How to Steer for Parallel Parking?
2 Answers
Parallel parking method: turn the steering wheel fully to the right, then straighten to the left, turn fully left, then straighten to the right. Detailed steps for parallel parking: First turn on the indicator light, engage first gear to start, turn the steering wheel fully to the left, observe the left corner of the front hood. Once it covers the solid line on the left side of the lane, immediately straighten the wheel. After straightening the wheel, continue moving forward. When the middle of the front hood reaches the parking space boundary line, turn the wheel one full rotation to the right. Observe both side mirrors, and when the car body is parallel with the parking space lines on both sides, straighten the wheel. Precautions for parallel parking: During parallel parking, beginners should pay special attention to carefully observe both side mirrors and the interior rearview mirror to accurately gauge the distance between the rear of the car and the parking space lines. Since the side mirrors use convex lenses that provide wider field of view but distort actual distances, objects may appear closer than they actually are. When observing the rear of the car through the mirrors, what appears to be close to the parking space line may actually have considerable distance remaining.
When I first learned to drive, the most frustrating part was figuring out how to steer the wheel during parallel parking, always afraid of hitting other cars. Here's how I usually do it: first, drive the car parallel to the car in front, leaving about half a meter of space; then shift into reverse and slowly back up. When the side mirror aligns roughly with the rear wheel of the car in front, I turn the steering wheel all the way to the left, letting the rear of the car move toward the curb. Once the car is at a 45-degree angle, straighten the wheel and continue reversing. When the rear wheel is about to touch the curb, quickly turn the steering wheel all the way to the right, and the car will neatly park itself. The key is not to rush—keep steering smooth, as going too fast can easily cause scratches. Practice a few times in an empty parking lot in your neighborhood, and choose times when there are fewer cars for safety and peace of mind.
