Rules 7

Rules 7: Parallel Parking

Rules7: 9 Questions

A “no standing” sign at a certain location means
		You may never stop your vehicle there.
		You may park there if the driver remains in the vehicle.
Answer		You may stop temporarily to pickup or discharge passengers.
		You may stop to load or unload merchandise.
A “no parking” sign at a certain location means
		You may never stop your vehicle there.
Answer		You may stop temporarily to load or unload passengers.
		You may park there if the driver remains in the vehicle.
		You may leave your vehicle unattended for less than 5 minutes.
A “no stopping” sign means that, unless directed to do so by a policeman, you may stop only
		Long enough to unload packages.
Answer		To avoid conflict with other traffic.
		To discharge passengers.
		For less than 5 minutes.
You may never park
		On a one-way street.
		At the entrance of a building.
Answer		In a crosswalk.
		Within 50 feet of a fire hydrant.
Assuming that the street is level, what should you do after you have finished parallel parking in a space between two other cars
		Leave your front wheels turned toward the curb.
		Make sure your car almost touches the car behind you.
		Move as far forward in the space as possible.
Answer		Straighten your front wheels and leave room between cars.
If you are parked parallel to the curb, you may get out of the car on the traffic side
		During the daytime when other drivers can see you.
		When the traffic light at the closest intersection turns red.
Answer		When you won't interfere with oncoming vehicles.
		If you use your four-way flasher first.
Before you leave a parking space which is parallel to the curb you should
		Sound your horn.
		Turn on your four-way flasher.
Answer		Look for traffic by turning your head.
		Look for traffic by using your inside rear-view mirror.
A driver may park in a space reserved for people with disabilities if the vehicle displays license plates for the disabled
		Regardless of who is in the vehicle.
		Only if the driver is disabled.
Answer		And is carrying the disabled person named on the registration.
		If someone in the driver's immediate family is disabled.
In a parking space reserved for people with disabilities, a non-disabled driver
		May park in an emergency.
		May not park, but stop in an emergency.
		May not park or stop, but may stand in an emergency.
Answer		May neither park, stop nor stand.

Parallel parking takes skill and is part of every road test. You must know where parking is illegal and what NO PARKING, NO STANDING and NO STOPPING signs indicate.

HOW TO PARK

Many motorists consider parallel parking the most difficult part of driving. But practice will teach you how to back up correctly and to judge distances and angles. 

The following instructions are general. You must adjust parallel parking procedures to the particular situation. Practice is the only method to learn correctly.

1. Select a space that is large enough for your vehicle on your side of the road. Check your mirrors before you stop, and signal to warn other drivers. Stop next to the vehicle in front of the space and leave about two feet between the other vehicle and your vehicle.
   
2. Look behind you over both shoulders to make sure you will not interfere with pedestrians or oncoming traffic. Back the vehicle slowly and begin to turn your steering wheel completely toward the near curb. Look through the rear window, not the mirrors, when you back up. Look to the side and front occasionally to make sure you will not touch the vehicle ahead.
   
3. When your front wheels are opposite the back bumper of the vehicle ahead, turn the steering wheel the other way while you continue to back up. Make sure you clear the vehicle ahead. Look back, and stop to ensure you do not bump the vehicle behind you.
   
4. Bring your wheels straight and pull forward. Allow room for the vehicles ahead and behind you. In your final parking position, your wheels must be no more than one foot (30 cm) from the curb.
   

To get nearer to the curb, alternately pull forward and back up, and turn the steering wheel first toward the curb and then quickly straight again.

After parking, remember that you must not open the door on the road side if it will interfere with bicyclists and other traffic.

 HOW TO PARK ON A HILL

After you park on a hill, make sure to set your parking brake. Turn the wheels so they will keep your vehicle from heading into traffic.

If there is a curb, turn your steering wheel completely away from it if your vehicle faces up the hill, or completely toward the curb if your vehicle faces down the hill. If your vehicle begins to move, the wheels should stop the vehicle at the curb and prevent a move down the hill. This method works best where the curb is high. If there is no curb or a low one, turn your wheels completely toward the   nearest side of the road no matter what direction your vehicle faces. If your vehicle  does start to move, it will move away from the street and traffic.

HOW TO PULL OUT FROM PARALLEL PARKING

To pull away from a parallel parking space, make sure your wheels are straight, back up to the vehicle behind you and turn your wheels away from the curb.

Six steps to enter safely into traffic:

1) Turn your head to look over your right shoulder and check through the rear-window for pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists and other vehicles that can become a hazard;

2) use your interior rear-view mirror to help keep an eye on hazards behind your vehicle;

3) signal your intentions to move from your parking space into traffic;

4) check your side mirrors for oncoming vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists, in-line skaters, motorcyclists and other highway users;

5) turn your head to look over your left shoulder out through the rear-window and begin to slowly drive forward.  Make sure you can avoid the vehicle parked ahead when you enter traffic;

6) turn your head and look over your left shoulder to look through the rear-window, drive into the traffic lane when it is safe to do so.

PARKING REGULATIONS

What people understand as "parking" is legally divided into three categories: parking, standing and stopping.

A NO PARKING sign means you can make a temporary stop to load or discharge merchandise or passengers.

A NO STANDING sign means you can make a temporary stop to load or discharge passengers.

A NO STOPPING sign means you can stop only to obey a traffic sign, signal or officer or to prevent conflicts with other vehicles.

Besides parking, standing and stopping rules, there are statewide rules not always indicated by signs:

You cannot park, stop or stand:

• Within 15 feet (5 m) of a fire hydrant, unless a licensed driver remains in the vehicle to move it in an emergency.
• On the road side of a parked vehicle ("double parking").
• On a sidewalk or in a crosswalk.
• In an intersection, unless permitted by signs or parking meters.
• On railroad tracks.
• Next to or opposite road work, construction or other obstructions if your vehicle blocks traffic.
• Within 30 feet (10 m) of a pedestrian safety area, unless another distance is marked.
• On a bridge or in a tunnel.

Parking or standing is not allowed:

• In front of a driveway.
• Within 20 feet (6 m) of a crosswalk at an intersection.
• Within 30 feet (10 m) of a traffic light, STOP sign or YIELD sign.
• Within 20 feet (6 m) of a fire station driveway, or within 75 feet (23 m) on the opposite side of the road.
• Along a curb that has been cut, lowered or made for access to the sidewalk.
• You can not park your vehicle within 50 feet (15 m) of a railroad crossing.

RESERVED PARKING FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

Parking reserved for persons with disabilities is a legal requirement. These special parking spaces for motorists with disabilities ensure safe and equal access to goods and services, access which is taken for granted by many persons. You can park in reserved spaces only if you have a permit or vehicle plates for persons with disabilities and only when the person who received the permit or vehicle plates is in the vehicle.

It is illegal for any vehicle to park, stop or stand in a space reserved for people with disabilities unless it has vehicle plates for people with disabilities issued by the DMV, a New York State Parking Permit for People with Disabilities (MV-664) issued by a city, town county or village, or a similar plate or permit issued by another state. The vehicle must be in operation to transport the person with disabilities described in the registration or permit. This law applies to spaces reserved and provided by local ordinance on streets and highways and those held for special use by state law in shopping centers that have five or more stores and 20 or more off-street public parking spaces.

It is a misdemeanor to make a false statement or give false information on an application for vehicle plates. If you make a false statement or provide false information to get a parking permit for a person with a disability, you face a fine from $250 to $1,000, plus a mandatory surcharge of $30 and possible civil penalties from $250 to $1,000. These penalties apply to the applicant and to a doctor provides certification.

For more information about parking for people with disabilities, and how to qualify and apply for a vehicle plate or parking permit, see Parking for People With Disabilities (C-34). This publication is available from the DMV web site.

Reserved spaces must be marked with signs like the one shown, and also can be designated with pavement markings. Do not park in the spaces with diagonal stripes next to reserved parking areas. These spaces are needed to give access to those with wheelchairs and vehicles with special equipment.

The fines for parking violations on a street are set by municipalities. Unless a municipality sets higher penalties, the fine for a shopping center violation is $50 to $75 for a first offense and $75 to $150 for a second offense within two years in the same municipality. A mandatory surcharge of $30 will be added to each penalty.

QUESTIONS

Before you go on to Chapter 8, make sure you can answer these questions:

• After you have parallel parked, how near to the curb must your vehicle be?
• May you open a door on the road side of your vehicle if there is no oncoming traffic?
• Before you leave a parking space, what should you do?
• What does a NO STOPPING sign mean?
• Can you stop to load or drop off passengers at a NO STANDING or NO PARKING sign?
• May you park on a crosswalk in the middle of a block?