Parallel parking is often considered one of the most difficult skills of driving. Many people learn this ability for their driver’s test and then never utilize it again. If you live in a city or are traveling to one, parallel parking can often be the only option, so it is important to practice this skill!
Parallel parking can be simplified into these six elements. It is important to remember, however, that parallel parking is a skill that only gets better with practice. Make sure to never attempt driving maneuvers that you are unfamiliar or unskilled with. If you are looking for a safe space to practice your parallel parking, do it in an empty parking lot using orange safety cones as stand-ins for parked vehicles. Once you get the hang of it, you’re ready to put your skills into practice.
Six steps to parallel parking:
- Find the right spot: When looking for a spot to parallel park, you want to search for a spot that is a few feet longer than your car. If the spot is too short you risk hitting the cars in front and in back of you or being unable to get into the spot at all. Also check for any signs indicating a fee or time limit associated with your spot so you can be sure to follow them.
- Turn on your blinker: This move serves two purposes. It alerts the cars around you that you are going to be parking, so they can go around you if they need to. It also signals that this spot is spoken for, so nobody tries to park in the same space as you!
- Line up: Drive past your intended spot (this is why the blinker is so important!) and line up your car with the vehicle or empty spot in front. Make sure that your rear bumpers align, even if your cars are different lengths!
- Turn the wheel all the way to the right and reverse: Once you ensure that your car is lined up in the proper spot, turn your wheel all the way to the right. Make sure this step is completed before you begin moving. You are then going to put your car into reverse and slowly let up on the brakes. You should reverse just until the rear bumper of your car is aligned with the center of the car in front of you.
- Turn your wheel to the left: At this point, while remaining stopped, you should turn the wheel all the way to the left. Once you finish turning, you will slowly take your foot off the brake pedal and continue backing into your spot. Make sure you do not hit the car behind you.
- If you back up too far and hit the curb, you have gone too far. You will need to pull out and try again!
- Adjust your vehicle: Now, you should position your car to center it in your spot. You want to allow the people in front of and behind you to reverse and drive forwards in order to get out of their spot. Once this is done, you can put your car in park and enjoy your day!
Practice these extra tips
- If you are parking on a hill, you can turn the wheels of your car towards the curb. This might help stop your vehicle from rolling too far in the event of an accident.
- It’s okay if you mess up the first time. Pull out and try again!
- If you don’t feel confident, it is smart to find a different spot even if it’s farther away. A little more walking is better than an accident.
Parallel parking is one of the more difficult things to learn, but the more you practice the better you will get! Whether you are parallel parking or just driving around your city, all driving can lead to accidents, and it is important to be insured. Call Infinity Insurance Agency, Inc. today at 1-855-478-3705 to get a free quote for your auto insurance needs.