Implementation of reverse parking at Woodhill House

Following a decision by the Policy and Resources Committee Woodhill House car park will shortly operate a reverse parking standard in all general parking areas.

Disabled parking bays will be exempt.

This is in line with best practice recommendations for car park safety including those from leading travel and road safety advisory groups.

Some of the reasons why this is the case are as follows:

•Front facing vehicles can be driven out more easily in an emergency situation.

•Pedestrians can be seen more easily when driving forwards.

•Other vehicles can be seen more easily.

•Personnel tend to leave en bloc creating higher vehicle activity – reverse parking minimises possible accidents happening with cars reversing simultaneously.

•A two year survey in the UK carried out by RoSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) showed that organisations who have a reverse parking standard had a far lower incidence rate of minor car park collisions and accidents involving pedestrians.

Persons who will have exemption include:

•Service vehicles with rear opening doors (once loaded normal standards apply).

•Vehicles that are adapted for or used by disabled persons and those that are blue badge holders.

•Persons loading or unloading work-related articles or equipment (temporary exemption for the duration of the task).

Signs will be erected during early November but we would encourage reverse parking in advance of the formal commencement from Monday, November 17, 2014.

It should be noted that the point of a reverse parking policy is to ensure that you are able to leave your parking space by driving forwards – if you are able to take up the space by driving forwards, this is acceptable.

Did you know that you can save up to £2 per week simply by reversing your car into a parking space so you drive away forwards? As well as positioning your vehicle into a safer position to pull away there are benefits to both you and your vehicle. Data from the IAM Motoring Trust shows it takes an average of five minutes for the engine to warm up and the most efficient way to do that is to drive it. Reversing out of a space when the engine is cold uses 20-25 times more petrol. If you do this 10-12 times a week that adds up to £100 a year not to mention avoiding increased wear on your engine.