Is it better to align with the B-pillar or the adjacent car when parallel parking?
2 Answers
If the adjacent car is long, you can align with its B-pillar. If the parking space is relatively large, aligning with the B-pillar of the adjacent car before reversing can prevent scratches between the two vehicles and make it easier for beginners to operate. Parallel parking The process is as follows: Determine if the parking space size is suitable: Before parallel parking, the driver should first visually estimate the size of the intended parking space to determine if the vehicle can fit. After confirming the space is suitable, proceed with parallel parking. Maintain distance from the right-side vehicle: Stop when the right rearview mirror aligns with the B-pillar of the right-side vehicle, keeping a distance of 50 centimeters. Reverse slowly: When the right headlight of the rear vehicle becomes visible in the left rearview mirror, straighten the steering wheel and continue reversing. Complete parallel parking: When the right side of the front bumper aligns with the left rear light of the front vehicle (from the driver's perspective, this means the right A-pillar of the vehicle blocks the left rear light of the right-side vehicle), turn the steering wheel fully to the left and continue reversing slowly. When the vehicle body is parallel to the road edge, straighten the steering wheel, make minor adjustments forward and backward, and complete the parallel parking.
When I was learning parallel parking, I always had trouble finding the right position at first. The car would either hit the curb or get too close to other cars, giving me a cold sweat. Later, an experienced driver taught me a great trick: first, align my car's front bumper parallel to the adjacent car, then adjust the position so that my B-pillar (the middle pillar inside the car) lines up exactly with the adjacent car's B-pillar. This way, the rear of the car smoothly backs into the space, fitting just right without worrying about scraping other cars or hitting pedestrians. This method is more accurate than simply aligning the entire car because the B-pillar's position inside the car is fixed, eliminating the need to guess the size of the adjacent car. Whether the adjacent car is a tiny QQ or a large SUV, this technique works, and the key is saving time. After practicing a few times, my parking became more stable, I could judge better with the rearview mirror, and I even got fewer tickets. Remember, safety first—take it slow and steady when parking, don't rush.
