Parking is always one of the biggest problems every driver has even needed attention. In a shopping mall or large buildings, the shortage of space is inevitable. And now you will need to travel far to find a suitable location.
But if you suddenly find an empty area many other vehicles do not park in, be careful. Because the place you choose is likely to have a compact parking sign and you will be in trouble if you stop here
So what does compact parking mean? Why is there such a sign, and what will the consequences be if we park here? The answers to the above questions will all be in today’s article. Please read each item carefully to get the most accurate information.
What is Compact Parking meaning?
Compact parking spaces are reserved only for compact vehicles with dimensions within the standards prescribed by each code. This area was created to make it easier for modest car designs to find parking.
In addition, the arrangement of compact parking is also a way to save space. Areas left out after the parking line was marked can now become boxes for compact cars. It is also why the crowded city parking lot always has close parking.
The cost for these modest spaces is also much cheaper. So instead of competing with larger vehicles, you will quickly get the stop position at the most suitable price.
Who can park there?
Anyone can use these parking spaces except for compact parking spaces in isolated areas. As long as you are driving a compact car and have paid a total fee, this position is for you.
But if we accidentally or intentionally park at this location with unsuitable models, we will be subject to various punishments. Depending on each parking lot, there will be different types of sanctions for this violation. So consider carefully so as not to spend much time and money on your carelessness.
What Is Compact Car?
Compact car is a general term for compact cars. However, each region will have its classification instead of using the same system.
In Europe, a compact is any vehicle less than 4m in length, regardless of type or cost. In North America, the standards are more straightforward. Because the car only needs to be below average in size, it can be considered a compact car.
If the above standards are combined, some models, such as Honda Civic and Ford Focus, exist. And the Toyota Corolla is fitting to see as compact. In addition, several vehicles from other brands will provide the classification in Europe or North America alone.
So you need to clearly distinguish the rating system in the place where you live so as not to confuse when parking.
How Much Smaller Are Compact Only Spaces?
The compact car parking space dimensions would be about 160 square feet. However, this number can range from 134 to 178 square feet depending on the design of each area.
Compared to a common parking area of nearly 225 square feet, compact parking is up to 25% smaller. So it will not be difficult for us to distinguish both types of positions with the naked eye. But if only glimpsed or through the car’s camera, the confusion is hard to avoid.
So you should look carefully at the warning signs before entering any parking area. If you are unsure, get off the car to assess whether you have stopped in the compact parking by mistake.
Will A Standard Size Car Fit Into These Spaces?
Two factors determine whether a regular-sized vehicle can park in tight parking areas. If you can handle both of these problems, you will still be able to use the above particular location to park your car.
Separator type
There are two main types of separators used by many parking lots: hard and soft.
With a hard separator, it will be difficult for you to bring a vehicle of different sizes into the interior area. These constructions are solid when made of hard plastic, iron, or steel. And deliberately crashing or pressing on the divider will cause severe damage to your vehicle.
If you only have to encounter soft separators such as a rubber platform or even a painted line, you can easily pass and park your car in. Of course, this is still illegal because this is not the correct position.
Evaluation Criteria
As I mentioned earlier in the article, each region will have a relatively different standard for compact cars. From there, the size of the tight parking space will also have a lot of difference. Sometimes, you can fit a car in North America but not in European countries, and vice versa.
You can try backing up if you know the rules and are in a different place from the familiar parking lots. There is still a certain proportion that our seemingly standard-size vehicle can fit into a compact parking space.
Is It Illegal To Park In A Compact Only Space If You Don’t Drive A Compact?
Dumping in the wrong place will always be a violation, even if there is no mention of this in the area’s law. However, in terms of penalties, you still need to base on who has the right to handle violations
- There are established laws: If the site you are parking in the wrong way has a law prohibiting this, we will have to pay the appropriate fee. In many cases, the police can imprison your car or confiscate your driver’s license for a certain period
- There are no rules: The decision will be on compact car parking requirements. However, there are still cases where you will not be subject to any penalty.
How Do You Know If A Parking Space Is Compact Only Or Not?
You can base on two factors, the size, and the available signs, to know whether an area is compact parking.
Of these two methods, I recommend looking at the signs first. Estimating the actual space size will be difficult if you sit in the car. Instead, we need to carefully observe the notices on signposts or even on the ground to be able to distinguish them.
In addition, you can also consult in advance by looking at the map of the parking layout or asking the staff directly if they are available. This information will help us easily distinguish and recognize compact parking.
What are the Three Types of Parking Spaces?
There are three types of parking lot space layouts. The different ones you can find are angled parking, parallel parking, and perpendicular parking. Each arrangement has its advantages and disadvantages to consider when choosing.
Angled Parking
With angled parking lots, you will need to move the car up at an angle of about 30 degrees before you can enter the space inside. If you are new to driving, you must slow down to ensure safety. And make the most of support mechanisms like the RAV4 Hold button.
This diagonal arrangement is quite popular in big cities because of its excellent space-saving ability compared to the other two ways. However, in the driver’s position, parking in angled parking lots always requires concentration because there are too many blind spots.
Parallel Parking
Parallel parking is a challenge both in real life and in driving tests. With each vehicle parked like the other in a vertical line, you need to align it very accurately to get the car into the gap in the middle.
Even a tiny mistake can cause collisions and unnecessary accidents. So you will need the support of modern tools to perform the best stopping and parking in parallel parking lots.
Perpendicular Parking
Many parking lots use Perpendicular Parking because it is easy to arrange and does not cause difficulties for drivers. The perpendicular arrangement can be a waste of space. But these gaps are the right places to observe from their type of dead removal corners. And the parking has also since become a lot simpler.
How to Park safely in a Compact Parking Space?
Here are the experiences I have learned during parking in areas with relatively limited space, such as compact parking. Please refer to these shares carefully, and you will be able to drive safer
- Always use low speed to advance or reverse into a parking position. You will get more time to deal with any adverse situation.
- Take a close look at your surroundings to make sure no obstructions or other vehicles are getting in your way when parking
- Watch closely for pedestrians or objects that may pass suddenly. You can take advantage of the rear cameras to get the best view.
- Try not to encroach on the dividing line or similar functions to avoid unnecessary collisions.
FAQs
Is a sedan a compact car?
In many places, the rating system still considers sedans compact cars thanks to their compact size. There are exceptions, of course, but you don’t need to care. Very few places use a set of standards that are too different from the common ground.
Is Toyota Camry a compact car?
Camry is one of the most miniature models Toyota has ever introduced after the famous Corolla line. With a size equal to or smaller than a mid-range car’s standard size, you can consider the Camry as a compact car.
What makes a vehicle compact?
There will not be a common standard for the parameters a compact vehicle should have. However, many people still agree that models with 100-109 cubic feet capacity and a length of 161 to 187 inches are compact.
How wide is a standard car?
According to many studies, the average width of standard models will be 5.8 feet. The number will probably be more significant with SUV models, but the difference is still less than you imagine.
Conclusion
Through today’s article, I have shared the meaning of compact parking meaning and the notes to avoid trouble when parking in the wrong place. Make good use of this knowledge to be able to move and dump the vehicle in the right way.