Parallel Park
Parallel parking is used in everyday life, due to the popularity of parking roadside in towns
and cities.
- Align your mirrors
- Make all-round observations
- Move off at walking pace
- Begin turning
- Turn the opposite way to straighten up
- Adjust
- Straighten up
Pull alongside the car you wish to parallel park behind, leaving approximately 1 metre between your car and the other car - there should be enough room for a person to walk between them. Align your mirror with the front edge of the other vehicle. This equates to being slightly ahead of the other vehicle.
Before moving off, you must make all round observations, because there may be hazards at any of the points around your car. You should let near cars and pedestrians pass.
Reverse back, and align the back of your vehicle with the back of the other vehicle. If the car is of similar size to yours, a reference point can be aligning the door mirrors. Ensure your observations are out the of the rear window, switching back periodically.
Make all round observations. If all is clear slowly move off, and make one full turn (360 degrees). Continue to reverse.
When the left-hand front corner is in line with the back-right corner of the other car, apply a full right lock. This will bring you into space, straighten up your car, and prevent you from mounting the kerb. Use your left mirror to assess, but continue to make all round observations.
Using reference points is the easiest way to complete this maneouvre, but mistakes can happen. Generally, it is better to be further away from the kerb than hit it. This can be caused by turning full right lock too early.
Straighten your wheels, apply the handbrake and select neutral.
