What are the techniques for left-side parallel parking?

[Ruiz]

The techniques for left-side parallel parking are as follows: 1. Keep the speed slow: Shift to R gear, slowly release the clutch, and maintain a very slow speed. When the small window of the car's rear door or the No. 1 pole (the left pole in front of the garage) reaches the rear wheel, press the clutch firmly, do not press the brake, and do not pause for too long. 2. Press the clutch firmly: After stabilizing the car, turn the steering wheel one and a half turns to the right, slowly release the clutch to let the car reverse. At this time, keep an eye on the interior rearview mirror. When the No. 4 pole (the right pole at the back of the garage) aligns with the middle of the car, press the clutch firmly (remember not to press the brake). 3. Check the rearview mirror: Turn the steering wheel one and a half turns back to the left, then slowly release the clutch to let the car reverse. Now, watch the left rear wheel in the left rearview mirror. When the left rear wheel touches the left line of the garage, press the clutch firmly, turn the steering wheel one and a half turns to the left, and slowly release the clutch to let the car enter the garage. You can now look ahead or check the left rearview mirror. 4. Check the rear of the car: When the car is in the garage, press the clutch firmly, turn your head to see if the rear of the car is in the correct position. If not, release the clutch to continue reversing; if it is, press the clutch firmly, press the brake, and shift to neutral. The parallel parking test is now complete.

[VanJune]

I've found that left-side parallel parking is crucial, especially when hunting for parking spots in the city. At first, I was all thumbs, but now that I'm used to it, it feels like a breeze. I signal with my left turn indicator to alert cars behind me, then pull up parallel to the car in front, keeping about half a meter of space. When reversing, I turn the steering wheel all the way to the left and ease into the spot, watching the side mirror to monitor the rear wheel position—once the rear wheel nears the curb, I straighten the wheel to center position and make minor adjustments to align perfectly. The key is taking it slow; beginners can even step out to check front/rear clearances to avoid scraping curbs or neighboring cars. Practice in an empty lot to develop spatial awareness—with experience, you'll nail it in 1-2 minutes, saving both time and stress. Extra caution in rain/snow: reduce speed to prevent skidding.

[DallasLynn]

As someone who frequently mentors new drivers, I emphasize step-by-step operations: First, turn on the left turn signal and park parallel to the car in front, maintaining a distance of about 50 centimeters. Second, start reversing with the steering wheel turned fully to the left, allowing the vehicle to slowly slide toward the left. Third, pay attention to the rearview mirror, and immediately straighten the steering wheel when the rear wheel is close to the curb. Finally, fine-tune the front wheel position to ensure the car is parallel to the roadside. The key is to use the rearview mirror more to judge distances, avoiding focusing only on the front and neglecting blind spots behind. Always check for pedestrians or obstacles around before parking, especially when there are fire hydrants or low posts by the roadside. With this method, most people can master it after a few practices, reducing the risk of collisions.

[PiperAnn]

I haven't been driving for long and am still unfamiliar with parallel parking on the left side. My instructor said that when reversing, I should look at the rear bumper of the car behind me in the right rearview mirror and wait until half of it disappears before turning the steering wheel all the way to the left. As the car moves slowly, when I feel the rear wheels are close to the curb, I quickly straighten the wheels. Beginners often make mistakes, such as turning the steering wheel too slowly, causing the car body to tilt, so it's recommended to slow down and observe more. I've also tried asking a friend to help check the distance or using my phone to take pictures for assistance. Remember not to get nervous, stay calm, and accept that making mistakes is normal. More practice can boost confidence, but safety comes first.