Reversing into a parking bay
Spend between 20 and 30 minutes practising this manoeuvre. Follow this up by getting into the habit of reversing into your parking space every time you visit a car park.
Although this is an easy manoeuvre in a busy car park, it takes a little time to master the accuracy required to centre your car into an empty bay with no cars alongside to act as reference points – this is how it is sometimes tested.
Your location for this practice is an empty area of a car park.
With a little practise reversing in becomes easier and safer than driving in. There is less shunting backwards and forwards and therefore less opportunity for scrapes and bumps, or running into children!
Reversing in also has security benefits; it will be easier to get away if you are under threat (or perceive that you might be). You can simply drive forwards, even if a would be assailant manages to open one of the doors.
Click for more information about car park security.
With proper observation and accuracy
You can choose to reverse from a 90 degree angle into the parking space (B) or drive into a position from which you can reverse into the bay in a straight line, or at least as straight as the space available will allow (A).
Remember that car parks are used by pedestrians. Pedestrians can approach from any angle in a car park and might not be paying attention to the traffic.
Although you are using an empty car park you must get into the habit of regular checks, keeping a careful look out all around – all the time. Take special care watch for small children in busy car parks.
Finally, make sure that you park in the centre of the available space this demonstrates that you understand the need to leave yourself, and the drivers and passengers of the cars on either side, sufficient room to open the doors and get in and out easily.
