How to Align 30cm for Parallel Parking?
2 Answers
From the driver's position, observe the wiper on the front windshield of the car. When the raised part of the wiper just aligns with the right edge line of the road outside, the distance between the car body and the roadside is approximately 30cm. When observing from the driver's seat, if about 1/3 of the right side of the car's front aligns with the right edge line of the road outside, the distance between the car body and the roadside is just about 30cm. By observing through the right side mirror, when the outermost point of the front right door handle is tangent to the edge of the road outside, the distance between the car body and the roadside is exactly 30cm.
When I first started learning to drive, I found it particularly challenging to keep the car 30 centimeters away from the curb during parallel parking. My instructor taught me to first align the car with the one in front, keeping a door's width distance, then look at the right rearview mirror while reversing. The moment the curb line appears in the mirror, remember that point and keep the car body a fist's width away from the line. Reverse slowly, make slight steering adjustments, don’t rush, and avoid getting the front too close inside. After several attempts, I found using the car's midline or rear wheel position as reference points worked better. Keeping 30 centimeters is tricky—too close risks scraping the curb, too far is illegal parking, so practice is key to getting the feel. Time yourself with a phone or find an empty lot to practice repeatedly, and remember to step out and check the distance—practice makes perfect. New drivers shouldn’t panic; play some relaxing music, control the speed, and it’ll soon become second nature.
