Reverse Parallel Park

NOTE - In the VicRoads Drive Test, the Reverse Parallel Park is performed behind one car only, and Reverse Cameras ARE allowed to be used.

Whilst slowing down indicate to the left and pull up about an arm’s length away from the stationary car you will be parking behind, have your side mirror level with stationary car's side mirror.

Put car into Reverse and Turn the steering wheel half a turn to the Left (same direction as indicator) steering wheel will be upside down. Check all Directions (do the MEERKAT - look Right, Left and between the front two seats out the back window) immediately before reversing.

If safe, reverse until the very small dash on the reverse camera looks like it has just crossed the join of where Road surface joins to the concrete gutter of the kerb (shown as Figure 1). It can also look like the back of your front door handle is sitting on the road almost to the crease of the kerb but not toughing where the kerb becomes vertical. Then stop. If in doubt, stop a tiny bit earlier.

While stationary, Turn the steering wheel One and a Half turns to the Right (Chery on the steering wheel will be straight and you will see in the Reverse Camera, the wheels are turned and the dashed line of the camera is in the crease of the kerb)

Slowly Reverse (watching in your left side mirror (small round mirror) to ensure you don't mount the kerb) until you feel front wheels go into gutter or you appear in line or straight behind the car in front (you can also use your reverse camera for this). You should be nicely in the kerb with a gap of less than 30cm between kerb and car.

Whilst still in Reverse, straighten the steering wheel (will show on reverse camera) then Put the car into Drive and use the space in front of you to straighten up if you need to while driving forward. Stop when bumper bar of the car in front lines up with your windscreen wipers (1-2 meters from the car in front). If you touch the kerb gently, it’s ok, just don’t mount the kerb.

LEAVING THE PARK:

It’s probably safer to reverse a little before leaving the park (remember to Meerkat ensuring to look right, left and out your back window before reversing). Put car into Drive - Indicate to the Right (you must indicate for at least 5 seconds before leaving kerb) - turn wheel so you can pull out without hitting car in front (maybe between half and one full rotation – full lock will make it harder to straighten back up on the road) - check mirrors - head check over right shoulder before leaving the park when safe

REMEMBER: Observations are always the last thing we do before moving in any direction - and when reversing this includes looking directly out of the back window.