About riding

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 shown in this section.

Safe parking rules

By law, you must follow these rules when parking:

  • Indicate for at least three seconds before slowing down to park.
  • Park parallel to the road and as close to the left as possible, unless you are 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.
  • Always check for passing vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians before opening your door.
  • Be careful when pulling out of a parking space. Don't forget to:
    • check for vehicles
    • signal for at least three seconds before pulling out.
  • A motor 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

Following the guidelines below will ensure that when you park your vehicle it won't move forward or backwards.

Parking a motorcycle safely requires some thought. 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. See Safe riding tips for more information.

Parking on a steep hill can be difficult. When facing downhill the advice for a car driver is to turn the front wheels towards the kerb. Doing this with a motorcycle and placing it on the side stand 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 is best for your motorcycle. It should be stable and easy to lift off 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.

Make sure the surface you are parking on will support the side stand.

Some places have parking areas reserved for motorcycles.

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Last updated: 5 October 2009