Reversing into a tight parking bay at night
It is night and you are in a car park with marked bays at right angles to a narrow access lane about 5 m wide. You want to reverse into a bay between a tall van on your left and a low sports car on your right. The bay is 2.4 m wide and your car is 1.8 m wide, giving about 30 cm each side once parked. A pedestrian in dark clothing is walking along the lane behind you. Your reversing lights work, but the bay is poorly lit and the van blocks your view to the left. The surface is dry and flat.
1. Describe how you would set up and carry out the reverse, including your observation routine.
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I would drive past the bay and stop with my car parallel to it and about a metre out, so the rear of my car is just beyond the near edge of the bay. Before reversing I would check all mirrors, look over both shoulders and note the pedestrian, then select reverse and move very slowly, using clutch control or light throttle with the brake covered. The van blocks my left view, so I would rely on the left mirror, the right mirror and direct looks over both shoulders in rotation, pausing to look directly behind between short movements. I would use the bay markings and the sports car as references, aiming to keep equal gaps. If the pedestrian comes close, I would stop completely until they are clear. Because the space is tight, I would accept several small adjustments rather than one sweeping movement.
2. The pedestrian is walking behind you and the van blocks your view. What is your decision about continuing, and why?
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The pedestrian is the priority hazard: someone in dark clothing at night is hard to see, and my view to the left is blocked, so another person could emerge unseen. I would stop before entering the bay, keep my foot on the brake, and wait until the pedestrian has passed and is clearly out of my path. I would not wave them through or assume they have seen me; I would watch their direction and only move when I can see the lane behind me is clear. If the pedestrian stops nearby, I would still wait, because a stationary person may step back unexpectedly. Continuing while a person is behind me, with a blind side, would mean reversing on hope rather than observation, which is exactly the situation where a slow, patient stop is the correct judgement.
3. Once parked, what checks and actions complete the manoeuvre safely?
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I would stop fully, apply the handbrake, select neutral or park, and switch off the engine. Before opening the door I would check the right mirror and look over my right shoulder for passing traffic or cyclists, and open the door slowly. I would check that the car sits within the bay lines and leaves room for the sports car's door, adjusting if not. I would take the keys, lock the car and note a landmark so I can find it again. At night I would leave the car with lights off but consider leaving parking lights on if the car park is unlit and the law requires it. Finally I would check that I have not blocked the access lane, since the lane is only about 5 m wide and others still need to pass.