7 Steps to Parallel Parking Correctly
Parallel parking is one of the trickiest driving maneuvers to master. What’s even worse, street parking incorrectly or misjudging the space you have available to adequately park can put you at risk of being involved in a collision with the cars around you or another passing by.
Like many driving skills, when it comes to improving your parallel parking execution, practice makes perfect!
To help our local drivers avoid parallel parking-related accidents and park with confidence, Collision 24 in Brockton put together the following parallel parking tips.
1. Find the Right-Sized Space
The key to parallel parking correctly starts with tracking down a space that’s large enough for your car. Your target space should be roughly six feet longer than your car, since you’ll need wiggle room in order to get in and out of the spot.
2. Put on Your Turn Signal
As you approach the space you’d like to park in, activate your blinker to show that you’ll be maneuvering into the space.
3. Align Your Back Tires with the Front Car’s Rear Bumper
Pull up past the space so that your car’s back tires are in line with the back bumper of the car in front of the parking spot. Don’t get too close to the other car side to side, leave about two or three feet of space so that you don’t come into contact with the car when you attempt to get into the spot.
4. Turn the Steering Wheel Hard Toward the Curb
Turn the steering wheel all the way in the direction of the curb (sending the front of your car away from the other car) and shift into reverse.
5. Reset Your Steering to Straight
Once you’ve reached a 45-degree angle, or when you can see the edge of the sidewalk in your back window, set the steering back to straight.
6. Turn the Wheel All the Way Toward the Street
When the front of your car is past the back of the car in front, turn the wheel all the way in the opposite direction (toward the street) and ease backwards.
7. Adjust Forward or Back
Once you’re in line with the car in front of and behind yours, straighten the wheel again and adjust forward or back so that both cars have enough room to exit their spaces.
Put These Parallel Parking Tips to The Test
Parallel parking in Brockton, Randolph, and Stoughton can be stressful, especially if you’re trying to focus on parking safely while another car is waiting behind you.
Until you feel secure about parallel parking on your own, you may be more comfortable practicing at an empty parking lot with cones or large boxes. Having an experienced parallel parking passenger in the car with you can also help solidify these steps. And if need be, they can get out of the car to give you directions.
Best of luck with your future parking endeavors!