Parking wrong can get your car towed, block emergency access, or cause a crash. Know where you can park — and how to do it safely.
Where You Cannot Park
Florida law prohibits parking: on a sidewalk or crosswalk; within 15 feet of a fire hydrant; within 20 feet of an intersection or crosswalk; within 20 feet of a fire station entrance; within 50 feet of a railroad crossing; in front of a driveway; on a bridge or in a tunnel; in a handicapped space without a permit; double-parked (next to another parked car); blocking a lane of traffic.
Parking on Hills
When parking uphill with a curb: turn your front wheels AWAY from the curb (left). If your car rolls, the curb will stop it. When parking downhill with a curb: turn your front wheels TOWARD the curb (right). When parking on a hill with NO curb (uphill or downhill): turn your wheels to the RIGHT so the car rolls off the road, not into traffic. Always set your parking brake on a hill.
Parallel Parking
Parallel parking puts your car between two parked cars along the curb. Pull alongside the car in front of the space. Signal right. Back up slowly while turning the steering wheel sharply right. When your car is at about a 45-degree angle, straighten the wheel. Continue backing and turn left to bring the car parallel to the curb. Your car should be within 12 inches of the curb.
Leaving a Parked Position
When leaving a parallel parking space: signal, check mirrors and blind spots for approaching traffic and bicyclists, then pull out slowly. When backing out of a parking space in a lot: back slowly, check all directions, yield to any vehicle or pedestrian in the lane. Always turn your head and look — don't rely only on mirrors or cameras.
Real World Examples
💡 You find a spot near a fire hydrant. You measure — it's only 10 feet away. You can't park there. Move at least 15 feet from the hydrant. Firefighters need quick access, and your car will be towed.
💡 You park facing uphill on a steep street with a curb. You turn your wheels left (away from the curb) and set the parking brake. If the brake fails, the car will roll back and the front tire will catch the curb.
Common Mistakes
⚠ Parking too close to a fire hydrant — must be at least 15 feet away.
⚠ Forgetting to turn wheels when parking on a hill — your car could roll into traffic.
⚠ Parking more than 12 inches from the curb in parallel parking.
Key Takeaways
✔ 15 feet from fire hydrants. 20 feet from intersections. 50 feet from railroads.
✔ Uphill with curb: wheels LEFT. Downhill with curb: wheels RIGHT. No curb: wheels RIGHT.
✔ Parallel park within 12 inches of the curb.
✔ Always set the parking brake on hills.
Vocabulary
parallel parking
بارالل باركنق
وقوف موازي — وقوف سيارتك بين سيارتين ثانيتين على طول الرصيف
PAIR-uh-lel
fire hydrant
فاير هايدرنت
صنبور إطفاء — وصلة مياه بالشارع لرجال الإطفاء — أبداً لا توقف ضمن 15 قدم
fyre HY-drant
parking brake
باركنق بريك
فرامل الوقوف — فرامل منفصلة تمنع السيارة من التدحرج لما تكون واقفة
PAR-king brayk
double parking
دبل باركنق
وقوف مزدوج — الوقوف جنب سيارة واقفة على الرصيف — دايم غير قانوني
DUB-ul PAR-king
handicapped space
هاندي كابد سبيس
مكان معاقين — مكان وقوف محجوز لذوي الاحتياجات الخاصة — يحتاج تصريح خاص
HAN-dee-kapt spays
Test Your Knowledge
Question 1
How far must you park from a fire hydrant?
Question 2
When parking uphill with a curb, you should turn your front wheels:
Question 3
When parallel parking, your car should be within how many inches of the curb?