How to Use Parking Lot Etiquette
Use your turn signal., Park only in designated spaces., Do not block other parking space seekers while you wait for a space to open up near the store entrance., Center your vehicle in its parking space., Pull your vehicle all the way into the...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Use your turn signal.
Signaling to others when reaching a desired parking spot will reduce unnecessary confusion in the parking lot.
It is often thought that when two cars reach a parking spot at the same time from opposite directions, the one that turns their turn signal on first, claims the spot. -
Step 2: Park only in designated spaces.
Parking along the curb, with the exception of loading zones, or for loading a heavy item or helping a less mobile individual with their load is annoying and often dangerous. , The drivers in the cars behind you may be finished with their errands, and are ready to head for work or home.
If the person is already pulling out, that's one thing.
But if you're sitting there while they walk to the car, waiting while they put their bags in the car, etc. you'll be trying the patience of every other car behind you, especially if they can't go around you. , Overhanging the stripes will tend to crowd the driver who parks in the adjacent space, and frequently leads to door dings in the paint of cars.
Know how to Park a Truck or Large Vehicle neatly if you have one, or if your vehicle is large in relation to your local parking spaces because they are too small. , This makes it easier for other drivers to see past your car when they are backing out of adjacent spaces, and also gives the widest possible driving lane between spaces.
This can be particularly helpful when shoppers pushing loaded carts are sharing the driving lane with moving vehicles.
The exception would be a very small compact or sub-compact vehicle.
With small cars such as a Mini Cooper or Smart, parking so that the back end of your car is equal with the cars beside you lets drivers know that the space is occupied and does not give the false impression that the parking spot is vacant. , do not pull so far forward that your car cannot be seen as a person drives down the lane, looking for a spot.
Pull into the spot, out of the lane of traffic, but not so far that your car is unable to be seen from the lane.
You may be saving yourself damage from someone who sees the "open" space and pulls in a BIT too quickly. , In crowded, busy parking lots, special compact car spaces are becoming more common.
Standard parking spaces are generally 9 feet (2.7Â m) wide while compact car spaces are only 7 feet (2.1Â m) wide.
Obviously, a large SUV or Pickup will not fit easily in a compact car space, and quite simply put, they are not supposed to. , Small cars parked between larger vehicles like vans and SUVs often have to back blindly out of their spaces, so be alert and give them a break.
If you are walking past a car in this situation, pause for a moment and guide the driver out of the tight spot if you are able. , You are not likely to be pulled over by the police, but there are laws regarding operating a motor vehicle in a public parking lot, just as there are on the highway.
Here are some things to watch for.
Posted speed limits.
Many large parking lots do have posted speed limits, these are for the safety of pedestrians and other drivers, please note and obey them.
One Way signs and markings.
In parking lots with diagonal spaces, individual lanes may be one way, most often marked with a directional arrow painted on the pavement at the end of each lane.
Even if the lane is not marked, you may be safe to assume the lane is one way if the diagonal spaces are oriented in the same direction on both sides.
Stop and Yield signs.
These serve the same purpose in parking lots they serve on city streets, allowing the right-of-way to a vehicle driving in a certain lane or direction, and should be obeyed.
Handicapped and elderly spaces.
Handicapped parking spaces are generally clearly marked with signs and special striping, and are wider than regular spaces to accommodate wheel chairs.
They are located near disabled ramps, usually very close to the business's entrance.
If you do not require the use of these spaces, and do not have a permit, park somewhere else.
Pedestrian crosswalks.
These are common near the main entrances and exits of most large businesses, for the safety of pedestrians returning to their cars.
They are usually marked with diagonal white or yellow stripes, and often also are marked with a pedestrian crossing or stop sign.
Turn signals.
Using turn signals gives other drivers an idea what your intentions are, use them in a timely manner to indicate what you are doing. , These receivers, usually made of heavy steel and often with sharp corners, can be dangerous to inattentive pedestrians trying to walk as close to parked vehicles as possible to give drivers more room. , This is very important where landscaped areas are within the curb boundaries, since jumping the curb may damage plants and irrigation components. , Driving at highway, or even street speeds, in a parking lot filled with puddles of rainwater can inundate a passing pedestrian, or even another driver who is traveling with their window down.
It also makes it harder to stop quickly if a child should run out or a wayward cart start rolling across your path. , You may feel like they were discourteous, but showing grace, rather than anger, shows more class and prevents reciprocal aggression.
See How to Release Anger and How to Respond to a Road Raged Driver. ,, Not only is it dangerous in busy parking lots, but a loaded shopping cart in a hilly parking lot can end up crashing into and damaging someone's vehicle.
Children should also not be allowed to ride the cart back to the vehicle, with the exception of small toddlers or infants riding in the special seat built into many shopping carts, while a parent has both hands on the handle. , This will help protect them from inattentive drivers, and make the parking lot safer for everyone. , For example, there are often employee lots reserved for certain employees or for those who have served a set length of employment as a reward.
Know about these cordoned off parks before selecting a spot in which to leave your vehicle for the business day., This includes speed, distance, and size of parking space before pulling your vehicle into the selected spot.
Be aware that in many business parking lots, parking is not the only activity, but there may be a lot of loads being unloaded and packed, in tall vehicles, that can make it more congested and difficult to see your way clear.
This makes it even more important to be very careful and follow the parking lot instructions, for your own safety and for the safety of other workers., Going the wrong way causes accidents, while parking in no parking zones can impact loading and packing operations.
It may also mean that your car registration is called out over the intercom and you have to sheepishly leave a meeting to move your car.
For parking lots with two entrances/exits, one is usually the entrance and one is the exit.
Pay close attention to this, as various lots will have selected parking spots along the entrance.
When parking in these spots, pull all the way in, with the direction of traffic. , Nobody likes to see trash blowing around the parking lot as they walk to and from the business, so stow the empty fast food wrappers, ashtray contents, drink bottles, and other potential debris until you have access to a waste receptacle.
This should also apply to sales fliers and business literature, including that which is conveniently posted underneath windshield wiper blades while you are searching for your latest bargain. , Many large stores have cart corrals for shopping carts when the customer is finished unloading them.
Putting the carts in these locations will make it less likely the cart you were using will end up denting someone else's car. -
Step 3: Do not block other parking space seekers while you wait for a space to open up near the store entrance.
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Step 4: Center your vehicle in its parking space.
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Step 5: Pull your vehicle all the way into the space.
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Step 6: Don't pull too far forward If you drive a small car (Honda Fit
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Step 7: Smart Car
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Step 8: KIA Rio
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Step 9: Never force your car into a space.
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Step 10: Watch for drivers backing out of blind spots.
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Step 11: Observe the legal aspects of driving in a parking lot.
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Step 12: Remove trailer hitch receivers if they hang out of the parking place.
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Step 13: Avoid curb hopping.
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Step 14: Slow down in the rain.
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Step 15: Resist temptation to blow the horn (or give the finger) to other drivers.
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Step 16: When parking in a spot and opening doors
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Step 17: be aware of vehicle on each side of you as to not hit the doors and producing dings
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Step 18: scratches or dents
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Step 19: as these can be very costly to repair.
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Step 20: Never let small children push the shopping cart for you.
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Step 21: Keep children under control walking through parking lots.
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Step 22: Be mindful of any specific parking rules your business office may have.
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Step 23: Once selecting a spot
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Step 24: make sure to follow all the rules explained in previous sections.
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Step 25: Be particularly mindful of parking arrows designating traffic within the lot a certain direction and no parking zones.
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Step 26: Keep the parking lot clean.
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Step 27: Park shopping carts
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Step 28: dollies
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Step 29: and baskets in designated areas.
Detailed Guide
Signaling to others when reaching a desired parking spot will reduce unnecessary confusion in the parking lot.
It is often thought that when two cars reach a parking spot at the same time from opposite directions, the one that turns their turn signal on first, claims the spot.
Parking along the curb, with the exception of loading zones, or for loading a heavy item or helping a less mobile individual with their load is annoying and often dangerous. , The drivers in the cars behind you may be finished with their errands, and are ready to head for work or home.
If the person is already pulling out, that's one thing.
But if you're sitting there while they walk to the car, waiting while they put their bags in the car, etc. you'll be trying the patience of every other car behind you, especially if they can't go around you. , Overhanging the stripes will tend to crowd the driver who parks in the adjacent space, and frequently leads to door dings in the paint of cars.
Know how to Park a Truck or Large Vehicle neatly if you have one, or if your vehicle is large in relation to your local parking spaces because they are too small. , This makes it easier for other drivers to see past your car when they are backing out of adjacent spaces, and also gives the widest possible driving lane between spaces.
This can be particularly helpful when shoppers pushing loaded carts are sharing the driving lane with moving vehicles.
The exception would be a very small compact or sub-compact vehicle.
With small cars such as a Mini Cooper or Smart, parking so that the back end of your car is equal with the cars beside you lets drivers know that the space is occupied and does not give the false impression that the parking spot is vacant. , do not pull so far forward that your car cannot be seen as a person drives down the lane, looking for a spot.
Pull into the spot, out of the lane of traffic, but not so far that your car is unable to be seen from the lane.
You may be saving yourself damage from someone who sees the "open" space and pulls in a BIT too quickly. , In crowded, busy parking lots, special compact car spaces are becoming more common.
Standard parking spaces are generally 9 feet (2.7Â m) wide while compact car spaces are only 7 feet (2.1Â m) wide.
Obviously, a large SUV or Pickup will not fit easily in a compact car space, and quite simply put, they are not supposed to. , Small cars parked between larger vehicles like vans and SUVs often have to back blindly out of their spaces, so be alert and give them a break.
If you are walking past a car in this situation, pause for a moment and guide the driver out of the tight spot if you are able. , You are not likely to be pulled over by the police, but there are laws regarding operating a motor vehicle in a public parking lot, just as there are on the highway.
Here are some things to watch for.
Posted speed limits.
Many large parking lots do have posted speed limits, these are for the safety of pedestrians and other drivers, please note and obey them.
One Way signs and markings.
In parking lots with diagonal spaces, individual lanes may be one way, most often marked with a directional arrow painted on the pavement at the end of each lane.
Even if the lane is not marked, you may be safe to assume the lane is one way if the diagonal spaces are oriented in the same direction on both sides.
Stop and Yield signs.
These serve the same purpose in parking lots they serve on city streets, allowing the right-of-way to a vehicle driving in a certain lane or direction, and should be obeyed.
Handicapped and elderly spaces.
Handicapped parking spaces are generally clearly marked with signs and special striping, and are wider than regular spaces to accommodate wheel chairs.
They are located near disabled ramps, usually very close to the business's entrance.
If you do not require the use of these spaces, and do not have a permit, park somewhere else.
Pedestrian crosswalks.
These are common near the main entrances and exits of most large businesses, for the safety of pedestrians returning to their cars.
They are usually marked with diagonal white or yellow stripes, and often also are marked with a pedestrian crossing or stop sign.
Turn signals.
Using turn signals gives other drivers an idea what your intentions are, use them in a timely manner to indicate what you are doing. , These receivers, usually made of heavy steel and often with sharp corners, can be dangerous to inattentive pedestrians trying to walk as close to parked vehicles as possible to give drivers more room. , This is very important where landscaped areas are within the curb boundaries, since jumping the curb may damage plants and irrigation components. , Driving at highway, or even street speeds, in a parking lot filled with puddles of rainwater can inundate a passing pedestrian, or even another driver who is traveling with their window down.
It also makes it harder to stop quickly if a child should run out or a wayward cart start rolling across your path. , You may feel like they were discourteous, but showing grace, rather than anger, shows more class and prevents reciprocal aggression.
See How to Release Anger and How to Respond to a Road Raged Driver. ,, Not only is it dangerous in busy parking lots, but a loaded shopping cart in a hilly parking lot can end up crashing into and damaging someone's vehicle.
Children should also not be allowed to ride the cart back to the vehicle, with the exception of small toddlers or infants riding in the special seat built into many shopping carts, while a parent has both hands on the handle. , This will help protect them from inattentive drivers, and make the parking lot safer for everyone. , For example, there are often employee lots reserved for certain employees or for those who have served a set length of employment as a reward.
Know about these cordoned off parks before selecting a spot in which to leave your vehicle for the business day., This includes speed, distance, and size of parking space before pulling your vehicle into the selected spot.
Be aware that in many business parking lots, parking is not the only activity, but there may be a lot of loads being unloaded and packed, in tall vehicles, that can make it more congested and difficult to see your way clear.
This makes it even more important to be very careful and follow the parking lot instructions, for your own safety and for the safety of other workers., Going the wrong way causes accidents, while parking in no parking zones can impact loading and packing operations.
It may also mean that your car registration is called out over the intercom and you have to sheepishly leave a meeting to move your car.
For parking lots with two entrances/exits, one is usually the entrance and one is the exit.
Pay close attention to this, as various lots will have selected parking spots along the entrance.
When parking in these spots, pull all the way in, with the direction of traffic. , Nobody likes to see trash blowing around the parking lot as they walk to and from the business, so stow the empty fast food wrappers, ashtray contents, drink bottles, and other potential debris until you have access to a waste receptacle.
This should also apply to sales fliers and business literature, including that which is conveniently posted underneath windshield wiper blades while you are searching for your latest bargain. , Many large stores have cart corrals for shopping carts when the customer is finished unloading them.
Putting the carts in these locations will make it less likely the cart you were using will end up denting someone else's car.
About the Author
Amy Edwards
Enthusiastic about teaching practical skills techniques through clear, step-by-step guides.
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