Bay parking manoeuvre tutorial
How to perform bay parking manoeuvre
Print the bay parking manoeuvre PDF tutorial
One of the four manoeuvres you will need to learn for your driving test is bay parking. This technique illustrates one out of several ways to perform the bay parking manoeuvre. The 3 key skills to this manoeuvre are:
Control: The car must be kept very slow using clutch control.
Accuracy: Ensure you position the car between the lines and do not cross them.
Observation: Continuous and appropriate
A. Position the car with plenty of room from the bays you are reversing into. This will make the manoeuvre easier as it will make your turning circle wider. Ensure however that you leave enough room to the right of the car as the front of your car will swing out to the right. Count 3 lines from the bay you wish to reverse into and stop when that line is half way through the front passenger door. Using this technique will guide the car 3 lines away from the bay you are reversing into.
When you are happy with your position, gently brake to a stop, apply the handbrake and select reverse gear.
B. Before moving the car backwards, look around for any approaching pedestrians, cyclists or other vehicles. Wait and let anyone pass. If all clear, look out the rear windscreen and slowly move backwards and briskly turn the wheel to full left lock. Consistently look around whilst performing the manoeuvre and keep the car very slow. Think of a slow walking pace. Your main focus will be out the rear windscreen as this is the direction of travel, also out your driver window and anywhere else pedestrians or vehicles may approach. Frequent glances in your left wing mirror will see line A appear. Use line A as a reference point to guide you into the bay. If too close to the line and looks like you may cross it, steer half a turn to the right. This will widen the turning circle placing the car loser to line B.
If at this point it looks as though you wont make it into the bay correctly, say to the examiner that you need to pull forward slightly to readjust. This will be fine providing you do it safely.
C. As the car starts to move round into the bay, line B will appear in your right hand wing mirror. Asses both line A and B in your mirrors to keep an even distance from them. Make slight adjustments if necessary and keep looking around. Remember that the slower you do this manoeuvre the easier it is.
It is important that frequent looks out the rear windscreen are made too.
If during this manoeuvre pedestrians, cyclists or other vehicles approach, stop and let them pass. If they stop, then carry on with the exercise.
D. When you have completed reversing into the bay, apply the handbrake and select neutral.
If all fails and the manoeuvre goes wrong, ask the examiner if you can try again. Time permitting there is a good chance he will let you. Providing you are successful, there is a good chance you will pass.