This could be the most talked about maneuver
amongst new drivers and their biggest fear, when it comes to driving. I
have heard of stories how drivers elect to park one or two blocks away
to avoid parking between two cars.
The most important thing to consider when attempting a park between
two vehicles is safety first.
Approaching a vehicle ahead of you, parked on the side of the roadway
should be done and planned well in advance. The beginning of the
maneuver should start far enough back. If the roadway is wide enough,
check you’re mirrors, touch you’re brake pedal to warn other drivers
that you are slowing down and stopping. Signal to the right, assuming we
are parking on the right. Check you’re right shoulder, keeping the
steering wheel straight. Once everything is safe, gradually move over,
and drive in a straight line alongside the vehicles you’re planning to
park between. Do not attempt to move in at the last minute, towards the
vehicle. You should be planning this far enough back to swing in sooner,
so you will be going straight along side the vehicle, as you approach
the vehicle in front of you. You should have a minimum of a couple of
feet clearance.
As you pull along side the spot that you are attempting to park,
pause, and make a decision on the size of area. This decision should
only take a couple of seconds. Is it big enough for you’re vehicle? You
should have a few feet extra on both ends of the car. You have to leave
enough room for other drivers that may attempt to back up, if they have
to clear the vehicle in front of their car, to get out. Once you have
made the decision that the area that you are going to park is big
enough. Continue straight ahead, and stop, when you are parallel to the
vehicle you are going to park behind, and change gears to reverse.
Look out the back passenger window and check if you can see the tail
end corner of the vehicle, you are parking beside. If you can see it,
this is you’re turning point. If not, check you’re left shoulder for
pedestrians. You shouldn’t have to worry about traffic at this point.
You’re front end is not swinging out. Only when it is safe, roll
straight back, looking out the back passenger window, and stop when it
comes into view. By doing this, you’re vehicle front end should clear
the car in front of you, but you still have to check to make sure, when
you swing in. It will not work if you’re only a couple inches away from
vehicle you’re beside. You need to be two or three feet away.
Now is the time to make the maneuver into the parking spot. First we
have to do some safety procedures. Check you’re mirrors for vehicles and
cyclist coming up behind you. Check you’re blind spot just in case there
is someone coming across, from you’re left side. If you’re back end is
going to swing into the parking spot, the front end is going to swing
out, further into the roadway.
Once the safety checks are all done, and you can see the tail end of
the vehicle beside you. Move in slowly with you’re foot covering the
brake only to ease up to get the vehicle rolling, and pushing down to
slow the vehicle. Use the gas pedal only to get it rolling if you have
to, but make sure you are covering the brake during the majority of this
maneuver. You should be looking out the back window and watch the curb
of the sidewalk slowly disappear along the tail end of you’re vehicle.
It’ll slowly disappear from the left side to the right side. Once you
think you cannot see it on the back corner of you’re side, behind you,
pause and gradually turn the wheel the other way. The faster it
disappears, the faster you have to turn the steering wheel. Once it is
all gone along the tail end and corner of vehicle, the steering wheel
should be turned all the way the other way at this point, before you
roll back any further. Make sure you glance forward as you’re front end
swings in to make sure the front end of you’re vehicle is clear of the
vehicle in front of you. Once you know the front is clear, continue to
look back until the vehicle is stopped.
Change gears and move forward with you’re foot on the brake, keeping
in mind, the wheels of the car is turned out towards the roadway.
Straighten the front end of the vehicle and the wheels of you’re
vehicle. If you are not sure of the direction of where the wheels are
turned, slowly release the brake and watch your front end roll and
correct accordingly. (Check driving manual for wheel alignment when
parking on a hill.)
This driving technique has worked for my students in the past, and I
still use it. Vehicles have changed over the years, and it is harder to
see the back end of the vehicle. Please consult with a family member,
and or recognized driving school for further instructions on parallel
parking.
