Parallel parking (continued)
When you are leaving a parallel park position with a vehicle parked in front of you, do the following:
- Check all mirrors to see if it is safe to leave the parking location.
- Reverse while looking over your right shoulder through your rear window, until you are close to the vehicle parked behind you, without making contact.
- Turn on the left turn signal.
- Before moving forward, look over your left shoulder for traffic and cyclists not visible in the mirrors.
- Move forward slowly about one metre (three feet) while steering sharply all the way to the left. When it is safe, drive into the nearest travel lane taking care not to make contact with the vehicle parked in front.
- Be alert for traffic approaching from the rear.
Entering and exiting a vehicle parked parallel to the curb on a two-way street:
When leaving a vehicle parked parallel to the curb, check all mirrors carefully for any traffic or cyclists approaching from behind. Do a shoulder check to your blind spots to the left. When it is safe, open the door no wider than necessary to get out and leave the vehicle quickly. Walk to the rear of the vehicle facing traffic to get to the curb.
When entering a vehicle parked parallel to the curb, always approach from the front of the vehicle. Look for traffic passing in the nearest lane before you open the door. Open the door no wider than necessary to get in and close the door quickly behind you.
Angle parking
Angle parking is most often used in parking lots. The spaces may be on an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the traffic lane.
The following steps should be used to enter an angle parking space on the right:
- Turn on your right turn signal and reduce your speed.
- Drive parallel to the curb and remain about one and a half metres (five feet) away from the rear of the parked vehicle.
- When you can see along the left side of the vehicle parked to the right of the vacant parking space, steer sharply to the right. Look through the centre of the stall while moving your vehicle slowly ahead. Your vehicle should be centred in the space.
- At about the mid-point of the parking space, straighten your wheels and continue to move forward slowly. Check the left front bumper and the right rear bumper of your vehicle, making sure they are not too close to the parked vehicles on either side.
- Keep moving slowly forward until the front wheel makes light contact with the curb or is within 50 centimetres (20 inches) of the curb.
Entering angle parking space from the right