What is the appropriate distance for parallel parking from the curb?
4 Answers
Parallel parking should maintain a distance of 30 centimeters between the vehicle body and the curb. Below is a detailed introduction to the content of the Subject 2 driving test: Pole Test: Accurately judge the spatial position of the vehicle body and maneuver the vehicle at low speed to complete reversing or moving forward through spatial obstacle limits. Reverse Parking: Correctly determine the vehicle's reversing trajectory and maneuver the vehicle to complete reverse parking. Parallel Parking: While in motion, correctly maneuver the vehicle to park into a roadside parking space on the right side of the road. Curve Driving: While in motion, operate the steering device to control the vehicle's movement along curves. Right-angle Turn: While in motion, correctly operate the steering device to accurately judge the difference between the inner and outer wheels.
I've been driving since I was young, and now when parallel parking my sedan, I usually maintain a distance of 30 to 50 centimeters, which is quite appropriate. Too close, and the wheels might scrape against the curb or the door might hit obstacles; too far, and the vehicle might protrude into the lane, affecting other cars or causing pedestrians to trip when opening the door. I use a simple method to judge: after parking, look in the right rearview mirror from the driver's seat. If there's about a fist's width between the roadside line and the door frame, it's roughly 30 cm. Beginners can practice with a tape measure to get a feel for it. On city streets, this distance is the safest and most compliant. Don't forget to occasionally check tire wear to prevent rim damage.
I remember when I first learned to drive, parallel parking was the most challenging part, especially judging the distance. My instructor said 25 to 40 centimeters is the safest and most practical range. Now driving my own compact SUV, I always estimate the distance before parking: align the wheels parallel to the curb with the car body about 30-40cm from the edge. This way, doors open easily without taking up too much road space. Using the rearview mirror to align with the door handle as a reference point helps—practice a few times and you'll get the hang of it. Too close risks scratching the rims and costly repairs, while too far makes parking difficult, especially in crowded shopping areas. In short, keeping within this range makes driving much smoother.
As a long-distance driver, I always maintain a side parking gap of around 35 centimeters. The reasoning is clear: parking too close to the curb risks door collisions with pedestrians, while parking too far leaves the rear protruding and prone to scraping accidents. The 30-50cm range is the golden standard, easily judged by eye. On rainy days, I slightly increase it to 40cm for safer entry and exit. Simply put, leaving some margin is the most reassuring approach.
