What is the parking sequence?
4 Answers
Parking sequence is: 1. Shift into R gear and quickly turn the steering wheel all the way to the right, reversing until the car is at about a 45-degree angle to the parking space, usually when the left rearview mirror can see the license plate of the rear car; 2. Quickly straighten the steering wheel and continue reversing straight back; 3. When the front of the car aligns with the rear of the car in front, or you can open the window to observe, and the left rear wheel is ready to enter the parking space, you can quickly turn the steering wheel all the way to the left and continue reversing; 4. Once the left front wheel enters the parking space, you can straighten the steering wheel and then adjust the car's position. To park the car into the so-called parking space, the first thing to do is to ensure the space is large enough. If it's a roadside parallel parking space, it's recommended to choose a space that is at least one meter longer than the car's length for safety. When the line of sight from the driver's perspective to the right front corner of the hood aligns behind the left rear wheel of the car in front, it is relatively safer.
When I first started learning to drive, the parking sequence always gave me trouble. The instructor repeatedly taught us to follow the steps: first find a suitable parking spot and ensure the surroundings are safe; then turn on the indicator to signal your intention; next, gradually reduce speed and control the vehicle as you approach the parking spot; when reversing or driving straight into the space, use the rearview and side mirrors to align precisely; once parked, immediately engage the handbrake to prevent the car from rolling; if driving an automatic, shift to P (Park), or for a manual, shift to neutral; finally, turn off the engine, remove the key, and lock the doors. Don’t forget to check that the windows are fully closed to avoid rain or theft. Once, when parking on a slope, I forgot to engage the handbrake, and the car rolled, nearly hitting a wall—that lesson made me remember the sequence must be complete. With more practice, parking became much smoother, and new drivers can get the hang of it after a few tries.
As a driver with twenty years of experience, the parking sequence has become second nature to me. My daily routine is straightforward. First, I ensure the surroundings are safe, such as checking the rearview mirror for pedestrians or obstacles. Upon spotting a parking space, I decisively turn on the indicator lights. I then approach slowly, keeping the speed within walking pace. When reversing into the spot, I use a small angle and rely on the parking sensors for precision. Once parked, the first action is to engage the handbrake to prevent the car from moving. Next, I shift into P or neutral, turn off the engine and lights, and finally lock the doors and leave quickly. This routine has helped me avoid many troubles, such as keeping the car stable on slippery snow-covered roads. I also remind my friends to develop good habits, as disrupting the sequence can cause problems—for example, shifting gears without engaging the handbrake may lead to the car rolling. Safety is the top priority.
Driving in busy streets every day and fighting for parking spots, I have developed an efficient parking routine for crowded streets. When spotting a vacancy, first visually estimate if the space is sufficient; immediately turn on the indicator to signal; approach slowly; for parallel parking, align with the car in front before reversing into the gap, possibly requiring a couple of minor adjustments back and forth; once parked, quickly engage the handbrake and shift to P or neutral; turn off the engine and lock the car; the whole process should be swift yet steady to avoid blocking traffic. I always pay attention to nearby pedestrians, ensuring safety comes first. With a few more practices, urban parallel parking becomes second nature.
