Parking safely is about signalling your intentions, positioning the car well, and getting in and out without endangering anyone. A few extra rules apply at night and on hills.
Parking and pulling out
Indicate for at least 3 seconds before you slow down to park. Where angle parking isn't marked, park parallel to the road and as close to the left as you can; angle-park only where lines or signs allow, usually driving in forwards. On a road with fast traffic, get as far off the road as possible. Before opening your door, check for passing vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians — and where there's a lot of traffic, get out on the side away from it. Pulling out again, check for vehicles and signal for at least 3 seconds first.
Parking at night
Parked on the road after dark, your vehicle must be clearly visible to others — either lit by street lights, or with the tail lights and the side light nearest the centre of the road turned on. A light, flat-decked vehicle parked on the street at night must show a red rear light on the side closest to the centre of the road, visible at 100 m.
Parking on a hill and angle parks
On a steep road, turn the front wheels towards the kerb, leave it in reverse (manual) or park (automatic), and put the handbrake on. Where angle parks are marked at 90 degrees to the kerb, you may reverse in or drive in forwards — reversing in gives you better visibility when you leave.