Muscat – Parking and low-speed manoeuvring are essential skills for any safe and responsible driver. Choosing a safe, legal and convenient parking spot is the first priority. Then, focus on these key principles:

Observation

Control

Accuracy

Observation and blind spots

Before starting a parking manoeuvre, check all around for potential dangers. Mistakes at low speeds are unlikely to be fatal but can still result in pedestrian injuries or damage to property, leading to unnecessary hassle and expense.

Blind spots are a significant risk. Never rely solely on mirrors. Too many drivers reverse while still looking forward, neglecting their mirrors or glancing only briefly. If it’s wrong to drive forwards while looking backwards, the reverse is also true: avoid reversing while looking forwards.

Reversing can be particularly challenging as vehicles are designed for forward travel. Turning to look out of the rear window reveals limited visibility, making it easy to miss a small child or obstacle. To compensate, lower the windows and listen for sounds that could indicate unseen danger.

Parallel parking

Reversing is often necessary when parallel parking, especially in tight spaces. Steering with the rear wheels allows greater precision, enabling the vehicle to fit into spaces only one and a half times its length. Attempting the same manoeuvre forwards would typically require a space twice as long.

Parking bays

When using marked bays, the safest option is to reverse in or, where possible, drive forwards through one bay into the next. Driving forwards into a single bay may seem easier, but it often means reversing out later into the ‘live area,’ where moving vehicles and pedestrians are harder to spot.

Reversing into a bay, by contrast, positions the car to exit forwards into this hazardous zone with maximum visibility. While some drivers claim boot access requires forward parking, safety should always come first.

Additional safety

Parking with the car facing outwards also enhances child safety. Children remain behind the barrier of the car doors, protected from hazards. Forward parking, on the other hand, places a door between you and your child, increasing the risk they might enter a dangerous area before you can stop them.

In car parks designed for forward parking – usually where bays are set at an angle to the driving lanes – follow the intended layout. However, whenever possible, apply the best practice of reversing into spaces.

General tips

– Go Slow: Keep manoeuvring speeds extremely low to reduce risks.

– Check Thoroughly: If unsure what’s behind, get out and look or ask for assistance.

– Prioritise Safety Over Convenience: Always consider what offers the safest outcome for you and those around you.

Drivers who park conscientiously not only protect themselves but also demonstrate respect for other road users. Responsible parking starts with good habits – do you practise them?

Safe driving!

Jeremy Fox is a British driving and road safety expert. Since 2009, he has managed the driver-training operations of Technical & Administrative Training Institute. He considers it his privilege to have contributed to Oman’s improved road safety.