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Where Am I ???

Using Reference Points for Driving and Parking

Copyright: The Educated Driver

The illustrations used in this presentation are a guide to Vehicle Reference Points (VRP), and they will differ slightly from vehicle to

vehicle. However, they are fairly reliable, and it is up to you, the vehicle owner, to determine the PRECISE VRP of your vehicle.

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90% of our decision-making, while driving, is derived from what we see. Unfortunately, we have been instructed for years to “keep your eyes on the road ahead”, which is a vision-fault. Your eyes should be constantly moving, searching for, and identifying, hazards and the driving environment.

One of the biggest neglects in vision training for new drivers , is identifying the vehicle’s actual location, within a lane, next to a curb, or parking. We are going to have a look at how using Visual Reference Points (VRP) can assist you in knowing precisely where you are.



Lane Positioning

For the past several decades, Highway Departments have been moving towards a standard, 12-foot wide lane, to more easily accommodate larger SUV’s and trucks. A new driver tends to feel “crowded” in a lane that generally has 3 feet of space on either side of it, because they haven’t been taught how to reference ahead using sight lines.

This position (centered) in the

lane, is referred to as LP1

(Lane Position 1)



Lane & Curb Positioning

For positioning your vehicle in a lane, you have four basic VRP sightlines, two on the left and two on the right. Each one is designed to put you within either 3-6 inches of the lane-

line or curb, or 3 feet from the lane-line.

To determine YOUR vehicle’s VRP, park in an open area next to a curb or visible line to your left, within 3-6 inches if the line. Exit the vehicle to be sure of your position. Then, sitting in a normal driving position, and without moving your head, look towards the curb and notice where the curb or line intersects with your vehicle. It should be right about where your left headlight, or hood seam, is. This can help you to be centered in a parking space.

Repeat this for parking 3 feet from the line, and you should notice that the point of intersection is just above the left wheel. This VRP will help you to maintain center-of-lane (lane position 1) while driving.



The Circles show the corresponding locations in the drawing, as well as in the photos.

2003 Mitsubishi Galant: VRP is above

the left headlight.4 inches from line.

2003 Mitsubishi Galant: VRP is above the left wheel-well.

3 feet from line.




Since you sit on the left side of the vehicle, right-side VRP’s are a bit more tricky, due to the more extreme angle of the sight-lines.

As you did for the left side VRP, park in an open area next to a curb or visible line to your right, within 3-6 inches if the line. Exit the vehicle to be sure of your position. Then, sitting in a normal driving position, and without moving your head, look towards the curb and notice where the curb or line intersects with your vehicle. It should be right about where the center of your hood is. This can help you to be centered in a parking space.

Repeat this for parking 3 feet from the line, and you should notice that the point of intersection is just above the right headlight. This VRP will help you to maintain center-of-lane (lane position 1) while driving.





2003 Mitsubishi Galant: VRP is above the center of hood.3 inches from line.

2003 Mitsubishi Galant: VRP is above the right headlight.

3 feet from line.



Positioning for Parking

While sitting normally in the driver’s seat, a quick glance at your side-view mirrors can give you a good idea of when to stop, while pulling into a parking spot.

Notice how the front separator line of the parking spaces, or curb, or even the line of “bump-stops” at the end of a parking space, can be seen lining up just beneath the mirrors (or the door hinge-post if there is no mirror on that side).

This will place you about 3-6 inches from the stop. This also works for stop lines at intersections.



Positioning for Stopping

Speaking of stop lines, all 50 states require you to stop with your entire vehicle BEHIND, not ON, the stop line. This VRP with the mirrors can help you to comply with the law.

Sometimes, you can’t see the stop line, then what? At intersections, you will note that the YELLOW line stops AT the white stop line. This can be used as a visual reference in those cases. Also, a STOP line before a crosswalk means stop at the line, NOT at the crosswalk.



Positioning for Parking

Both angled and perpendicular (straight-in) parking, require a slightly different VRP, by using the empty space itself.

For angled parking, keep a distance of roughly 5 feet AWAY from the parking space ends, and for perpendicular parking, about 6-8 feet away.

Drive straight ahead until you can see at least ¾ of the way INTO the parking space; then keep looking at the END of the parking space as you turn into it (we call this looking through the space) for your visual pathway.



Using Reference Points for Driving and Parking

Of course, none of these VRP tips will work if you can’t even sit properly when driving. “Taking in the scene with a gangsta lean” or any improper position while seated, will not allow you to “see” the driving environment, and use the visual references shown here.

Drive like a driver who is educated about his or her skill!


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