car Parking Tips for safety
It is important to know reference points to be looking for through your window to know how to park a car to keep from hitting obstacles and to get into the middle of your space.
This section will go over reference points for parking a car in all directions, even reversing into a stall.
Parking lots have a lot of collisions because there are so many drivers and people, in such a small space.
*Backing up carelessly is the greatest cause of collisions in parking lots.
Move slow, but turn fast into your parking space.
moving slow allows you greater control is a small space and turning fast positions your car where you need it at the right time.
The speed you need to come into a stall is so low,
just above 0 MPH, that once you start turning into the spot your foot should be covering the brake with just enough pressure to keep moving at this slow speed until you are straight in the stall.
There should be no need to use your gas pedal once you turn into the space unless you are coming uphill.
Look all directions continuously the direction you are moving when backing.
This includes to the left, the right AND directly behind your vehicle. As you are turning out of your stall, it's easy to remember looking to the sides but not behind. this is where a car could be backing out opposite from you, or a pedestrian could be there.
Also don't take it for granted that no one will be behind you in a fairly empty, unused parking lot.
Many times, when practicing how to park a car with students in empty lots, we've seen not only cars speeding through, but also pedestrians and bicyclists.
One other good rule to follow is to find a stall away from other parked cars, not so secluded that it makes you unsafe, but with enough space that you wont be in danger of hitting other parked cars or them hitting you.
