Parallel parking steps
Identify your parking spot
Pull up in your parking spot
Line up alongside the parked vehicle
Select reverse and complete your observations
Steer one full circle to the left
Steer two full circles to the right
Steer one full turn to the left
Why is it such a valuable skill?
It’s difficult to drive forwards into a small gap between parked cars. However, your car is a bit more agile when it’s in reverse. So with the extra manoeuvrability and a little practice, parallel parking can help you squeeze into tight spaces on roads with lots of parked cars.
How to parallel park: The 1-2-1 method
There are several approaches you can take when parallel parking, but the method we like the best is called the 1-2-1 method. The technique is easy to grasp and works well when needing to finish within two car lengths of the parked vehicle.
The method consists of one full turn to the left, two full turns to the right and one full turn to the left to finish. Your reference points will vary based on your car, height and seating position, so keep this in mind when practising.
Identity your parking spot
You need to identify a suitable parking spot before you can get started. The objective is to reverse park behind a vehicle on the side of the road, so you’ll need to look for a parked vehicle with around two car lengths of space behind it.
Before pulling up, ensure the space is safe, convenient, and legal. Do not park on a dropped kerb – unless the driving examiner tells you otherwise. Do not stop on a zebra crossing, zig zag road markings, the brow of a hill or opposite another parked vehicle on a narrow road.
Pull up in your parking spot
When you’ve identified a suitable parking spot, use the MSM routine to pull up on the left-hand side. Check your centre and left door mirror, signal if there’s following or oncoming traffic, and gradually reduce your speed as you move over. Try to finish with your wheels straight and at least one car length away from the parked vehicle. Doing so will stop you from climbing the kerb, swinging out into the middle of the road, or getting too close to the parked vehicletthe handbrake.
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