Let's face it.. parallel parking can be downright scary to a beginning driver. It even strikes fear into the hearts of many experienced drivers! But trust us - this is definitely a skill worth having. And not just for your test: it will come in handy many times throughout your life. Not to mention how cool you'll look easily reversing your car into a small parking space! So whether you're frantically preparing for your drivers test or just want to brush up on your P-parking skills, we're here to help you conquer those tight squeezes.
To start, here's what it's all about: parallel parking is a method of parking in line with, or parallel to the curb, commonly lined up bumper to bumper with other vehicles. This is most often encountered in large metropolitan areas, where there are few parking lots and street parking is the norm. Parallel parking is required knowledge for the drivers license exam, since you will be tested on your abilities. There are states, such as Ohio, which implement a "maneuverability test" instead, but this is basically parallel parking inside of a traffic cone formation instead of with other cars - so the same rules apply.
Rule number one: don't get intimidated. Even if you've already tried (and failed) before, DO NOT be discouraged! Start slow, and your confidence will increase with each practice session as you become more comfortable. It has less to do with "natural talent" or good hand-eye coordination than it does with simple, consistent repetition. Stay calm and allow yourself the time you need to become successful - it won't happen overnight, but it becomes less and less difficult with time. And pretty soon you'll be maneuvering with ease!
So here is the basic procedure for parallel parking:
1. Find a parking space that's at least 1.5 times longer than your car that you're sure you can park in.
2. Signal and drive up so that you are a 2-3 feet next to the car you want to park behind, and align your car's rear bumper with the other one's.
3. Check your mirrors and look over your shoulder to ensure that there are no vehicles behind you, then step on the brake and put the car in reverse.
4. Slowly release the brake. As soon as the car begins to reverse, steer your wheel all the way towards the direction of the curb; now the back of your car should be at an angle towards the curb as it rolls backwards. (If you feel you need to re-adjust your angle or that you want to start over, just drive forward and begin again.)
5. Once the back of your car is mostly in the space, turn the steering wheel all the way back towards the opposite direction in order to straighten out your car's wheels.
6. Center yourself in the parking space so that you're parallel and less than 12 inches to the curb. Shift into drive and adjust your wheels if necessary.. Voila!
You'll have to adapt these rules to your situation, of course - the more space you have to park, the simpler it will be.. and vice versa. Also, there are variables like how sharply you'll need to steer your wheel to get the correct angle, which all depends on your unique vehicle.
Whatever you do, don't start off by trying to parallel park on a busy road - it's very anxiety-provoking! So here's an induction plan you can use to build up your confidence, move up only when you feel more than ready:
- Try parking beside an empty curb in a quiet parking lot or street.
- Next, parallel park behind ONE car.
- Look for two parked vehicles that are far enough apart where you feel comfortable parking in between them. (Find a street that's not too busy for this)
- Park between cars that are closer together until you're able to do it in spaces that no less than one and a half times the length of your car.
Though it may seem hard at first, you can and will be among the many drivers who parallel park without a sweat. All it takes is a little effort. So what's your excuse? Go out and master the maneuver of parallel parking!
About the Author:
Michelle is a parallel park-scaredy cat turned confident parker. Check out the drivers ed game to practice your parallel parking, and read more articles, tips & advice for succeeding at your drivers test at http://www.driversed-game.com.
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