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Bay parking

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A) Front left

  1. Reduce speed, into 1st gear

  2. Select bay

  3. Good all-road observations including front & rear & move car to right of road

  4. Ensure car & steering wheel is straight

  5. Reduce speed, old man walking pace using clutch control

  6. Repeat mirrors -interior & left

  7. Point of turn shoulder half way bay before, full lock left – fast hands, slow car.Check left mirror & left blind spot before turning.

  8. Adjust as necessary

  9. Head up to ensure car is straight using forward reference point & checking wing mirrors and one & half turns to right to straighten car

  10. Mirrors on line/kerb.

  11. Handbrake on & neutral

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B) Front right

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  1. Reduce speed, into 1st gear

  2. Select bay

  3. Good all-road observations including front & rear & move car to left of road

  4. Ensure car & steering wheel is straight

  5. Reduce speed, old man walking pace using clutch control

  6. Point of turn shoulder 20-30 cms past line of bay before, full lock right – fast hands, slow car. Check right wing mirror & right blind sport before turning.

  7. Adjust as necessary

  8. Head up to ensure car is straight using forward reference point & checking wing mirrors and one & half turns to left to straighten car

  9. Mirrors on line/kerb.

  10. Handbrake on & neutral

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Free videos of all manoeuvres

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  • Out of bay

  1. POM routine in reverse gear ensuring 6 point check carried out

  2. Look out of back window over left shoulder & get car moving out of bay straight ensuring you do not encroach over any neighbouring bays

  3. When shoulder in line with end of bay hard lock left/right

  4. Reverse as far as you can go ensuring car not on bays behind (check wing mirrors)

  5. Nervous pidgeon observations throughout points 2-4 to ensuring all hazards are seen & appropriate actions are taken. 

  6. Handbrake on, select first gear & repeat 6 point check

  7. Remove handbrake & hardlock left/right and using clutch control move on without encroaching on opposite bays

C) Reverse into bay on left

  • Into bay

Method 1

  1. Reduce speed, into 1st gear

  2. Select bay

  3. Good all-round observations, signal to left & move car to left of road as close to the bays as is possible

  4. Ensure car & steering wheel is straight

  5. Reduce speed, old man walking pace using clutch control

  6. Point of turn shoulder on half way in bay on the bay you are going to reverse into, full lock right &  – fast hands, slow car. Ensure look in right mirrors & right blind spot check before turning.

  7. Continue to move forward until the 2nd line of the bay you are looking to reverse into is in line with the front door handle. (see pic)

  8. Handbrake on, select reverse & carry out 6 point check, look over left shoulder & as car moves (minimal clutch) hard lock left and guide car into bay (adjust as necessary by looking at car’s position in relation to the bay lines using both wing mirrors).

  9. Nervous pidgeon throughout to ensure all hazards are seen and appropriate action taken.

  10. Head up to ensure car is straight using forward reference point & checking wing mirrors and one & half turns to right to straighten car

  11. Mirrors on line at front of bay

  12. Handbrake on & neutral.

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Method 2

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As above but bring car out to the middle of the road and stop when car is just past the 3rd line of the bay you are intending to turn into. Line up your own individual reference (sticker) onto the 3rd line & hard lock left. Check your left hand door mirror ensuring car is entering the intended bay & adjust as necessary.

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  • Out of bay

  1. POM routine in 1st gear ensuring 6 point check carried out

  2. Old making walking pace bring car out straight out of bay

  3. When shoulder in line with front of bay hard lock left/right

General notes for all bay parking

The manoeuvre is a test of control, accuracy & observations.

  • : Slow car established with clutch control and footbrake if you feel the car begins to race away eg carrying out downhill. Fast hands to turn the steering wheel quickly.

  • : The car must be within all 4 lines .. ensure the car is within the bay lines to the left & right by checking your wing mirrors & use a forward reference point to ensure the car is straight. Also ensure you use the mirrors on the line to ensure the car is in the bay & the front or rear end is not protruding over the front or rear.

  • If you do not get the car into the bay 1st time, do not worry, you can correct. Generally you will have approx. 4 mins to get the car into the bay. If you don’t do it 1st time, ask the examiner permission to correct and most will allow you to, subject to the time available, to have another go.

  • Observations: The best controlled and accurate bay park ever made will still fail the driving test if you don’t observe what is around you and react on it if appropriately. Keeping the car slow is essential so you can look around in all directions continuously. If any vehicle or pedestrian approaches you, stop and allow them to pass before you proceed. If they are waiting then proceed

Reverse parking (parallel park)

 

  1. As soon as you see your intended space Mirrors & signal left

  2. Reduce speed, drop clutch, select 1st gear (to use if necessary) & roll car in straight (with wheels straight) ensuring the is approx.. ½ door width from target car.

  3. Stop car when wing mirror in line with front of target car

  4. Handbrake on & carry out POM routine after selecting reverse gear.

  5. Look over left shoulder out of back window and get car reversing straight if safe to do so.

  6. ¾’s left turn when your left wing mirror is in line with wing mirror of target car. ( select alternative reference point when target car is parked in opposite position such as rear door handle).

  7. Nervous pidgeon throughout but ensure you look over right shoulder as the front of car moves out to right.

  8. As soon as the kerb line sits on top of front door handle, hard lock right and front of car moves in towards the kerb.

  9. As soon as car is parallel to kerb (look in left wing mirror and/or look ahead in relation to the target car) straight wheels with a 1 & ½ turns to the left.

  10. Continue to reverse straight until enough space is left between the front of the car and the target car so that another car cannot get into space.

In brief:-

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  1. ¾’s left … wing mirror meets wing mirror

  2. Full lock right…kerb meets top of front door handle

  3. 1 & ½ turns left when car is parallel to kerb

NB: MOVE OFF

Is an angled start so steady clutch and ensure POM is fully followed including a final 2nd right shoulder check

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General notes for the reverse park

The manoeuvre is a test of control, accuracy & observations.

  • : Slow car established with clutch control and footbrake if you feel the car begins to race away eg carrying out downhill. Fast hands to turn the steering wheel quickly.

  • : The car must finish reasonably close & parallel to the kerb and you cannot put the car onto the pavement. Ensure that the manoeuvre is carried out within 2 car lengths from the back of our car to the back of the target car. you do not complete the manoeuvre 1st time in terms of decent accuracy, do not worry, you can correct.

  • If you nudge the kerb you can correct by bringing the car back out to a 45 degree angle and straight line reverse and full lock right when the kerb sits on the front door handle. If too early and the car is too far out, the above is an option but less steer can be put on if you realise during the 1st attempt when you bring the car in before straightening out.

  • Observations: The best controlled and accurate reverse park ever made will still fail the driving test if you don’t observe what is around you and react on it if appropriately. Keeping the car slow is essential so you can look around in all directions continuously. If any vehicle or pedestrian approaches you, stop and allow them to pass before you proceed. If they are waiting then proceed. Do not panic..rushing the manoeuvre often proves detrimental.

Pull up on right hand side, reverse 2 car lengths & drive off

 

A) Pull up on right hand side

  1. Select safe, legal & convenient parking space on right hand side of road

  2. Check interior & right wing mirror & signal if necessary

  3. Check infront that there is no oncoming traffic that will be inconvenienced by pulling up, wait if necessary & re-check mirrors before moving off

  4. Slow car down, drop clutch & put car into 1st gear & roll car towards the kerb,  larger turn initially, and then more gradual making sure car is a safe distance to kerb by checking right disc mirror.

  5. Concentrate on getting car parallel to kerb (look ahead & check mirror) & car straight.

  6. Bring car to stop & secure with handbrake and in neutral.

  7. Wait further instructions.

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B) Reverse car a couple of car lengths

  1. POM routine – in reverse, minimal bite. Observations right to left (safe to danger), look over left shoulder & get car reversing – old man walking. Do not start reverse until hazards have passed eg oncoming cars & pedestrians walking on pavement or crossing road.

  2. Constantly check right wing mirror to car’s position to kerb & adjust as necessary … minimal steering.

  3. Nervous pidgeon throughout & stop car if new hazards appear – repeat POM routine.

  4. Bring car to stop & secure with handbrake & in neutral.

  5. Await further instructions.

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C) Drive off

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  1. POM Routine in 1st gear. Observations right to left (safe to danger). Signal if necessary but allow oncoming traffic to pass 1st before signalling to avoid a misleading signal.

  2. Allow all oncoming traffic to pass first, and merge with safe gap with traffic behind car.

  3. Repeat observations if waiting.

  4. Move off safely & repeat right hand blind spot check.

  5. Check mirrors again when safely in road position before accelerating.

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