Learning to drive is just one step to begin your experience on the road. Apart from just learning to go, you need to understand some of the basics of your car, such as what to do when it is overheating or how to change a flat tire. In addition, you should also know especially about reversing your car in difficult situations and parking it in closed areas. This article will mainly address one of the most important and challenging things in driving. You may have heard about the term parallel parking, which is touted as an essential technique or trick other than simple parking.
Unfortunately, many experienced drivers are unaware of parallel parking their cars and avoid it. However, learning how to parallel park your car is nothing less than a blessing, and it helps you in some of the most challenging car rush spots. If you know how to parallel park, it saves up space and enables you to get a parking spot faster than others.
So what is parallel parking, and what is an easy technique to learn how to parallel park your car like a pro? This article will talk about everything you need to understand about parallel parking.
What is parallel parking?
Parallel parking is a term used to describe a technique of parking in which vehicles are parked parallel to the curb, with the front bumper of each car facing the back bumper of the adjacent one.
Parallel parking is often seen in parking lots, shopping centers, and malls. It saves space for many cars to park and is easier to exit. Parallel parking is used because your vehicle is parked parallel to the road and beside other vehicles.
How to Teach Your Child to Parallel Park?
To teach your child or teenager to park in parallel, you must explain that the most critical step in setting up the car is to set it up about 20 inches parallel to the vehicle in front (see image below). Then, the driver must turn the wheel entirely to the parallel car side and reverse. Then, in step 3, the driver needs to turn the wheel straight and reverse further. After that, the driver must maneuver slowly and park the car correctly.
When parallel parking, you must park no more than 1 foot. Step 2 shows a 45-degree angle. If you parallel park your car well, you will see that the front passenger seat is parallel with the corner of the rear of the front vehicle when you make a 45-degree angle.
Now we will try to explain how to park parallel to your car using this gif animation:
So, which side of the car is the right side?
Is the driver’s side right or left?
Most car models worldwide have the driver’s side on the left. However, former British colonies, including Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Malta, and Cyprus, drive on the left side and usually use cars with the driver’s side on the left.
Most countries that drive on the left are former British colonies, including South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. Only four European countries, all islands, still drive on the left. People from the UK, the Republic of Ireland, Malta, Cyprus, British India (now India, Myanmar, Pakistan, and Bangladesh), British Malaya, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, and British Hong Kong drive on the left-hand side.
Is the passenger side the right side?
Yes, the passenger side is on the right side of the car, usually for most models. However, people from former British colonies drive on the left street side and usually drive car models where the passenger is on the left side.
Now when we now side let us analyze parallel parking in detail:
How to parallel park in detail?
Here are some steps that serve as a guideline for parallel parking your car.
- Parking Spot: The first step to parallel parking is understanding the right parking spot. This means you should not attempt parallel parking in the first space you see. Ideally, it would help if you waited to check which parking spot is a bit wider than your car and has some length to it compared with your vehicle.
- MSMOG: The second step after finding the right parking spot is remembering the acronym MSMOG. This means the following:
M- Mirrors (Check the side mirrors thoroughly)
S- Signal (Turn on the indicator right or left, whichever is applicable, to let the other drivers know that you will be parking here)
M- Mirrors (Check the side mirrors and the front one again)
O- Over the shoulder (You should look over your shoulders to have a thorough check again)
G- Go (After careful inspection, you should go to your reserved parking spot and take your vehicle). - Reverse Position: After careful inspection and approaching to go to the parking spot, you shout, put your car in the reverse position, and then slowly make way for reversing. Your body language should be upright, and you should face an angle of 90 degrees while changing the car. You should keep the signal on and wait after reaching the next car’s bumper. If another vehicle comes from the side, they will know you will park in this spot due to your right or left turn-on signal. Therefore, it is essential to keep the indicator signal on.
- Curb heading: After clearing the coast, turn the steering wheel sharply to return your vehicle. It should be done at an angle of 45 degrees, and you should let the car keep going until you can see the headlight of the other vehicle. It would help if you continued to let your vehicle go back until the car was safely inside the parking spot. At this point, you would see how the car is aligned with the other vehicles and has become parallel to the road.
- Adjust your car: After your car has safely entered the parking spot, you should be able to make some adjustments. For example, you can move the vehicle forward and then align it by straightening it and balancing the spaces from both sides. This is done so that the cars next to you can quickly move forward without scratching your vehicle. Usually, the vehicle’s distance is twelve inches from the cars next to it.
Why is reverse parking safer?
Reverse parking is not safer than ordinary parking because drivers have a smaller field of vision when reversing their vehicles. However, reverse parking is the only solution if you want to park in the limited space between two cars. It is also usually the only solution for parallel parking between two vehicles.
So, when reversing, which way should you should you turn the wheel? When you drive in reverse, you need to turn the wheel in the direction you want the car’s rear to go. So, when you want to move away from the vehicle on your left and if you are reversing, you must turn the steering wheel towards that vehicle. It is the opposite of when you drive straight, and many beginner drivers are often confused.
What signal to use when parallel parking?
Use your turn signal during parallel parking. In this case, your car’s turn signal and your car position will indicate to the driver behind you that you are preparing to park.
Sometimes, drivers can not guess someone else’s intention, and beginner drivers do not recognize the person in front of them and try parallel parking. Therefore, it is best to turn the signal a few seconds before the parallel parking process begins.
When have you properly parked your vehicle in a straight?
If your vehicle is centered inside the space and no part of it extends out into the traffic lane, you have a properly parked car. Properly parked cars must protect your vehicle and other vehicles from damage.
Parallel Parking on Driving Test
[table “72” not found /]As a driver, you can make many mistakes. The parallel park is not one of them because candidates usually do not fail on the most complicated tasks. However, sometimes, the most specific driving part can be the biggest problem for candidates.
Is driving too close to parked cars a failure?
Yes, driving too close to parked cars can be a principal reason candidates fail. However, drivers need to predict a possible situation in an actual driving environment and avoid accidents.
Is hitting the curb an automatic fail?
Usually, hitting the curb is not an automatic fail. You will not fail automatically if you touch the curb a little bit after that readjust. However, if you strike the curb or push the back wheel up over the curb, that situation will automatically fail your driver’s test.
Is there parallel parking on the driving test in NJ?
You must pass to parallel park and perform your 3-point turn as standard procedure in the NJ driving test. However, you do not need to do a perfectly parallel parking test because as long as you don’t hit a car or the curb too forcefully, you should still pass your parallel parking test.
Do you have to pass the parallel parking in Texas?
You must pass the parallel park in the Texas driving test. However, you do not need to do a perfectly parallel parking test because as long as you don’t hit a car or the curb too forcefully, you should still pass your parallel parking test.
Why are people afraid of parallel parking?
Experienced and learned drivers are often seen avoiding parallel parking or not knowing about it. This is because parking the car safely requires some techniques and specificities.
People fear parallel parking because vehicles are pretty close to each other, and you need to be very specific in calculating how many turns you should make. Additionally, you need to reverse the steering wheel towards the parked vehicle, which can create anxiety and fear that your car and others’ vehicles may be damaged.
You should be aware of your surroundings, notice all four corners from the front and side mirrors, and assess how much space is present for your vehicle to move in and out without damaging the cars on both sides of your vehicle.
Although people learn parallel parking through repeated efforts, there is still a guideline that you should follow when attempting to parallel park. It is not quite tricky; however, practicing it makes estimating the space and your calculations about moving your vehicle much easier. You can practice in your home first with something right next to the car. Usually, when you go for a driving license test, they test you for parallel parking with cones beside the vehicle. Therefore, it is an excellent practice to learn and attempt parallel parking at home before parking in a shopping center or mall with many cars around your home.
Where can I practice parallel parking?
The best place to practice parallel parking is an empty parking lot or driver training grounds. You can put plastic cones and candor board or draw parking lines and safely practice parallel parking.
When I was young, my father used to take me to an empty parking lot, where we practiced various parking skills. But, of course, the best places are driver training grounds, where you can practice real driving situations and prepare for the driving exam if you haven’t gotten your license yet.
How far apart do we set cones for parallel parking?
You need to set cones for parallel parking practice approximately fifteen feet apart to simulate the standard size of the vehicle in the parking lot.
Can you park your car on the road without insurance?
Yes, you can park your car on the road without insurance, but you will bear the costs yourself if any car damage happens. Usually, drivers have liability coverage (which protects you as a driver if you cause harm to others) or collision coverage (which covers your car if you hit another vehicle). However, if you like to park your car on the road, you should have comprehensive coverage to protect your vehicle from theft, vandalism, etc.
I parked parallel to my car in front of my building for a few years. The kids played soccer very often, and a few times, they broke windshields and, once, rear door auto glass. It was an accident, but it was good that I had comprehensive coverage and excellent car insurance.
Conclusion
Parallel parking is not very difficult to learn. Most drivers are aware of parallel parking by doing so and practicing. As with driving, you remember when you take the car practically on the road, and the same goes for parking as well. It would help if you were wary about your surroundings and especially paid attention to the vehicles and their sizes next to you. Parallel parking can be achieved with just a few tricks and techniques and repeated attempts.
I hope you have easy and convenient parallel parking!
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