Should You Turn Left or Right First in Parallel Parking?
2 Answers
Turn right first. Here are detailed instructions for parallel parking: When performing parallel parking, it's crucial to carefully observe the left and right rearview mirrors as well as the interior rearview mirror to accurately gauge the distance between your car's rear end and the vehicle or wall behind you. Safety always comes first; speed is not important, so don't panic if you're temporarily blocking traffic behind you. Note that rearview mirrors use convex lenses: this design provides a wider field of vision but can distort the perceived distance between objects. Therefore, when checking the rear of your car in the mirror, what appears to be dangerously close to the wall might actually still have considerable space. Key points to remember: After getting in the car, adjust the seat and rearview mirrors so that the front door handle is positioned one-third from the base of the mirror towards the center. Start with partial clutch engagement and slowly move parallel to the parking space. Stop when the rear of your car is about 1m from line 1. Shift into reverse, honk once, turn on the right turn signal, and prepare to back into the parking space.
As a seasoned driver with years of experience, I believe that parallel parking requires turning the steering wheel to the right first when reversing. Specifically, I drive the car near the parking spot, keeping it parallel to the car in front with a distance of about half a meter, then shift into reverse and start backing up. At this point, I turn the steering wheel all the way to the right, allowing the rear of the car to enter the spot first. When the car body forms roughly a 45-degree angle with the curb, I straighten the steering wheel and continue reversing. Then, during the reversing process, when I see the rear bumper of the car in front, I turn the steering wheel all the way to the left, and the car smoothly aligns with the curb. This sequence helps avoid scraping the front of the car against the curb or the rear of the car in front, especially when parking next to sidewalks. I often remind myself to take it slow, use the rearview mirror and rear camera to observe angle changes, and never rush. With enough practice, parking becomes quick and steady—after all, during my early days, I often made steering mistakes that led to a mess.
