What are the key points of parallel parking?
4 Answers
Key operation points for parallel parking are as follows: 1. Drive slowly parallel along the parking space and stop when Pole No.1 appears in the rear window; 2. Shift into reverse gear, honk once, turn on the left turn signal, and prepare to reverse into the space; 3. While reversing, when the center of the small triangle in the right rear window aligns with Pole No.1, turn the steering wheel 1.5 turns to the right, then immediately look at the left rearview mirror; 4. After Pole No.4 appears in the left rearview mirror, turn the steering wheel fully to the left, then look at the front of the car; 5. When both sides of the front of the car are between Pole No.1 and Pole No.2, stop (there's no need to straighten the steering wheel, keep it as is when parking); 7. Drive forward along the left side, when the small rearview mirror on the right side of the hood reaches Pole No.1, turn the steering wheel 3 turns to the right, and exit the parking space; 8. When the front of the car is straight, turn the steering wheel 1 turn to the left, then continue forward.
I've been driving for over a decade, and parallel parking is as natural as breathing to me. First, find a suitable parking space that's at least one meter longer than your car – too narrow and you risk scratches. The key is to align parallel to the car in front while maintaining about half a meter distance. Then turn the steering wheel fully and start reversing, watching the right rearview mirror. When your right rear wheel aligns with the front car's rear wheel, quickly straighten the wheel and continue backing in. Keep your speed slow, like a crawling snail, allowing real-time adjustments to avoid hitting the curb or rear car. After practicing several times, you'll develop muscle memory – remember to practice in open areas first, not busy streets. Beginners often make the mistake of turning the wheel too late or early, causing misalignment. In such cases, stop early and readjust your position.
When learning to drive, I was most afraid of parallel parking. At the beginning, I was always confused—either getting too close or hitting the curb. My instructor taught me that the first step is to find a larger parking space and not to aim for tight spots. The second step is to drive parallel to the car in front, about one meter away, then turn the steering wheel all the way to the right and slowly reverse. When you see the entire front of the car behind you in the right rearview mirror, immediately turn the steering wheel to the left and continue backing in. The process requires patience—no rushing—and keeping the speed at a crawl is safest. It took me dozens of tries to get the hang of it. The key is to remember reference points, like looking at the rear wheels or specific positions in the mirrors. Once I improved, I realized it wasn’t that hard—it’s all about practice making perfect, and not being afraid of mistakes.
When performing parallel parking, I place special emphasis on safety, as it involves surrounding pedestrians and vehicles. First, ensure the parking space is clearly visible and unobstructed—avoid attempting on curves or slopes. Before reversing, check the rearview mirrors and blind spots thoroughly, and roll down the window to listen for distance cues. Maintain the lowest gear speed, steer gently to prevent skidding, and exercise extra caution during rain or low-light nighttime conditions. Leave ample space during position adjustments to avoid scraping adjacent cars or curbs—if the angle is off, stop and readjust rather than forcing it. Developing these habits significantly reduces accident risks. After parking, always engage the handbrake and turn on hazard lights to alert others.
