Reference Points

Place your car within inches of any limit using reference points.

1. Where are the left side tires in
relationship to the bottom of
the curb?

2. Left Side Limit: Left side
tires are 3-6 inches away
from a line or curb

3. Left Side Limit
Standard Reference Point:
1-foot inside the left front corner of
the hood
Used for…
Lane Position 2
Side position for approaching left
turns (no oncoming traffic)
Parking on the left in legal locations

4. Standard Reference Point : 1-foot
inside left front corner of hood

5. Works in any vehicle!
Where are the left side tires
in relationship to the line?

6. Left Side Limit: Left side
tires are 3-6 inches away
from a line

7. Standard Reference Point:
1-foot inside left front corner of hood

8. Even in a car with a scooped hood!
1-foot inside left front corner post

9. Left side tires are 3-6
inches away from a curb

10. Where are the right side tires
in relationship to the bottom
of the curb?

11. Right Side Limit: Right side tires
are 3-6 inches away from a line
or curb

12. Right Side Limit
Standard Reference Point:
The center of the hood
Used for…
Lane Position 3
Parking along side a curb

13. Standard Reference Point Right Side
Limit: The center of the hood

14. Works in any vehicle! Where
are the right side tires in
relationship to the bottom of
the curb?

15. Right Side Limit: Right side tires
are 3-6 inches away from a line
or curb

16. Reference Point Right Side
Limit: The center of the hood or
dash

17. How far are the right
side tires from the
bottom of the curb?
How far from the
curb is the center
of the hood?

18. 3-feet from the right edge

19. Standard Reference Point:
Middle of the right half of the hood
Used for…
Side position for approaching a right
turn
Side position for approaching a back-
in perpendicular park
3 Feet From Right Edge

20. Standard Reference Point :
Middle of the right half of the hood

21. Works in any vehicle!
Where are the right side
tires in relationship to the
bottom of the curb?

22. 3-feet from the right edge

23. Standard Reference Point:
Middle of the right half of the
hood

24. Where is the front bumper in
relationship to the bottom of
the curb?

25. Front Limit: Front bumper is
3-6 inches away from a line
or curb

26. Front Limit
Standard Reference Point:
Side mirrors or corners posts
Used for…
Forward position for legal stops, safety stops, and
beginning sharp turns; forward position for head-in
perpendicular parking

27. It works on both sides in all
vehicles!
Standard Reference Points:
Side mirror or corner post

28. Legal Stop Position:
Beforemarked or
unmarked crosswalks

29. Safety Stop Position:
At the curb line or edge of
roadway to solve any line-
of-sight problems

30. Works on driver and passenger side.
Even different size vehicles
Forward Positionto begin a
sharp turn -What would
block your view at the legal
stop position here?

31. Where is the rear bumper in
relationship to the bottom
of the curb?

32. Rear Limit: Rear bumper is 3-6
inches away from a line or curb

33. Rear Limit
Standard Reference Point:
Approx 1-foot behind door posts or middle of
rear side window
Used for…
backing to a parking line or curb, the rear stop,
search & yield positions for backing turnabouts

34. Standard Reference Points: 1-foot behind
door post or middle of rear side window

35. The Rear Limit: The bottom of the
curb is about a foot behind door
post. The rear bumper is 3-6 inches
away from the bottom of the curb.

36. It works on both sides!1-foot behind
door post or middle of rear side window

37. Standard Reference Points
Center of the Hood
Right Side Limit –Right Tires Position
1 Foot Inside the Left Front Corner of Hood
Left Side Limit –Left Tires Position
Middle of the Right-half of Hood
3 Feet From the Right Edge -Right Tires Position
Corner Post or Side Mirror
Front Limit –Front Bumper Position
1 Foot Behind the Door Post or The Middle of the Rear
Side Window
Rear Limit –Rear Bumper Position