KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 13 — Double parking, or parking in a position that blocks other cars, is not a very pleasant thing to do but in Malaysia, it seems quite unavoidable, especially during lunchtime at popular places.
In the pictures here, taken today at a local community hub we have a situation in which one very frustrated car owner was standing by her car, and honking for the owner of the red Proton to come move his or her car which was parked haphazardly, blocking her way out of her parking slot. This went on for almost 30 minutes before she got out. I am sure she was quite furious. I would be too, and people have been known to get violent over things like this.
Well, folks, it you can, do not double park. However, if you really, really have no choice, here are some things that you can do:
1. Be close at hand, within sight of your car
Make sure you are close at hand, and within sight of your car, and keep an eye on it so that you can move your car if required.
2. Leave a note
If you cannot be within sight, leave a note on your car with your hand phone number on your car. This way, the people you are blocking can call you.
3. Keep your car in Neutral and leave the handbrake OFF
Leave your car in NEUTRAL gear, and have your handbrake/Parking brake OFF. The idea here is to allow others to push your car aside to allow another car to get out of a parking slot. Make sure though, that there is sufficient space for your car to move, and ensure that your steering is pointed in the correct position/direction of travel, and of course, that the ground in front and behind your car is level – you do not want to see your car careen down a slope and hit something. I have actually seen this practiced in a corporate parking lot that was very crowded, and it works.
4. If you can help it, DON’T
This last pointer is very important. Double parking is not a very nice thing to do. I would drive around the parking lot to look for an empty space, or wait until somebody vacates a parking slot. I do understand that sometimes, we cannot help it, and I have been guilty of it sometimes, but…
