Bay Parking

Bay Parking

Skills you will transfer from forward driving POM, MSM, Peep & Creep, Steering and awareness of other road users and pedestrians.

Reverse Bay Parking

The bay parking either forward or in reverse manoeuvre is completed in public or test centre car parks. Either at the start of your Driving Test or at the end of your Driving Test or park way through depending on Car park availability. The examiner will ask you to select a parking space to either drive forward or reverse in to. Make it easy for yourself and pick a space far away from all other cars and in a wide section of the car park so you can take a swing to minimise any accuracy issues.

What you have to do:

Select your space, you do not have to tell the examiner which one (you are best not to tell them either as if you miss the one you’re aiming for you can always go to the next one) Move away as normal in using your POM routine.

MSM to pull up at least 1 car length past the bay about a half way into the width of the car park to get you some room to manoeuvre.

POM the car in. Don’t forget to look from your right shoulder blind spot to your left shoulder so you can look out of the front or rear windscreen in the direction you are going to travel.

Keep your speed low at about an old mans walking pace use your pedals in the same way as you would when emerging from a closed junction peeping & creeping. This will help by giving you time to judge your accuracy and give you time to observe other road users and pedestrians.

As you approach the corner you will reach the POT (point of Turn) your Homer’s Driving Instructor will help you set a reference point on your Driving Lessons so you know when to turn. Before you turn the steering wheel make an all round observation be aware of other road users because as you turn the wheel the front end of the car will swing out into the car park lanes.

It’s worth checking the door mirrors every 4 or 5 seconds to keep an eye on your position. Don’t stare in the door mirror for to long as the main dangers on the road are what is behind your car out the back windows, it’s also worth checking to front ands sides regularly as vehicle may be turning into the road you are reversing into as they have priority should stop and wait for them.

When you have white lines in both door mirrors it’s time to straighten the steering and back up until just before you have reach the kerb behind you and then secure your car.

You are allowed to shunt forwards and backwards to ensure your accuracy is between the lines so don’t be afraid to move several times if your not in the box because after all what would you do in real life?

If you have driven forward into a bay when reversing out you may not enter the box behind so be cautious and shunt again if necessary.

Forward Parking