-
-
If you live in a large city, chances are that you've had to parallel park your vehicle at least once. Or, if you're one of those who doesn't know how to parallel park or avoids it at all costs, you've probably passed up a prime parking spot or two. If you've never learned the art of parallel parking or just want to brush up on your skills, you've come to the right place.
-
-
Introduction
- For some new drivers, learning how to parallel park is one of the more daunting tasks of learning how to drive a car. Most drivers tests require that aspiring drivers have to effectively parallel park in order to pass and be awarded their driver's licenses. Although parallel parking does take some coordination, like any other skill, most people can master it with some practice and patience.
Step 1: Before You Begin
- Some people avoid parallel parking because they feel embarrassed when:
- They don't get it right on their first try
- They feel as though other people are watching and judging them
- They feel as though they're holding up other drivers
- If you have these doubts, try to put them to the back of your mind and concentrate at the task at hand. For your first few tries at parallel parking, find a quiet street or set up a few pylons in an abandoned parking lot and try parking between them.
- Before you begin practicing parallel parking, ask a parent, friend or instructor who is an accomplished parallel parker to demonstrate the process for you a few times. Ask them to explain what they're doing as they do it.
Step 2: Parking Preparation
- If you're just starting out, it's a good idea to use relatively large parking spots to practice your first few parallel parks. Wait until you've mastered the skill to try squeezing into tight spaces. Once you have selected your parking spot:
- Put on your signal and begin slowing down
- Check all of your mirrors and do a shoulder check on either side to ensure you know what's going on around you. If there is another car or cyclist behind you, wait for them to pass you
- Pull up so that your car is even with the car you will be parking behind and then come to a full stop
YouTube Video: How to Parallel Park (Time: 1:54)
Step 3: Back It In
- Before you start backing into the parking spot, do a last shoulder check to make sure there is no traffic around you, and then:
- Put your car into reverse
- While looking over your shoulder, turn the steering wheel sharply toward the curb you will be parking beside
- Ease off the brake and begin backing into your parking space
- Watch where you're going, but stop periodically to check your other side and your rearview mirror
- When your passenger door is roughly even with the other car's bumper, stop
- Turn your steering wheel sharply in the opposite direction and begin backing up again; this will straighten out your car as you pull into the parking spot
- Again, continue to glance around you to make sure your path is clear
- Once you have successfully backed into the parking spot, pull forward or backward if necessary to straighten out your wheels and center your car in the parking spot
Conclusion
- Parallel parking can be daunting for new drivers, especially for those who's friends or family members have convinced them that it is difficult. However, as with any other driving skill, it's important to practice your parallel parking skills and be confident when you are behind the wheel. Before you attempt to parallel park on a busy street, practice in an area with little to no traffic. Once you have the basics down pat, move to a busier street and try parallel parking in smaller spaces.
