Should I Signal First or Shift Gears First When Parallel Parking?
2 Answers
When exiting a parallel parking space, you should shift gears first and then turn on the signal. It is important to adjust the side mirrors: the left mirror should be lowered as much as possible to see the left rear wheel, while the right mirror should be adjusted to show the side of the car. Also, adjust the interior rearview mirror so that you can see the middle of the rear windshield when you look up. Key points for parallel parking: Assess the parking space length: Before parallel parking, first determine if the space can accommodate your car. Generally, if the space is at least one meter longer than your car, parallel parking is possible, but this requires high driving skill. Drive forward to the appropriate position and prepare to reverse: Move your car forward until it is roughly aligned with the car in front of the parking space, keeping a lateral distance of about 1 meter. Adjust the right mirror downward until you can see the right wheel to prepare for reversing. Turn the steering wheel fully to the right until the left mirror shows the car behind: Keep the steering wheel turned fully to the right and reverse slowly until you can safely see the front of the car behind in the left mirror. Then quickly turn the steering wheel from full right to full left and continue reversing. Adjust the reversing path to get closer to the curb: By lowering the right mirror, observe the distance between the right rear wheel and the curb. Adjust the reversing path to get as close to the curb as possible while leaving enough space to straighten the car. The distance between the wheel and the curb must be clearly visible in the mirror—do not rely on guesswork. Adjust the front and rear distance to straighten the car: As the rear wheel gets closer to the curb, the car will gradually straighten, and the rear will approach the car behind. You can turn your head to check or use a parking assist system to judge the distance. Finally, straighten the car completely and return the steering wheel to the neutral position.
I've been driving for over twenty years, and when parallel parking, I always turn on the turn signal before shifting gears. This sequence is crucial because it notifies the vehicles behind you of your parking intention in advance, reducing the risk of rear-end collisions. If you shift gears without signaling first, the driver behind might not react in time, increasing the chance of an accident. Especially in areas with limited roadside parking, I need to maneuver slowly, and the turn signal serves as a warning for everyone to slow down. Waiting a few seconds before shifting into reverse or drive makes the operation smoother. I learned this the hard way when I was younger—I didn’t signal and ended up getting my rear bumper scratched. Since then, I’ve made it a strict habit. It only takes a little awareness to develop, but it protects both yourself and others.
