CHAPTER FOUR

PARKING

Parking seems simple enough. Many people think that there can't possibly be a way to do this maneuver illegally or recklessly, but there is! Drivers are responsible to make sure that their vehicles do not become hazards after they have been parked. When you park your vehicle, you must be sure it is far enough away from any travel lane to avoid interfering with traffic, and it must be visible to vehicles approaching from either direction.

The proper parking procedures listed below should be followed to avoid a collision with other vehicles:

Park always in a designated area.
On a one-way street, you can normally park on either the left or right side of the road.
Always set the parking brake when you park. If the vehicle has an automatic transmission, leave it in park. If it is a manual transmission, leave it in gear.
If possible, get out of the vehicle on the curbside. If you must use the street side, check the traffic before you open the door.
Never leave your ignition keys in a parked car.
Always lock your door if the car will be out of your sight for even a second.
Park your vehicle as far from traffic as possible. If there is a curb, park as close to it as you can.
When parking downhill, turn your vehicle sharply towards the curb.
When parking uphill, turn your vehicle away from the curb.

A. No Parking Areas

There are as many areas that you cannot park in as places where you can. You should always check for signs that prohibit or limit parking. The following are some places where you may not park:

In an intersection.
On a crosswalk or sidewalk.
In front of or blocking a driveway.
On the left side of a two-way street.
On a freeway, unless it is an emergency or specifically permitted or required by a police officer.
At a red curb.
On a bridge.
Within 15 feet of a fire hydrant.
In the normal traffic flow while creating a hazard to other drivers.
With your vehicle facing against traffic.

B. Disabled Parking

You may only use a disabled parking space if:

1. Your vehicle displays a disabled person's placard, sticker or license plates.
2. A physically disabled person is in the motor vehicle when it is parked.
3. A physically disabled person is being dropped off or picked up.

In addition, you will receive a letter, which will contain your name and address, authorizing your placard, sticker or license plates. You must keep the letter in the vehicle for which the license plate was issued or with you if you have a placard or sticker.

It is illegal to use a disabled person's placard if he or she is not in the vehicle. You may be fined $250 to $1,000 if convicted of using someone's placard, sticker or plates illegally, or if they are issued to you, to allow someone else to use them illegally.

C. Parking Methods

There are several parking methods, and each requires an awareness of space, steering techniques and vehicle control. Parking should be attempted cautiously, while trying not to hit or bump other cars in front or behind you. Three different parking methods include: angled, perpendicular and parallel.

1. Angled Parking

Many parking spaces are placed at an angle, making it more difficult to properly position your vehicle to safely pull into the space. Proper parking procedures listed below should be followed to avoid a collision with other vehicles:

a. Signal your intention to turn.

b. Leave approximately five feet from the parked cars surrounding the space.

c. Pull forward until you can see down the side of the car parked before the space and then turn into the space sharply. Drive slowly (under five mph) while moving into the space.

d. Straighten your wheels and pull forward until you have come up to the cement stop, parking line, or at an even line with the other parked cars.

2. Perpendicular Parking

These parking spaces are placed at a 90 degree angle to the curb. These spaces are more difficult to maneuver because it is often difficult to see the vehicles and road ahead. There is very little room to maneuver the vehicle at that great of an angle. The following steps may help to reduce any risk of collision:

3. Parallel Parking

Parallel parking is usually done along the side of city or residential streets. The space should be approximately five feet longer than the length of your car. Even with a larger space than suggested, it still takes practice to become good at parallel parking. Typical parallel spaces are approximately 25 feet long. Some steps to follow include:

a. Signal your intention to turn.

b. Check the traffic around you and then brake until you stop parallel with the car in front of the space. Make sure to leave approximately three feet between your car and the parked cars next to you.

c. Shift your car into reverse and steer sharply towards the curb or space you are entering. When the center of your car (the door post area) is even with the rear bumper of the car in front of the space, start to straighten your wheels until your front bumper is lined up with the other car’s rear bumper.

d. Continue backing while turning your wheels to the left and stop before hitting your wheels to the bumper of the car behind the space.

e. Drive forward slowly to center your car in the space. You may need to move your car forward and then backwards several times to correctly position in the space.

The animation below illustrates the steps needed for successful parallel parking.