The ability to parallel park is regarded as one of the most difficult abilities for new drivers to master. Compared to forward parking, parallel parking enables a vehicle to fit into a smaller area.
When parked parallel to the curb, cars are arranged in a single line, with the front bumpers of each vehicle facing the rear bumper of the vehicle in front of it. Driving in reverse into the parking place is required for parallel parking.
How to Parallel Park: Simple Steps
Normally, it is not possible to go forward into a parking space on the side of a road until two subsequent parking spaces are vacant. By using the parallel parking approach, one can utilise a single space that is only slightly larger than the vehicle.
Following are the steps for parallel parking:
- Locate a spot that is big enough
- Parallel parking requires carefully analysing the available parking space to see if your car will fit there. The parking space should, in general, be 1.5 times as long as your car, or around 2 metres) of extra space.
Position your car: Put your car in the space available by lining it up parallel to the car in front of you. Maintain three to four feet between you and the car.
Check all of the mirrors to ensure that you won't hit your car. Then carefully reverse so that your car's centre is parallel to the back bumper of the vehicle in front of you.
- Put on reverse
- As soon as you reach the open space, put your vehicle in reverse. Be sure there is no traffic on the street behind you. Cut the steering wheel at a 45° angle to the right to proceed in reverse. To see how close your car is to the vehicle parked in the parallel parking space behind it, look into your rearview mirror. Continue to travel in reverse after that and begin to straighten your steering wheel.
- Start straightening
- The last move is to straighten the vehicle while also bringing it inside the space. Making sure your car maintains a safe distance from cars in front of it, behind it, and on the side of the road is the final step. If not, reposition your vehicle until the lines are completely aligned and it is centred.
All Done
You should be a little closer and more confident about tackling parallel parking after going through the above steps. But locating a parallel parking location may also be a burden and a headache for many, just as parallel parking is. But you know what can make it easy? Park+!
With its car parking services, you don't have to worry about not finding a parking spot or wasting your precious time. You can not only locate a parking spot quickly, but you can also reserve or book your spot ahead of time. Park+ also offers monthly parking passes.
You can access all of this and more by just downloading the Park+ app.