Chapter 3: Parking Rules

Properly parking a vehicle is a fundamental skill that ensures safety, maintains traffic flow, and allows access for emergency services. Illegally parked vehicles can create dangerous blind spots for other drivers and pedestrians, obstruct fire hydrants, and cause significant congestion. Mastering Illinois parking regulations is crucial for avoiding costly fines and towing, passing the driver’s license exam, and being a responsible member of the driving community.

General Parking Rules

Whenever a driver parks a vehicle, they must ensure it is secure and parked in a legally designated manner. This involves several key steps and an understanding of different parking scenarios.

Securing the Vehicle

Before leaving a parked vehicle, a driver must:

1. Stop the engine.
2. Set the parking brake (also known as the emergency brake).
3. Place the vehicle in “Park” (for automatic transmissions) or in gear (for manual transmissions).
4. Lock the ignition and remove the key.
5. Lock all doors to prevent theft.