Parallel parking might seem complicated, but with a little practice you can master the maneuver in no time. Before starting, find a space a little longer than your vehicle; make sure you can park there and use the turn signals to signal that you are about to pull over in front of the available space. Engage reverse gear and start backing slowly as you steer towards the pitch until the car makes a 45 ° angle with the curb. Then straighten the trajectory by turning the steering wheel in the other direction and bring the vehicle parallel to the road. Engage first gear and center the car in the available space.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Choosing the Pitch
Step 1. Find a suitable space
Look for a pitch where you can park your car without hitting nearby ones. Once you have learned to perform the maneuver well, you can "slip" the vehicle even in the tightest spaces, but for the moment make sure you have at least two meters of leeway. The parking space should be at least 1m longer than your car.
If you've never parked like this before, consider bringing buckets or plastic cones to a large parking lot and practicing the maneuver
Step 2. Make sure it is safe and legal to leave your car there
Look for any road signs regulating parking in the area. Check that there is no fire hydrant or that your vehicle does not block another specific area; also check if you need the parking disk or not.
- Make sure there is nothing sticking out of the two cars you are trying to park between, such as a tow bar; if so, check that you still have enough space.
- Observe the height of the curb that flanks the pitch; if it is very high, you must be careful not to hit it when reversing.
Step 3. Activate the turn signal and prepare to back off
Look in the rearview mirror to make sure no one is behind you and brake gently to signal that you are slowing down. Activate the arrow and pull over to the vehicle that is in front of the parking space, with a distance of about 60 cm.
- If another vehicle is approaching behind you while you are trying to park, stay still and keep the turn signal active; if necessary, roll down the window and signal the driver to pass you.
- The less space you have, the closer you have to pull over to the other vehicle. For example, if you only have a margin of about one meter to maneuver, you should leave a space of 30 cm between your vehicle and the side of the one in front.
Part 2 of 3: Perform the Maneuver
Step 1. Consider getting someone else to help you
If space is limited or you are not very familiar with this parking method, it is worth asking a person to guide you from the outside. If you have a passenger, ask them to disembark and direct you.
- Ask him to use his hands to show you how much space there is between your car and the other vehicle as you approach; this simple method is more accurate than verbal directions.
- Consider lowering the side mirror so you can see the curb; although it is not indispensable in detail, it can nevertheless prove useful.
Step 2. Begin to retreat
Engage reverse and make sure there are no other vehicles approaching behind you. Look behind you towards the pitch; when the rear of your seat is aligned with the rear of the vehicle on your side, quickly turn the rear to the available space until the vehicle forms a 45 ° angle with the curb.
- Basically, imagine pushing the steering wheel in the direction you want the rear of the car to go.
- Do not try to insert the front of the car into the pitch too early, as you run the risk of hitting or crawling the vehicle in front.
Step 3. Insert most of the car into the pad
Continue backing up until the rear wheel closest to the curb is approximately 30 cm from the curb. At this point, the rear of your car should be within a few feet of the vehicle behind it.
If the rear tire touches the curb, you have gone too far; re-engage first gear, drive forward a little and try again
Step 4. Straighten the wheels as soon as you are done pulling over
Turn the steering wheel towards the center of the carriageway when the rear portion of the vehicle almost entirely occupies the pitch; continue to slowly retreat. Do this when the front bumper is more or less aligned with the rear bumper of the car in front of you. This final maneuver allows you to insert the rest of the car into the space and straighten it at the same time.
- Another great sign that lets you know when you need to change steering direction is when you see the front vehicle license plate centered on your windshield.
- If you are short of space, you need to start turning the steering wheel in the other direction a little early.
Part 3 of 3: Placing the Car in the Pitch
Step 1. Drive the car to the center
Once it is successfully inserted into the available space, you must arrange it so that it is parallel to the curb and in the center of the car that precedes and follows you. If there is still some space behind you, keep backing away until you almost touch the bumper; Then shift into first gear and move slightly closer to the curb as you drive.
Step 2. Place the vehicle in small spaces
When the pitch is small, maneuvering becomes more difficult and the front of the vehicle may be further away from the curb than you would like. To remedy this inconvenience, keep moving forward and backward as you approach the sidewalk; each time you move forward, steer fully towards the curb and straighten the vehicle as you back off.
- Repeat the maneuver if necessary. The front of the car "enters" the space by turning the wheels fully towards the pavement each time you move forward.
- If the front is too far from the curb on a full-sized pitch, it's easier to get out of the gap and try again.
Step 3. Start over as often as needed
If you can't parallel park on the first try, don't worry. Signal your intentions with the direction indicators and exit the pitch by approaching the vehicle in front.
Step 4. Be careful when opening the door
Before exiting the car, especially if the driver's side is towards the center of the roadway, check that another vehicle or cyclist is not approaching. It is also essential to be aware of two-wheeled vehicles and parallel parking spaces are particularly risky areas, because you could invade the cycle path with the door.
- If you have to get off the curb side, be careful not to scratch the door against the curb or other items on the side of the road.
- If you can't fully open the door when there are passengers in the car, remember this when everyone gets in. The door may open when the vehicle is empty, but scrape the top of the curb when the machine is fully loaded.
Warnings
- If you have elaborate wheels or hubcaps and especially low-profile tires, avoid pulling too close to the curb.
- When in doubt, be cautious; do not risk hitting the vehicle behind or in front of you. If traffic conditions allow, get out of the car to see how much space you have available.
- When you turn the wheels, you must try to keep them moving all the time, even if you are moving forward or backward a few centimeters; by doing so, you avoid wearing the steering components.
- Keeping the wheels at full steering angle for more than a few seconds could damage the power steering system.
