| Parallel Park |
|
| Home • Training • Theory Test • Driving Test • Pass Plus • FAQ • Links • Fort Hill • Contact • Message Board | |
| Parallel Park |
|
| Home • Training • Theory Test • Driving Test • Pass Plus • FAQ • Links • Fort Hill • Contact • Message Board | |
 Get ten driving instructors into the same room. Ask each one how to parallel park. I bet you will get ten different answers. And they would all be correct. It's an easy manoeuvre, but everyone has their own way of doing it. Heres mine: First, if you can't keep the car moving slowly back while steering, go and practice that. Parking this way is almost impossible if you can't control the speed. Next, find a space. You need a gap between cars of at least one and a half times the length of your car. To start, find somewhere where there is a car with LOTS of space behind. Practice in smaller spaces later on. One other point to bear in mind: this is how I teach in a Renault Clio. If you've got a Volvo estate, you might need to adapt this a little......... 1  Park next to the leading car, about half a door's width away from it (don't get so close you take their door mirror off!). Watch your mirrors as you pull up, be prepared to signal left to park. Select reverse gear promptly, your reverse lights will help drivers behind know what you want to do. 2  Look all round for other road users before you start. There maybe a child running behind your car. Slowly reverse until the back end of your car is level with the back end of the leading car (if it's not there already). 3  At this stage go slowly back and at the same time steer one turn to the left. That's one whole revolution of the steering wheel, but not full lock. Remember, when you steer left, the front of the car swings right, so look round again, there might be traffic passing, or people walking - you might have to wait. 4  Keep moving slowly back with the steering at one turn until the front of your car is almost clear of the back corner of the leading parked car. 5  Straighten the steering and go back until the front of your car is clear of the back end of the leading car. 6  Now steer right to full lock, while moving slowly back. 7  Continue back until you are almost parallel to the kerb. 8  Straighten the steering ( one and a half turns in my Clio ), and stop. Viola. OK, so it might not be perfect. Don't panic - you can always pull forward a bit and reverse back again if you are not nicely positioned. Remember - practice makes perfect. Don't forget, you should be looking backwards through the back window during the manoeuvre. It is OK to stop when you need to check your position in relation to the leading car. When I park, I stop several times, it gives me a moment to check my position and look round into the blindspot for other road users. Good luck. |