Forward bay parking

By the end of this topic you can

• You can set the car up wide enough to turn into the bay in one smooth movement.
• You can drive in slowly and finish straight and inside the lines.
• You can reverse out with full observation, giving way to pedestrians and vehicles.
• You can control the front of the car swinging as you reverse out.
• You can decide when forward parking is sensible and when reversing in would be safer.

What you need to know and understand

• Bay parking is one of the reversing exercises on the current driving test; the examiner says whether you drive in and reverse out, or reverse in and drive out.
• When reversing out of a bay, your view is often blocked by the cars on either side.
• As you reverse and steer, the front of your car swings the opposite way and can hit the car next to you.
• Look all around before and while reversing, and give way to anyone passing.
• Use marked bays wherever possible, and park within the lines.
• At home, the Highway Code advises reversing into a driveway where possible, so you can drive out forwards on to the road.

Driving in

1. Approach slowly with your mirrors checked and signal if it would help others.
2. Keep to the side of the aisle away from the bay to give yourself room to turn.
3. Start steering briskly when your reference point lines up, often when your door mirror reaches the line before the bay.
4. Look into the bay and aim for the far end, straightening up as the car enters.
5. Stop before the front line or kerb, check you are central and correct by reversing a little if needed.

Reversing out safely

Before you move, check all around: over both shoulders, through the rear window and in all mirrors. Pedestrians may be walking behind the row of cars and other vehicles may be driving along the aisle.

Reverse very slowly in a straight line until the front of your car is level with the back of the cars beside you, so the front does not swing into them. Then steer to bring the car into the aisle, looking mainly in the direction you are travelling, with regular checks to the front corners. Stop and wait if anyone comes near.

In or out first?

Driving in forwards is quicker, but reversing out is harder because of the limited view. Reversing in is harder at first but leaves you with a safer exit. Many car parks, especially busy ones, are easier and safer if you reverse in. Some places ask you to park forwards, so practise both until you are comfortable.

Common mistakes

• Turning in too early and cutting across the neighbouring bay. Use your reference point and start wide.
• Reversing out quickly with a limited view. Creep back and keep looking.
• Steering too soon when reversing out, so the front clips the next car. Wait until your front is clear.
• Only checking behind and missing traffic coming along the aisle from the side. Look all around.
• Leaving the car across the lines. Make a small correction before switching off.

Test yourself: Forward bay parking

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Driving Test Manoeuvres in GB