How to control the speed during parallel parking?
4 Answers
Parallel parking mainly relies on controlling the clutch to regulate the speed, and the slower the speed, the better. Here is an introduction to the relevant knowledge about parallel parking: 1. Definition: Parallel parking is a part of the driving test (Subject 2). It is becoming increasingly common in urban areas, especially when parking spaces in regular parking lots are scarce. Many places have designated parking spaces along the sides of streets, known as "parallel parking spaces." 2. Assessment Objective: The goal is to assess the driver's ability to correctly park the vehicle in a parking space on the right side of the road.
As someone who has been driving for over 30 years, I believe parallel parking is all about finesse with the clutch. With a manual transmission, you need to gently depress the clutch with your left foot to the half-engaged position, allowing the car to inch forward like a snail. If the speed fluctuates, it's usually because the clutch was released too abruptly or pressed too firmly. The car is most likely to roll when the steering wheel is fully turned, so you should lightly rest your right foot on the brake in advance to correct it. It's simpler with an automatic transmission—just shift to D and control the movement entirely with the brake pedal without touching the accelerator. The key is to focus on the distance between the car body and the curb in the rearview mirror, rather than obsessing over the steering wheel. When practicing, find an empty stretch of road and use empty plastic bottles as markers to repeatedly train until you develop that subtle foot control—then you'll feel confident.
I still remember how terrified I was of parallel parking when I first got my driver's license. Every time I adjusted the car, it felt like defusing a bomb. Later, I realized that uncontrolled speed was often caused by the conflict between the clutch and accelerator, especially common among manual transmission beginners. The foolproof method my instructor taught me worked wonders: after fully turning the steering wheel, completely release the accelerator and keep the clutch at that semi-engaged trembling position. At this point, the car creeps forward solely on idle speed—just focus on observing the distance changes in the rearview mirror with your right foot ready on the brake for timely stopping. At the training ground, I used two Coke bottles as markers and practiced over twenty times until I finally achieved that delicate sense of unity between man and machine. Now I can complete parallel parking in under ten seconds.
The core of speed control in parallel parking lies in the coordination of the clutch and brake. For manual transmissions, when in the semi-engaged state, the engine speed naturally drops from around 800 RPM to approximately 600 RPM, which is the ideal speed for maneuvering. Turning the steering wheel to full lock increases steering resistance, causing the vehicle speed to automatically decrease by about 10%. For automatic transmission models, controlling the crawling speed with brake pressure is the most reliable method. When within 30 cm of the curb, switching to intermittent braking for segmented stopping ensures greater precision. During practice, remember not to touch the accelerator at all, keep an eye on the dashboard with peripheral vision, and maintain a steady speed between 3-5 km/h.
