Before you try and do bay parking you need to understand
how reversing works so that you feel confident reversing in your car, and
secondly you have to find your reference point in order to be able to carry out
the manoeuvre in the first place.
How reversing works:
-To get into reverse gear you need press the clutch down
to the floor and select reverse gear on the gear stick, then find the biting
point.
-To reverse back slowly press the clutch down.
-To reverse back quickly bring the clutch up (release
pressure on the clutch with your foot).
-When reversing you need to look over your shoulder to
move into a clear pathway.
Reference point for bay parking:
The reference point for bay parking is the point where
you begin to turn the steering wheel in order to reverse into the parking
space.
To find this you need to:
-In the middle of the road reverse slowly straight
backwards and stop when the line of the bay comes just parallel under your left
wing mirror (the bottom of your wing mirror should look like it's touching the bay line).
-Get out of your car and stand on the line you have lined
up with facing towards the wing mirror.
Walk in a straight line from the bay line towards the car
wing mirror. The wing mirror needs to be in line with the bay line you are
standing on, in order to get your correct reference point. If wing mirror is
not in line with the bay marking you will need to get back into your car and move
forward or backwards correctly line up with the bay line. Again, get out and
check the line until wing mirror and bay line are parallel with each other.
-Once bay line and wing mirror are in line sit in your
normal driving position and see where the bay line meets a reference point
inside your vehicle (see image below yellow line, edge of door handle become reference point)- it could be a door handle or mark on the window etc. This
reference point will then act as your point for point of turn when beginning to
turn into the bay.
Remember that if you want to go into the right bay you
need to use the same method for finding the right hand side reference point for
point of turn. Usually in most cars you can transfer the left reference
parallel to the same object that is on the right hand side of the car opposite,
for example if the left door handle edge is my reference point, this will also
be the reference on the right hand edge door handle for going into a right bay.
Bay Parking:
-First drive into the centre of the road (only if it’s
safe and convenient to do so) and select reverse gear and find the biting
point.
-Then check observations, begin to reverse backwards in a
straight line keeping the steering wheel straight at all times.
-When car comes to the bay line you wish to turn at
(remembering at point of turn it will take you 3 bays back) put full lock on
either left (on left bay park) or right (for right bay park). Remember to
observe the road around you.
-Then eventually when you feel the car is straight quickly
take the full lock off and bring steering wheel to the straight position, so
that your wheels are completely straight.
-Reverse backwards (keeping steering wheel straight)
until the car fits in the bay nicely. Then secure car and into neutral.
Remember you should be doing this manoeuvre all on clutch
control, and possibly using the brake if needing to slow down. Sometimes you
may need to use the accelerator (gas) pedal to prevent the car from stalling for
example reversing into a slight incline going into the bay as it gives more
power to the car therefore preventing it from stalling.
