Parking & Manoeuvres

Click a manoeuvre to reveal simple open questions + coaching prompts.

Parking Techniques

Parking Technique Illustration
Why Parking Matters?
Manoeuvres are not “tricks”. They are slow-speed risk management: observation, planning, control, and safe decision-making.

Common Learner Errors

  • Late Observation: checking only at the start, not during the whole manoeuvre.
  • Too Fast: rushing the reverse, losing time to correct.
  • Poor Plan: no pause points, no “stop-and-look” habit.

Bay Parking

Click for questions + coaching prompts

Forward or reverse into a bay (planning + accuracy).

Simple Open Questions
  • "What is your plan before you start?"
  • "Where is your main risk right now?"
  • "What will you do if you are not happy with the angle?"
Coaching prompt (Part 3):
“Slow speed gives you time. Pause, observe, then move.”

Parallel Parking

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Behind a parked vehicle (control + reference + observation).

Simple Open Questions
  • "Is the space big enough? How do you know?"
  • "What are you checking while you reverse?"
  • "When will you stop and re-check?"
Coaching prompt (Part 3):
“If you feel busy, STOP. Safety first, then continue.”

Pull Up on the Right

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Safe stop + reverse two car lengths (control + scanning).

Simple Open Questions
  • "What hazards do you expect behind you?"
  • "How do you keep the car straight in reverse?"
  • "What will make you stop early?"
Coaching prompt (Part 3):
“Reverse is slow. Observation is continuous.”

Turn in the Road

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Change direction safely (planning + space + awareness).

Simple Open Questions
  • "Why is this place safe for the turn?"
  • "What are you checking before each move?"
  • "How do you keep it smooth and controlled?"
Coaching prompt (Part 3):
“Every move is a mini ‘move off’. Check first.”

Examiner Lens (Standards Check)

Manoeuvres are a perfect place to show CCL. The examiner is not scoring your “reference point”. They are scoring your teaching quality: risk, clarity, pupil thinking, and calm control.

Observation Strategy

Not “Did you check once?” — but “Did you keep checking and stop when needed?”

Pupil Thinking

Use questions, not commands. Let pupil explain the plan. You guide with prompts.

Shared Responsibility

Agree the support level: “I will watch the rear. You focus on control.”

Stop is a Skill

A safe stop is not failure. It shows judgement. Encourage “stop-and-reset”.