Session 17: Parking

Which of the following things must you do if you are parked on a rural highway?

(a.) Leave at least 15 feet of road width for other traffic to pass your vehicle. b. Make sure your vehicle is visible from 400 feet in either direction. c. Make sure your parking lights and taillights are turned off. d. All of the above.

When parking in a perpendicular space, how should you plan to exit the spot?

(a.) Plan so you can exit while driving forward. b. Plan so you can exit while backing to the right. c. Plan so you can exit while backing to the left. d. Any of the above is acceptable.

How to Park on a Hill

- Check for traffic in your mirrors and blind spot. - - Signal right. Pull over as far right as possible and stop. Slow as you are moving out of traffic. - Turn your wheels sharply to the left if there is a curb and you face uphill. - Turn your wheels sharply to the right if there is no curb or if you face downhill. See the illustrations. - - This way, if your vehicle starts to roll, it will roll away from traffic. - Set your emergency brake and place your vehicle in park. If your vehicle has manual transmission, shift into reverse if parking downhill or into the lowest gear if parking uphill. - To resume travel, put your turn signal on, check mirrors and blind spot. When safe, pull out into your traffic lane.

If there is no curb and you are facing uphill:

Turn your wheels to the right

When you are pulled up next to a vehicle that you are going to parallel park behind, how much space should be between that vehicle and your vehicle?

a. 1 foot. (b.) 2 feet. c. 6 inches. d. 1 ½ feet.

When parallel parked along a curb, the front and rear bumpers of your vehicle must be how far away from other vehicles?

a. 6 inches. b. 1 foot. (c.) 2 feet. d. 4 feet.

Which of the following actions should you take when parallel parking?

a. Locate a space which is at least one and a half times the length of your vehicle. b. Check that nothing prohibits parking - a driveway, a fire hydrant, a fire station, etc. c. Check for any signs posted regulating parking. (d.) All of the above.

When parking in a perpendicular or diagonal parking space, just before stopping short of the curb or painted line, what should you do?

a. Signal your intention. (b.) Straighten the wheels. c. Check the clearance on either side. d. All of the above.

You want to park downhill on a two-way road and there is no curb. Which way should you turn your front wheels?

a. Wherever you want them turned. b. Left towards the center of the road. (c.) Right towards the side of the road or the curb. d. Straight ahead.

When parallel parking along a curb, how close must the wheels on the curb side be?

a. Within 6 inches of the curb. (b.) Within 12 inches of the curb. c. Within 18 inches of the curb. d. Within 24 inches of the curb.

When you park your car uphill next to a curb, where should the right front wheel be turned?

a. To the right with the wheel touching the curb. b. Parallel to the curb with the parking brake set. (c.) So the back of the wheel is against the curb. d. Wherever you want it turned.

Throughout any parking maneuver, you should constantly check...

a. Traffic. b. The vehicles around you. c. Other road users. (d.) All of the above.

Which way should you turn your wheels if you are facing uphill with a curb?

Turn your wheels to the left

You are responsible for making sure your vehicle is not a hazard when it is parked. Whenever you park, be sure it is in a place far enough from any travel lane to avoid interfering with traffic and that is visible to vehicles approaching from either direction.

- Park in a designated parking area if possible. - Always set your parking brake when you park. - - Leave the vehicle in the lowest gear if it has a manual transmission, or in "park" if it has an automatic transmission. - A possible exception to this is during cold weather when it is possible the parking brake could freeze in the "on" position. At such times, you may choose to leave the parking brake off. - - Your vehicle should still be left in the lowest gear or in "park". - If parked on a rural highway, you must leave at least 15 feet of road width for other traffic to pass your vehicle. Your vehicle must be visible for at least 500 feet in either direction. Your parking lights and taillights must be on if it is dark outside. - Get out of the vehicle on the curb side if you can. - If you have to use the street side, check traffic before you open the door. Shut the door as soon as you can after getting out. - Never leave the ignition key in a parked vehicle. It is a good habit to lock the doors whenever you leave your vehicle. - If you must park on a roadway, park your vehicle as far away from traffic as possible. If there is a curb, park as close to it as you can.

How to parallel park

(Observe other traffic, pedestrians and fixed objects throughout these steps. 1. Check traffic in rear-view mirrors as you slow. Put your turn signal on. Stop even with the vehicle ahead and about 2 feet away from it. 2. Turn wheels right and slowly back toward the vehicle behind. As the front door passes the back bumper of the vehicle ahead, straighten the wheels and continue to back straight. 3. When clear of the vehicle ahead, turn wheels sharply left and back slowly to the vehicle behind. Be looking to the sidewalk area and towards the vehicle behind you. 4. Turn wheels right and pull toward the center of the parking space. Straighten wheels unless you are on a hill. When the maneuver is finished, your vehicle should be within 12 inches of the curb or edge of the road, and at least 2 feet away from parked vehicles. To resume travel, put your turn signal on, check mirrors and blind spot. When safe, pull out into your traffic lane.

Do not park in:

- in an intersection - in a construction area if your vehicle will block traffic - within 15 feet of a crosswalk or intersection - within 10 feet of a fire hydrant - within 25 feet of a railroad crossing - more than one foot from the curb - within 15 feet of a fire station driveway on the same side of the street or directly across from the entrance - within 4 feet of a driveway, alley, or private road, or blocking the area of the curb removed or lowered for access to the sidewalk - in front of a school (grades K-eight) from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on school days, or as posted on a bridge or overpass, or in a tunnel or underpass - on the wrong side of the street (opposing traffic) in a space marked for the disabled, unless you have a special parking permit or plates for the disabled - on the road side of a parked vehicle (double parking) - on railroad tracks - wherever a sign says you cannot park.

Which way to turn your wheels if you are downhill without curb:

Turn your wheels to the right

How fast should your car be moving when you are backing up?

a. 5 mph. b. 10 mph. (c.) No faster than a slow walk. d. As fast as you are comfortable going.