Parking Paux-Fas… Wait, It’s Faux-Pas

Do you ever enter the parking lot with a sense of dread? Do you hate being in the parking lot, whether you’re a driver or a pedestrian, because of the rude and seemingly incompetent drivers that you are forced to share space with? Well, good thing for you, we have put together a list of the most important elements of parking lot etiquette. Share this with everyone you know – maybe we’ll start a parking lot revolution and soon it will be a joyful place instead of a scary one!

First, you should make sure you park straight in the parking space. Make sure that your vehicle is not only straight in the parking space, but also centered in it. If your vehicle is crooked, it’s harder for not only you but the drivers on either side of your car to get in and out of their own vehicles. It also puts your vehicle at risk of dents, scrapes, or other minor injuries from people impatiently looking and saying “ever seen a straight line before?” before callously opening their doors into your car.

Don’t take up more than one space. If you have a newer car and don’t want to risk your crystal clean and ultra perfect new paint job, park further out where there are fewer cars. Don’t be selfish and keep someone else from a closer spot just because of your paint! If taking up two spaces is just the result of a poor parking job, just pull out and straighten out. Another thing to remember is that if you’re driving a larger vehicle (i.e. a truck), a lot of parking spaces are measured out for smaller vehicles that are narrower than yours. If you find this to be the case in a spot, your best bet is to park farther out so that you have the space you need.

You should really take turns waiting for a parking spot. Don’t The Fast And The Furious: Tokyo Drift into a spot in front of someone who has been waiting for it longer than you! That is just plain rude and can lead to angry driving which in turn can lead to accidents in the parking lot. You will find another open spot, and you’ll be safer for your patience. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson would NOT be proud of you for doing that, either, which honestly for me is enough of a reason to never, never do that thing ever again.

When you’re a pedestrian, make your intentions clear. Don’t walk down the middle of the aisle, and make sure you stay on one side of the aisle. Let the cars driving around the lot know where you are and what you plan on doing, so they have one less thing to worry about and so you don’t put yourself at risk of being hit. If someone is driving a super quiet car, you might not be able to hear them. So you should just assume that there are silent cars around you at all times and walk accordingly.