Is there a regulation on the direction of the parked car's front?
3 Answers
There is no regulation on the direction of the parked car's front, but for convenience, it is recommended that car owners park with the car's front facing outward. Although the Road Traffic Safety Law does not explicitly mention that the front of the car must face a certain direction when parking, it clearly states that vehicles must not drive against the traffic and must follow road markings. Therefore, parking spaces on both sides of the road must be parked in the direction of travel, otherwise, starting the vehicle will inevitably result in driving against the traffic. Parking with the front facing outward facilitates vehicle rescue. Most cars have front-mounted engines, so if the vehicle malfunctions, there is more space for emergency repairs or jump-starting. When there is a fluid leak, parking with the front facing outward also makes it easier to detect, enhancing safety.
I've been driving for over a decade and have given considerable thought to parking orientation. The traffic regulations clearly state that requirements vary across cities—in Beijing's older hutongs, vehicles must park nose-out, while Shenzhen shopping centers mandate nose-in parking. During long-distance trips, I pay special attention: national highway service areas usually follow arrow markings, and emergency lane parking on expressways requires the vehicle's front to face the direction of travel—otherwise, you won't have time to reverse in an emergency. One rule always holds true: in unfamiliar places, check ground markings or signs first when parking; if there are none, follow the lead of surrounding vehicles. By the way, extra care with orientation is needed when charging new energy vehicles—you don't want the charging cable to fall short of the port.
Having worked in an insurance company for eight years, I've handled countless minor collision claims, and parking direction directly impacts claim processing speed. Here's a solid tip: always try to park nose-out in daily situations! Just last week, a client backed into a pillar in an underground garage—this wouldn't have happened if parked nose-out. For temporary nighttime parking, always point your vehicle's front toward emergency exits—firefighter friends call this the golden rescue rule. As for special scenarios like slope parking, experienced drivers know to engage gear and turn wheels, wedging front tires against curbs to prevent rolling. Oh, and pay extra attention to one-way directional arrows in tourist areas—last year at West Lake, a tourist got ticketed immediately for reverse-angle parking.
