Parallel parking rules....

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surfisup1000

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Topic # 204703 13-Oct-2016 14:51

Whenever I am behind a vehicle trying to parallel park , I stop and let them complete the maneuver before continuing.

But, I've noticed fairly often that other drivers do not extend the same courtesy when I am parallel parking.

eg, today i was performing a parallel park (followed the rules, signalled, stopped, started reversing), but the cars coming up behind me (and a cyclist ) drove around me while i was trying to reverse into the parallel park..... this is dangerous because it seems those same drivers are incapable of predicting the trajectory of the front end of a car reversing into a park - meaning i need to slam on the brakes to stop the front end of my car from colliding into them while they pass. The cyclist went all nuts too because i nearly smashed him over too. Didn't even see the cyclist as he was behind the first car that went past me.

So, what is the rule here? eg, if i had smashed over the cyclist who is at fault?

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Reply # 1650474 13-Oct-2016 14:59

Not sure what the rule is but for me it depends on how much space the car in front leaves for me to actually stop and give them room to move. If they slam on the brakes and then indicate that they're going to reverse into a park then I usually am too close to let them do it, so I have to wait until oncoming traffic is clear and then go around them. In that case the car behind me should stay still and give the parker room, but often they'll just follow suit and go around them too.

mdooher

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Reply # 1650477 13-Oct-2016 15:03

If you are reversing and hit someone it is your fault. I know it seems unfair but that is the way it works.

Matthew

surfisup1000

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Reply # 1650478 13-Oct-2016 15:04

gehenna:

Not sure what the rule is but for me it depends on how much space the car in front leaves for me to actually stop and give them room to move. If they slam on the brakes and then indicate that they're going to reverse into a park then I usually am too close to let them do it, so I have to wait until oncoming traffic is clear and then go around them. In that case the car behind me should stay still and give the parker room, but often they'll just follow suit and go around them too.

Yep, i get that, but lets assume the car in front signals for 3 seconds and you can clearly see they want the park before you reach the point where they cannot reverse into that park.

Then, what is the rule for trailing vehicles, or for the car trying to park?

sidefx

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Reply # 1650528 13-Oct-2016 16:06

mdooher: If you are reversing and hit someone it is your fault. I know it seems unfair but that is the way it works.

If you reverse into someone sure... but if you're parallel parking and while trying to do it someone drives into the front right corner of your car, I'd think perhaps that's going to be a lot more of a grey area and I'd argue more the fault of the other driver.

(Generally though I've observed the same as the OP, so will stop just in front of the space with indicator on until I'm sure car behind me is going to wait, or they've aggressively driven around me as many seem to do...)

MikeB4

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Reply # 1650532 13-Oct-2016 16:12

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It's manners, however so many drivers seem to believe that a 10 second delay if the stop and let you park is a major life altering delay that has a devastating affect on them. These divers will also feel the same if the car in front of the is driving 97kmh and not 100 or 110.

Mike
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mdooher

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Reply # 1650538 13-Oct-2016 16:20

sidefx:
mdooher: If you are reversing and hit someone it is your fault. I know it seems unfair but that is the way it works.

If you reverse into someone sure... but if you're parallel parking and while trying to do it someone drives into the front right corner of your car, I'd think perhaps that's going to be a lot more of a grey area and I'd argue more the fault of the other driver.

(Generally though I've observed the same as the OP, so will stop just in front of the space with indicator on until I'm sure car behind me is going to wait, or they've aggressively driven around me as many seem to do...)

The police see it as straight forward as running up the back end of someone. Your fault.
If you are reversing you must give way, no "grey area". Even worse if you swing the front end of you car out into traffic...careless driving... Yes it would have been "nice" if the other person waited but you are ulimatly responsible

Matthew

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Reply # 1650576 13-Oct-2016 17:03

Parallel parking is one of my favourite past times to annoy my fellow drivers.

I'll find the smallest possible gap I can get into, because this necessitates having to stop almost on the centre line to get the required angle to reverse into the gap.

And I will choose the busiest street.

And because I'm a cautious and considerate driver, I will wait until either the way is clear, or another driver actually stops and allows me the 5 minutes to negotiate my way into the narrowest of spaces, usually requiring at least 7 backward and forward motions to actually get the car into the gap.

And then to cap it off, some d1ck pedo has the audacity to dash inbetween your car and the car behind, just as you are reversing, and they give YOU the dirtys ? Sheesh.

My thoughts are no longer my own and is probably representative of our media-controlled government

scuwp

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Reply # 1650585 13-Oct-2016 17:21

The car following is at fault if there is a crash. It's called inconsiderate driving or they could use failing to stop within clear lane ahead.

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Jonski

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Reply # 1650592 13-Oct-2016 17:49

mdooher: If you are reversing and hit someone it is your fault. I know it seems unfair but that is the way it works.

I used to live in a cul de sac. I walked out to my car one morning to go to work. Looked down the drive, clear. Got in the car, started reversing, having turned and looking through the back window.

Crunch.

My dropkick neighbour had come partially out his driveway perpendicular to mine, and stopped behind the fence with just the bonnet poking out, below the sightline from over my boot. He had stopped and got out (to check the mail) blocking my drive.

But because I was reversing, my fault.

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Scott3

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Reply # 1650751 13-Oct-2016 22:17

I thought that there was a blanket rule stating reversing vehicles must give way, but it appears I was wrong.

AA has this to say:

Liability when reversing

Q:

My stepmother was reversing out of her friends driveway in the pouring rain, slowly. She had only just started (and was nowhere near the road or the footpath) when a taxi driver drove into the driveway behind her and they collided. There was no damage to her car, but a broken headlight on his. He claims she is liable. The insurance companies say that the reversing driver is always at fault and told us it was in the road code - but when we asked for the relevant section etc for such a statement, they backtracked and said it was their opinion. Who is likely to be found at fault if it went to the Disputes Tribunal?

A:

There is no such rule or statement in the Road Code, as it isn't always the case that the reversing vehicle is in the wrong. However, in almost all accidents involving a reversing vehicle, the reversing driver is usually at fault.
In the circumstances involving this particular accident, one element that doesn't help your stepmother's case is the poor visibility due to the weather, as poor visibility is no defence. It does state in the Road Code "Before you move off, make sure it is safe to reverse. The best way to do this is to walk around the vehicle and make sure there are no children or other obstacles in your path." Extending this out, if you start reversing and can no longer see if the way is clear, you should repeat the exercise.
However, because the taxi turned into the driveway (arguably without checking to see if the way is clear), there could be some culpability on his behalf too.
This would by no means be a clear win for either party. In many cases such as this, the Disputes Tribunal find that both drivers are deemed to shoulder some blame, therefore each takes care of their own damage.

Road code has this to say: (I don't think the road coad has any legal worth)

Reversing

When reversing, take special care to make sure that the way is clear. Every year, young children are killed and injured by reversing vehicles. If you are in any doubt about whether the way behind you is clear, get out and check.

Reversing guidelines

Follow the guidelines below whenever you are reversing:

Before you move off, make sure it is safe to reverse. The best way to do this is to walk around the vehicle and make sure there are no children or other obstacles in your path.
Don't rely on your mirrors alone. Always turn around and look over your shoulder.
Try to reverse in a straight line.

The relevant legislation is pretty silent on revering too. The only mention of revering is in regards to not being allowed to reverse on a motorway, and a seatbelt exemption while reversing when certain criteria are met.

Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004

General consensus does however appear to be that reversing vehicle must give way, so prob best to avoid vehicles behind/passing when paradell parking.

scuwp: The car following is at fault if there is a crash. It's called inconsiderate driving or they could use failing to stop within clear lane ahead.

Hopefully not. If you were approaching a queue of cars at a traffic light, and the rearmost car puts their care into reverse, and hits the accelerator, you have no hope of avoiding them.

Jonski:

Looked down the drive, clear. Got in the car, started reversing, having turned and looking through the back window.

Crunch.

Our driveway is steep, and when reversing over the crest (to the footpath the road), the blind spot behind the car is massive. The liability and risk that I carry when I do this really worries me. I can check the area is clear from further down the driveway, and monitor the sides for pedestrians & vehicles, but if somebody (or something) short came from the opposite footpath across the cul de sac, I would not be able to see them/it.

I reverse out of my driveway about 15% of the time (I avoid it where possible, will reverse in off the street if not parking in the garage), but if I am parked in our garage (don't want to reverse in due to exhaust fumes), and there is another car parked in the driveway so I can't turn I have no other options.

The number of people I see emerge from driveways at speed with poor sightlines (both forward and reverse) makes it appear that many aren't aware of there obligations, or simply don't care.

4.4Giving way when entering or exiting driveway

(1)A driver entering or exiting a driveway must give way to a road user on a footpath, cycle path, or shared path (as described by clause 11.1A(1)).

(2)A driver exiting a driveway must give way to a vehicle on a roadway, including a vehicle turning or about to turn right into the driveway.

And of course blindspots/ poor sight lines have no impact on requirements to give way. For example, when leaving a NZ angle park, I as most people do, just keep looking back, and ease backwards super slowly hoping nobody is zoned out enough to crash into the back of me. (overseas they often angle parks so you reverse in, and drive forwards to exit. This is gives much better sightlines due to the drivers position in the front, and center or road side of the car)

I have an uncle who ran a branch of a trucking company. They had a situation where they had a person stopping traffic on a low traffic road so a truck could reverse out. A driver (I assume in a russian style insurance scam) deliberately drove around a stopped car, and the worker that was blocking traffic on the road, and then drove under the rear of the reversing truck. It went through court, and the trucking company was liable for the damages.

Jonski, your description sounds like your were very cautious, I didn't mean the above to apply to you.

surfisup1000

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Reply # 1650752 13-Oct-2016 22:22

scuwp: The car following is at fault if there is a crash. It's called inconsiderate driving or they could use failing to stop within clear lane ahead.

There have been people here who say the opposite. Still none the wiser :) Road code is unclear.

surfisup1000

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Reply # 1650754 13-Oct-2016 22:26

"General consensus does however appear to be that reversing vehicle must give way, so prob best to avoid vehicles behind/passing when paradell parking."

How do you give way when you are blocking the road? It is weird.

I reckon they should tidy this up so people are clear on the rules.

Jase2985

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Reply # 1650784 14-Oct-2016 05:15

by giving way you are waiting till its clear to reverse, ie the car behind has stopped so there is enough space for you to manoeuvrer or the cars have stopped going round you (they are rude in this case but if there is a white line there is nothing wrong, they are just impatient)

i watched the same situation your described the other day, person has to wait while about 6 cars drove round them.

riahon

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Reply # 1650785 14-Oct-2016 05:17

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I indicate and get into position to commence parallel park and while doing so will check mirrors to assess the situation directly behind. If a following car is still moving then will I wait for it to completely stop. Then I commence parallel park. If the following car indicates to go around me, or just proceeds to go around me, I wait til it is clear and then I commence. When I get to the 'left hand down' position, then I am committed to the procedure and any approaching cars that do not stop will hit my drivers side. A lot of the behaviour of the following cars will depends on oncoming traffic. Another consideration is to always check the position of the front of your car when you swing in, to ensure it is not going to intrude oncoming cars. eg, another event is happening on the other side and oncoming traffic crosses the centre line.

I think the onus should be on the person parking to ensure they give plenty notice and wait til the path is clear before they commence.

dickytim

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Reply # 1650786 14-Oct-2016 06:12

mdooher:
sidefx:

mdooher: If you are reversing and hit someone it is your fault. I know it seems unfair but that is the way it works.

If you reverse into someone sure... but if you're parallel parking and while trying to do it someone drives into the front right corner of your car, I'd think perhaps that's going to be a lot more of a grey area and I'd argue more the fault of the other driver.

(Generally though I've observed the same as the OP, so will stop just in front of the space with indicator on until I'm sure car behind me is going to wait, or they've aggressively driven around me as many seem to do...)

The police see it as straight forward as running up the back end of someone. Your fault.
If you are reversing you must give way, no "grey area". Even worse if you swing the front end of you car out into traffic...careless driving... Yes it would have been "nice" if the other person waited but you are ulimatly responsible

You didn't really read or understand the question, the car passing is actually potentially going to collide with the front of the car in front.

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