Where to Initially Position for Parallel Parking?
3 Answers
Parallel parking initially positions at the rear two-thirds of the adjacent vehicle. Here are specific details about the new parallel parking regulations: 1. Ground Markings: Previously, parallel parking used four upright poles to mark the corners of the parking space. One criterion for successful parking was whether the vehicle entered the space without touching these poles. After the new traffic rules were implemented, parallel parking no longer uses poles; instead, ground markings define the parking space boundaries. 2. Allowed to Pause Mid-Process: Previously, pausing during parallel parking or reversing into a parking space resulted in immediate failure. Under the new rules, pausing only deducts five points. 3. Timed Assessment: Parallel parking must be completed within 90 seconds.
When I first started practicing parallel parking, the instructor told me to drive the car parallel to the car in front, aligning the rear of my car with its rear bumper, with about half a meter between the two cars. This position makes it easy to check the distance in the rearview mirror, and when the steering wheel is turned fully, the front of the car can swing into the space just right. I remember during my first test, I parked too far back, and the rear wheels almost scraped the curb while reversing. Now that I'm more experienced, I've found that when the middle of the car body is level with the side mirror of the neighboring car, it's easiest to get into the spot in one go, especially for larger vehicles like SUVs. Leaving an extra half meter of space in advance is safer. On rainy days, it's best to roll down the window and listen to the sound of the tires, as wet and slippery roads can easily lead to misjudging the distance.
Proper positioning before parallel parking is crucial. I usually turn on the right turn signal to alert following vehicles, then drive past the empty space by about half a car length before stopping. At this point, the right side mirror should show the complete rear end of the adjacent vehicle. If the car is too far forward, there's a high risk of scraping the neighboring car when reversing; too far back and you might hit the curb. When parking my friend's extended luxury sedan last time, we deliberately drove an extra quarter car length forward for safety. Beginners are advised to get out and check the distance to vehicles in front and behind before maneuvering - blind spots in mirrors are much larger than most people realize.
