Chapter 3: Parking Rules

Knowing how to park a vehicle legally and safely is a fundamental driving skill that is crucial for both the driver’s test and everyday road courtesy. Proper parking prevents collisions, ensures the smooth flow of traffic, and guarantees that emergency vehicles have the access they need. Misunderstanding these rules can lead to costly fines, towing, and dangerous situations for pedestrians and other drivers.

Parking is the act of stopping and leaving a vehicle unattended. Oregon law specifies how, where, and when a driver may legally park. These regulations cover everything from the correct way to position a vehicle on a hill to absolute prohibitions on parking in certain areas, such as near fire hydrants or in spaces reserved for persons with disabilities.

General Parking Rules

Whenever a driver parks a vehicle, they must ensure it is secure and correctly positioned for the type of parking space.

Securing the Vehicle

Before leaving a parked vehicle, a driver must always set the parking brake firmly. For automatic transmissions, the vehicle should be placed in “Park.” For manual transmissions, it should be left in gear (typically first gear or reverse). This provides a backup system in case the parking brake fails.

Parking on a Hill

The direction a vehicle’s front wheels are turned when parking on a hill is critical to prevent it from rolling into traffic. There are four scenarios: