Parking Location
I would like to discuss the issue of park points for relays along your park and loop route on a daily basis. I cover both the Triboro District and the Long Island District and one of those districts after you have a motor vehicle accident does an accident review board. At the accident review board is the Safety Specialist, the postmaster and or the supervisor that did the accident investigation, the carrier that was involved with the accident and a union representative. When I am present for these reviews and it involve a motor vehicle accident that occurred when a carrier was pulling away from a parking spot or curb the first question that the safety specialist asks is where you parked at a legal parking spot? Because if you weren’t you are at fault immediately no matter what.
According to the M-41 Handbook section 323.2 Parking Points and Route Patterns 323.21 Route patterns are set up to provide for as few vehicle moves as possible. The ideal location for parking points is at an intersection of two streets where four relays may be carried without the need for a vehicle move. Many variations are possible depending on mail volumes, terrain, curb line boxes, traffic, safety, average lot frontage and eliminating deadheading. If you see I highlighted safety. Too many times I hear carriers talk about parking their postal vehicle in an unsafe location. If you drive to your relay park point and there is no legal parking spot for you to park don’t park in no parking zone, don’t park at a fire hydrant, don’t park at a bus stop, don’t park in a handicapped parking spot, and don’t double park you vehicle! I have been involved with carriers that had their postal vehicle parked at a bus stop, they are delivering mail someone rear ends their vehicle and they were at fault because they were parked in a no parking zone or an illegal parking spot.
When management is conducting a route inspection or they are walking your route with you where do you park your vehicle when they are with you? I’m sure it is not at a parking spot that is illegal. If you can’t find a legal parking spot when you get to your park point don’t park in a spot that will get you into trouble. Drive around and look for a safe legal spot to park your vehicle. If this takes you longer to complete you assignment do the following: notify management that you will be late due to looking for legal parking spot(s) on the following relays, complete a PS form 3996 when you return to the office explaining the reason why you were late was due to looking for a safe park point at the following locations.
The following is some of the New York State Law on parking:
• Do not park in front of a public or private driveway
• Do not park within twenty feet of a cross walk at an intersection, unless a different distance is indicated by official signs, markings or parking meters
• Do not park within thirty feet upon the approach to any flashing signal, stop or yield sign or traffic-control signal located at the side of the roadway, unless a different distance is indicated by official signs, markings or parking meters
• Do not park within twenty feet of the driveway entrance to any fire station and, when on the side of the street opposite to the entrance of any fire station, within seventy-five feet of said entrance, when properly sign posted, unless a different distance is indicated by official signs, markings or parking meters
• Do not park alongside or obstructing a curb area which has been cut down, lowered or constructed so as to provide accessibility to the sidewalk
• Do not park a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading merchandise or passengers, within fifty feet of the nearest rail or a railroad crossing, unless a different distance is indicated by official signs, markings or parking meters
• No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle within fifteen feet of a fire hydrant except when such vehicle is attended by a licensed operator or chauffer who is seated in the front seat and who can immediately move such vehicle in case of emergency, unless a different distance is indicated by official signs, markings or parking meters
• No person shall move a vehicle not lawfully under his control into any prohibited area or away from a curb such distance as is unlawful
• Except where angle parking is authorized, every vehicle stopped, standing, or parked wholly upon a two-way roadway shall be stopped, standing, or parked with the right-hand wheels of such vehicle parallel to and within twelve inches of the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway
• Except where angle parking is authorized, every vehicle stopped, standing, or parked wholly upon a one-way roadway shall be stopped, standing, or parked parallel to the curb or edge of the roadway, in the direction of authorized traffic moment, which its right-hand wheels within twelve inches of the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway, or its left-hand wheels within twelve inches of the left-hand curb or edge of the roadway
• Except where angle parking is authorized, every vehicle stopped, standing, or parked partly upon a roadway shall be so stopped, standing, or parked parallel to the curb or edge of the roadway. On a one-way roadway such vehicle shall be facing in the direction of authorized traffic movement; on a two-way roadway such vehicle shall be facing in the direction of authorized traffic movement on that portion of the roadway on which the vehicle rests.
• Do not park on a cross walk
• Do not park between a safety zone and the adjacent curb or within thirty feet of points on the curb immediately opposite the ends of a safety zone, unless a different distance is indicated by official signs, markings or parking meters.
• Do not park alongside or opposite any street excavation or obstruction when stopping, standing or parking would obstruct traffic.
• Do not park upon any bridge or other elevated structure upon a highway or within a highway tunnel, unless otherwise indicated by official signs, markings or parking meters.
• Do not park on any railroad tracks.
• Do not park in the area between roadways of a divided highway, including crossovers, except in an emergency.
• Do not park on a state expressway highway or state interstate route highway, including the entrances thereto and exits there from, which are a part thereof, except in an emergency.
• So the next time you deliver your mail make sure that you are parked in a legal parking spot. It is your responsibility to do so!
