How to avoid bad parking habits

Cars are arriving. The streets are packed with people and parking lots are notorious for lack of parking spaces. It often takes several minutes to find an empty seat. Sometimes there is a temptation to leave the car anywhere.

Traffic rules explain where you can and where you can not stop. It is allowed to stop and park the vehicle only in such a place and in such conditions, under which it is visible from a sufficient distance to other drivers and does not impede the movement of traffic and does not endanger safety.

Don't park there!

There is no need to remind about the prohibition of parking at railway and tram crossings, intersections, pedestrian crossings, roads and bicycle paths. You should not stop there (or less than 10 meters from them), let alone park. The same is true for tunnels, bridges and viaducts, bus stops and bays. It is also prohibited to stop or park a vehicle on a motorway or expressway in a place other than that designated for that purpose. If the immobilization of the vehicle occurred for technical reasons, it is necessary to remove the vehicle from the road and warn other road users.

For incorrect parking, in places where it interferes with the movement of other vehicles or creates a safety hazard, in addition to a fine and demerit points, the car can also be towed. This "pleasure" can cost us dearly. In addition, in order to complete the necessary formalities, we will have to find a lot of time and be patient.

Do not take a seat for the disabled

Parking spaces for people with disabilities are usually located closer to the entrance to an office or a shopping center. They are also often slightly wider than other parking spaces. All this to make it easier for them to get in and out of the car, as well as to get to their destination. Unfortunately, due to the good location, these places sometimes “seduce” other drivers…

If you do not have the right to do so, never park your car in a disabled area, even if it is the only available parking space at the moment. After all, you don’t know if a car with a person who has the right to this place does not arrive in 2-3 minutes. If you take them, you can prevent her from handling an important and urgent matter. You could walk a few steps, if you parked the car a block away from her, she wouldn't do it.

There is no need to remind about a fine of 500 zlotys for illegal parking in a place for the disabled or even the possibility of evacuating a car ...

Do not block garage doors and driveways

You are driving around the city in search of a parking space. From afar, the gap between the cars is visible. You drive closer, and there is the entrance gate. Don't be tempted by simple parking. It doesn’t matter if you leave literally “for a minute” - when you are not in the car, perhaps the property owner wants to leave as soon as possible, for example, to work, see a doctor or arrange other urgent matters. If you block him, not only can there be an unpleasant exchange of opinions upon his return. You will also have to reckon with the fact that the property owner can call the police or the municipal police. Therefore, remember that when parking, in no case should you block the garage doors and exits.

It's the same in the parking lot, when all the seats are occupied and you have to jump out to do something, don't bother anyone to leave. Don't park too close to other cars - always leave enough room on the side for someone else to open the door and get out.

During peak shopping periods, such as before Christmas, shopping malls and malls, and of course their parking lots, are under siege. Unfortunately, then there may be drivers who do not want to go to the entrance from the farthest corner of the parking lot and stop the car in the exit aisle. Thus, they can delay the departure of others even by tens of minutes or more. The need to go around the car standing on the alley makes you sway and leads to huge traffic jams. Such parking is one of the most selfish and burdensome behaviors of drivers.

Occupy only one seat!

You can write endlessly about drivers occupying two or more parking spaces. There will always be someone who will "saddle" the car, blocking two places - he was in such a hurry that he did not want to correct the car and drive correctly between the two lines. There are also those who park in parallel between cars perpendicular to the road, occupying three or more spaces!

Selfish drivers also appear where parking spaces are not clearly marked (white lines). When they park their car, they arrange it so that only they are happy. For example, the distance between their car and the next one is large, but at the same time too narrow for the next vehicle to park there. And it was enough to move the car a little to the side, in the opposite direction, to leave room for someone who would come later.

Or vice versa - the distance is too small and the driver, who will return in a few minutes and want to leave, will not even be able to get into his car, let alone leave.

So whenever you park, think about where others will park their car and how they will leave the parking lot.

If you must stop on the road

It happens that there are no specially designated parking spaces nearby, and you are forced to park on the road. In order not to interfere with the passage of other drivers, and at the same time comply with the regulations, it is necessary to position the car as close as possible to the right edge of the road and, of course, parallel to it.

In turn, on the road in an undeveloped area, if possible, try to park the car near the road.

When you park on the sidewalk

Parking on the sidewalk is allowed only if traffic signs do not prohibit it. When stopping a car on a pavement that is de facto intended for pedestrians, it is absolutely necessary to remember to leave room for them to pass unhindered. Unfortunately, there are times when a car sometimes completely blocks the passage, so pedestrians have to bypass it, going out onto the road.

When parking on the sidewalk, always stand at the edge of the road, leaving one and a half meters for pedestrians to pass freely. Otherwise, you can count on a fine of PLN 100 and get one penalty point. If you are in doubt about whether you will block the passage, you can easily check this. It is enough to measure the distance in steps - 1,5 meters is usually two steps.

There is another aspect of pavement blocking. If you leave too little room for pedestrians, for example, a parent pushing a stroller could accidentally scratch your car when they try to squeeze through the narrow passage you left for them. Yes, and I would not want to - paint corrections are one of the cheapest, because they do not belong to ...

Don't destroy the greens

It is forbidden to park in green areas (lawns), and non-compliance with the rules may result in a fine. This also applies to places where other cars have even completely devastated the beautiful lawn. A green zone is a green zone, no matter what state it is in - whether it is covered with well-groomed greenery or more like an earthen floor.

Remember the signs!

Often road signs tell you where and how to park. As a driver, you must follow these rules.

You can definitely park in places marked with a blue sign with a white letter "P" - Parking. They usually also have a sign indicating how the vehicle should be positioned (for example, perpendicular, parallel, or oblique to the road).

On the other hand, you cannot park in places where there is a sign "No Parking" (a blue circle in a red border, crossed out by one line) and "Stopping is prohibited" (a blue circle in a red border, crossed out by two intersecting lines). It is worth remembering that both of these signs are valid on the side of the road on which they are placed, and are canceled at the intersection. If they do not have a sign saying “Does not apply to the sidewalk”, they are valid not only on the road, but also on the side of the road and on the sidewalk. In addition, they may also have a white plate with a black arrow: an upward arrow indicates the beginning of the sign, an arrow pointing down indicates the end of the sign, and a vertical arrow with dots at both ends indicates the beginning of the sign. the ban continues, and the horizontal arrow indicates that the ban applies to the entire square.

Signal early

If you plan to park your car, turn on the indicator in time. For the person following you, this will be a message that you are looking for a parking space, and not that you are driving at a speed of 20-30 km / h just to annoy other road users. During peak hours, every driver can have enough shattered nerves ...

"Do not do to another..."

You know better than anyone how badly parked cars can interfere with traffic. You definitely get annoyed when you see cars taking up multiple parking spaces because you have nowhere to stand. It is also a hassle to avoid cars that are closer to the center of the road than the right edge, or those that brake at the last moment and turn on the turn signal to enter a parking space. Therefore, avoid bad habits when parking - "do not do to others what you do not like ...".