Parallel parking is a challenging aspect of learning to park a car, but it’s essential to pass a driving test. Practice is key, and it’s best to start in a quiet area before attempting it on a busy street. Use your mirrors and turn your head to look behind and to the sides. Some cars have automatic sensors or rear cameras to assist with parallel parking.
Parallel parking is perhaps one of the most challenging aspects of learning to park a car, and since it is frequently tested on driving tests, you absolutely have to learn how to do it correctly to get a passing grade and your license. The term parallel parking does not refer to you parking cars parallel to other cars, but to parking a car parallel to the curb. This usually means you have to sandwich your car between two other cars, with your front bumper facing the rear of one car and your rear bumper facing the front bumper of the car behind you.
If you’re learning to parallel park, remember that practice is the key to getting good at it, but it can often be a difficult thing to learn, especially if you’re trying it on a busy street. Rather than learning first on a street where others may be annoyed by your multiple attempts to line up parallel to the curb, consider trying your first few attempts outside your home if the street is quiet, or in an unused parking lot, where you can park then to a fence or wall, so you can get that “feel” of pulling a car up to a sidewalk.
Once you’ve practiced parallel parking without being surrounded by other cars, it’s time to try it out on a real street. The basic method is as follows:
1. Find a space that fits you well and gives you a little room to maneuver.
2. Signal your intention to use the space and slow down before passing the space.
3. Let other motorists behind you pass.
4. Pull up in front of the space, in line with the car that will be in front of you when you park
5. Slowly return to the space at an angle, turning the steering wheel slightly so that the wheels make a gradual turn in the space.
6. Once you have backed into space, you may need to adjust the vehicle by pulling forward and turning the steering wheel.
You may need to back and forth several times to achieve true parallel parking. Sometimes you may have to back out and start over if you lean too far into space.
When attempting to parallel park, use your rearview mirror and side windows, and turn your head to look behind and to the sides. You want to watch out not only for other drivers, but for pedestrians who might try to cross your space as you back up. Also make sure you choose a space that is large enough. Don’t forget that you will also need to get out of space; So don’t get too close to the cars in front and behind you.
To address parallel parking issues, some cars now come equipped with automatic sensors that beep or signal when the bumper is close to other cars. This can help make sure you don’t accidentally hit the bumpers of other cars when backing up or moving forward. Newer models of some cars now have rear cameras that help you see directly behind you. Others even offer what automakers call “Smart Parking Assist,” where the car takes over the steering aspect of parallel parking. If you have to put yourself in a bind, or you’re a hopelessly bad side hustler, it might help to enlist a friend or spectator to steer you into space.
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