How To Parallel Park
Every eager driver must know how to parallel park. This is a cinch for expert drivers who’ve been on the road for years, but if you’re a newbie behind the wheel, this can still be very challenging. No worries though, because here are some step-by-step tips on how to parallel park.
What You’ll Need:
Car
Procedure:
Find a spot where you can park your car in securely, without bumping against another car. That space must be longer than your vehicle by a few feet.
As you go near the space, glance at your driver-side mirror and rear view mirror, and check that there’s no vehicle close behind.
As you approach towards the space, make a signal signal, slow down, and then stop. When another vehicle is behind you as you try to park, keep signaling and stay where you are. If you must, open your car window and gesture to the other driver. They’ll know they can go around and ahead of you.
Line your car with the one parked directly in front of the spot you chose. Put your vehicle in a parallel position, wheel-to-wheel, with your bumpers aligned. Remember, don’t get too close or you might scrape the other car. Being too far away is also not good. Keep the distance at one to two feet.
Put your vehicle in reverse.
Before you start backing up, check your mirror to see your back, making sure the street does not have any traffic.
To assess the gap, look at the space over your other shoulder.
Turn your steering wheel to the right, hard. Let go of the brakes, then start going back into the turn.
As you’re backing, check your front and around your car often. Check and make sure that you’re far enough from the rear of the car in front, as you back in.
To view the curb, shift your passenger-side mirror. until it suits your line of vision. One rule is if you don’t see the curb when the mirror is pointed down, it’s likely that you’re too close.
If the tire makes contact with the curb, you’re too far already. Just shift the gear into drive, pull a few feet forward, then try again.
Turn your steering wheel left, when most of your vehicle’s rear is in the space already. Continue going backwards. This will be the last half of the turn, and you’ll have to completely move your way into the space, while straightening out your car.
Keep going in reverse, but don’t hit the front of the car behind you.
Shift the gear into drive again, then shift the steering wheel towards the right, moving forward to the curb, while trying to center the vehicle in the spot.
You should be parallel-parked nicely by this time. If not, don’t worry. Just signal that you’re leaving the curb, pull along the car in front of you, signal to the curb, and begin again.
Every good driver must know how to parallel park properly. Learn how to do this, by following these easy tips.