Easy Print
Suggested length - One and a half hours
Introduction:
The ‘bay park’ is one of two parking manoeuvres you may be given on the test. Note, however, that you will never be given both.
Just like the other reversing manoeuvres, the object is to show the examiner you can control the car going backwards, at slow speed, under full control whilst keeping proper observations and being aware of other road users. Quite a tall order, but easy enough to do if you follow this lesson and have plenty of practice before the test.
Make sure you find a quiet car park to learn this manoeuvre. You will often see learners practicing in car parks such as the major supermarkets - but bear in mind these are often private car parks and the owners may ask you to move away.
Public car parks on a quiet Sunday evening often make the best places to learn and practice this manoeuvre.
The manoeuvre:
This manoeuvre can be undertaken to the left or the right and the sequence in this lesson is the same for either. Generally, if you get this manoeuvre on your test, you will either get it at the very beginning of the test or at the end. If you get it at the beginning, the examiner will ask you to move out of the bay you are in, to the left or the right, and reverse back in. If you get it at the end, the examiner will explain at the time what he wants you to do as the exact details will depend on the layout of the car park you are using.
Begin by picking the bay you wish to use and draw up next to it, about a car’s width out.
Count two bays beyond the bay you will park in and make a mental note of the far marking line of the second bay - marked X in the diagram below. This will be your point of turn.
Using proper observations, move the car slowly forward until you are about a car’s length beyond your point of turn. Stop and apply the handbrake.
Select reverse gear. Observe right around the car, starting over your right shoulder if you are parking to the left, or your left shoulder if you are reversing to the right.
If it’s all clear, release the handbrake and, using clutch and brake control, reverse the car slowly back. Keep the car straight until you have reached your point of turn. You have reached this point when the marking line pointed out in diagram 1 is in line with the steering wheel.
About a metre before reaching your point of turn, make sure you look right around the car. Try to keep the car moving slowly whilst you do this. This is an important observation which the examiner will look for you to make - the reason being that when you turn into the bay, the front of the car will swing out, so it’s important to make sure the front is clear of any obstructions.
At your point of turn, with the car still moving, turn full lock to the left (or right if you are doing a right reverse). If you have the speed of the car nice and slow and your steering is brisk, this should bring the car nicely into the bay. However, please note the following:
Every car is different so you may need to adjust the point of turn slightly in order to get it just right. A bit of trial and error is required.
Quite often pupils will reverse in perfectly only to find that the next time they try, although their point of turn was the same, they have come in completely wrong. This is usually due to a change in speed of steering or speed of car.
Remember they must be the same each time you do the manoeuvre for you to be consistent.
As the car comes into the bay, make sure you look around several times to make sure it’s still clear. Also be sure to look out of the back window and don’t just reverse on your mirrors.
Just before the car is straight, steer briskly to the right (or left if doing a right reverse) about one and a half to two turns (depending on the car) to straighten the wheels up.
Now reverse the car slowly into the bay, making sure to stop just before you touch the kerb. The car should finish nice and straight, between the lines. If, as you are reversing in, you find one of the wheels is over a line, it is ok to move the car forward to make any adjustments before reversing back in. Don’t keep doing this, however, as it could be taken as loss of control.
When the car has stopped, apply the handbrake, put the gear lever into neutral and release the pedals.
Conclusion:
Well done. In this lesson you have learned or practiced:
- Co-ordination of speed and steering
- Proper observation when parking
- How to park in a limited space
- Clutch control
- Brake control
Once again, as with all aspects of learning to drive, practice will make perfect.
