrovers, or sports cars) and some people park badly (often close up to the line or over it). Use your judgment and sense of spatial awareness to determine whether your car can actually fit into the available space comfortably. If you have any doubts, look for another bay.
2. Drive past the parking space.
Drive past the open block, making sure your back bumper is past the line that was furthest from you when you approached it.
3. Indicate in the relevant direction
If the bay is behind you to the right, put on your right indicator. If it’s behind you to the left, put on your left indicator.
4. Look around you
It’s vital that before any movement, you always check for oncoming vehicles, motorcycles or bicycles, and pedestrians that may be within your path or advancing to your path.
5. Put your car in reverse
Make sure the reverse gear is engaged.
6. Check your mirrors and blind spots
While keeping in reverse, look behind you again, check your rear-view and side mirrors, and check your blind spots. Checking blind spots means physically turning your head (and maybe even the upper part of your body) in both directions, to see the places out of the view of your mirrors.
7. Back slowly into the space while looking behind you
Reverse slowly into the open bay, while using your rear-view mirrors or side mirrors to see the parking lines. Turn your wheel fully to the left (if you are reversing left), slowly, while reversing.
8. Continuously check side mirrors
Keep checking your side mirrors to make sure you don’t hit the cars next to you.
9. Align with the bay
Once you’re aligned with the bay (or the two vehicles on either side), straighten your steering wheel.
10. Check your rear-view mirror and the edges of the lines in front of you
This is to make sure you don’t hit something behind you. Use the edges of the other cars as a guide (of when to stop), or look behind you and guesstimate a gap of at least 10 centimeters of space.
Additional tips
Take your time! Don’t be stressed by other cars and pedestrians around you (or the instructor’s or the driver’s license holders’ presence, for that matter).
Get plenty of practice in empty parking lots or your driveway (if it’s a quiet, child-free area). Try to find lots where there are no obstructions behind the car either. Only when you feel very comfortable, begin to practice where other cars are present.
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