How to Parallel Park?
4 Answers
Drive the car straight forward until it is parallel with the car in front, then slowly reverse while observing the position of the adjacent vehicle. When you can see the rear window of the adjacent vehicle through your car's window, turn the steering wheel all the way. Straighten the steering wheel when the right rearview mirror aligns with the car behind.
I've been driving for several years and have mastered parallel parking. I still remember practicing countless times in empty parking lots when learning to drive. The specific steps are: first, drive the car in front of the target parking space, keeping the body as parallel as possible to the curb and maintaining about half a meter distance from the car in front. Then, shift into reverse, turn the steering wheel fully to the left, and slowly back up while checking the rearview mirror. When your rearview mirror aligns with the rear of the car in front, quickly straighten the steering wheel and continue reversing. Finally, turn the steering wheel fully to the right to adjust the position and stop steadily. The whole process should be slow; don’t be afraid to reverse multiple times. Beginners often make the mistake of reversing too quickly or turning the wheel too late, resulting in the car being crooked and stuck in position. It’s safer to have a friend guide you from behind, and practicing more in supermarket parking spaces will make perfect—soon, there’ll be no pressure.
When teaching my child parallel parking, I always say, take it step by step and don't panic. First, park the car in the open space in front of the target parking spot, keeping the car body parallel to the curb with about one meter of space. After starting to reverse, turn the steering wheel all the way to the left, keeping an eye on the side mirror to avoid obstacles. Kid, when the rear of the car is about to enter the parking spot, straighten the steering wheel and continue reversing. When almost in position, turn the wheel to the right to park and turn off the engine. The key point is to always check if the rear is clear before each practice, ensuring good lighting and clear visibility for safety first. I'll be there to give directions, and using a training ground with marked parking spots makes starting much easier.
The most common incident seen in repair shops is side parking scrapes. The frequent issue is beginners turning the wheel at the wrong time, causing the wheels to get too close to the curb and damaging the rims. The method is simple: before starting, ensure the parking space is large enough; when reversing, turn the steering wheel fully left first, then straighten to enter the space. Rely more on mirrors to judge distance instead of guessing; after parking, engage the handbrake to prevent the car from rolling. Start practicing in wide areas to avoid trouble and save on repair costs.
