How to park safely

It’s not only moving vehicles that are potential hazards on the road. Parked vehicles can be hazards too. That’s why it’s important to follow the safe parking rules and guidelines.

Safe parking rules

By law, you must follow these rules when parking:

• Indicate for at least 3 seconds before slowing down to park.
• Park as close to the left of the road as possible, unless you're parking in an area where angle parking is permitted. There will be lines on the road, or signs to show where you can angle park.
• Move as far off the road as possible when stopping or parking on a road with fast-moving traffic.
• Be careful when pulling out of a parking space. Don’t forget to:
  • check for vehicles
  • signal for at least 3 seconds before pulling out.
• A vehicle must not be parked on the road during the hours of darkness unless it is clearly visible to other road users. This means it should be lit by street lights, or you should turn on the park light.

Safe parking guidelines

These guidelines will make sure your vehicle won’t move forward or backwards when you park it.

Parking a motorcycle safely is different from parking a car. When facing uphill, back the motorcycle to the kerb and leave it in gear. Don’t forget to lock it. Being at an angle to the kerb allows you to see what is coming when you start off again.

Safe riding tips - position

Parking a motorcycle on a steep hill can be difficult. Turning the front wheel towards the kerb and placing it on the side stand when facing downhill may make it unstable and difficult to get upright. It may be safer to park on the other side of the road, facing uphill.

Try various positions to find out what’s best for your motorcycle. It should be stable and easy to lift off the side stand. Make sure the surface you’re parking on will support the side stand.

When parking in a parking space, park in the centre so car drivers will not attempt to park in the same space. Some places have parking areas reserved for motorcycles.