SuperDriver Learning Centre - Forward Bay Park
Manoeuvres - Forward Bay Park into a parking space on the left or right
On your driving test you will be expected to carry out 1 manoeuvre. We don't know which manoeuvre out of the 4 potential manoeuvres you will be asked to do. So you need to be perfect at all 4 of them... just in case. Here we give you a method to drive forwards into a Parking Bay on the left or the right.
Regardless that this manoeuvre is a test manoeuvre, you need to know it anyway. Learning how to park forward into a bay is a necessity. In life you will probably need to park between 2 cars or between 2 bay lines.
What do you have to do on test?
Your examiner will ask you to park forwards into a bay on the left or right. You must finish inside the lines. When you have parked, the examiner will then ask you to reverse out and exit the car park. If it goes wrong you are permitted to correct it, but any more than one correction and you could fail the whole test. This manoeuvre will be requested in a public car park, it could be at a supermarket, retail park, leisure centre or pub. Basically, anywhere. But this manoeuvre will not be asked of you in the test centre car park so if you go into a public car park, you know this is the manoeuvre you are getting so you know to prepare yourself for it.
Some drivers just somehow drive into a parking bay with very little fuss. Some need help and reference points.
Here's how to do it... Parking into a Bay on the Right is the easiest. The image shows some parking bays, there are lots of empty spaces but the routine is the same even if you are parking between 2 cars. Parking between 2 cars is sometimes easier as bay lines are difficult to see but cars are not!
On entering the car park you must position your car as far to the left as possible, this helps the turning angle. You may stop if you like and line your car up with the bay you want.
Image 2 shows your offside door mirror. The red line shows how the parking bay line meets the offside door mirror about halfway up the door mirror. This is your turning point. It may be slightly different for you.
Perform your POM (Prepare, Observe, Move off) routine, if there are any cars approaching from any direction do not set off. Signal if someone will benefit. Crawl forward and steer 1 full turn to the right. As you get closer to your bay you will notice by looking at bays ahead of the one you want if you will finish inside the lines or not. You probably won't so you will need to use full lock to the right to adjust.
If there are parked cars either side of you, your car's proximity beepers will help you if you are getting too close by showing you how close you are and beeping.
When you are in, straighten your steering wheel, stop and secure the car. If you are unsure if you parked within the lines check your nearside door mirror (image 3). If you are still uncertain you may open the door, even get out and walk all around the car if you need to.
Parking into a Bay on the Left has additional elements. The image shows some parking bays, there are lots of empty spaces but the routine is the same even if you are parking between 2 cars. Parking between 2 cars is sometimes easier as bay lines are difficult to see but cars are not!
On entering the car park and noticing that there are only spaces of the left, you must check your mirrors and if it is safe position your car as far right as possible. This helps the turning angle. You may stop if you like and line your car up with the bay you want.
Image 2 shows your nearside door mirror. The red line shows how the parking bay line meets the offside door mirror about halfway up the door mirror. This is your turning point. It may be slightly different for you.
Perform your POM (Prepare, Observe, Move off) routine, if there are any cars approaching from any direction do not set off. Remember your observations will be right shoulder to left as you are on the wrong side of the road. Signal if someone will benefit. Crawl forward and steer 1 full turn to the left. As you get closer to your bay you will notice by looking at bays ahead of the one you want if you will finish inside the lines or not. You probably won't so you will need to use full lock to the left to adjust.
If there are parked cars either side of you, your car's proximity beepers will help you if you are getting too close by showing you how close you are and beeping.
When you are in, straighten your steering wheel, stop and secure the car. If you are unsure if you parked within the lines check your nearside door mirror (image 3). If you are still uncertain you may open the door, even get out and walk all around the car if you need to.
IF YOU DID NOT FINISH IN THE BAY, WHAT DO YOU DO?
Are you on the line or just outside? If you are on the line it should be a driving fault (not serious). If you are outside of the bay, it is a serious driving fault and you will fail. Unless you fix it.
Full POM routine, select Reverse and if it is safe reverse out of the bay in a straightline. Reverse as far as you need to so that you can see the bay lines of the bay you want. Stop.
POM routine again and drive forward steering into the bay you want. Secure the car. Check you are in. One correction is generally accepted by examiners.
NOW YOU ARE IN THE BAY, HOW DO YOU REVERSE OUT OF IT?
The examiner will now ask you to reverse out of the parking space and exit the car park. I hope you paid attention to the car park and if it is a one way system!
no cars either side of you
As always, start with your POM routine, make sure you selected reverse. If it is safe, steer full lock to the left or right depending on the closest car park exit and if there is a one way system.
If there are cars either side of you
As always, start with your POM routine, make sure you selected reverse. If it is safe, reverse in a straight line, do not steer. Reverse until the front end of your car has almost passed the rear of the cars either side of you. Then steer full lock to the left or right depending on the closest car park exit and if there is a one way system.
When you have reversed out of the bay, stop, complete your full POM routine remembering to select 1st (or D) and drive away.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN AUTOMATIC CARS AND MANUALS