Parking your car is one of the most difficult maneuvers. Errors during its execution often lead to the formation of traffic jams and even road accidents. It is for this reason that "parallel parking" is one of the must-have exercises for passing the exam and obtaining the long-awaited driver's license.
Parallel parking: what is this method and what is it for
The purpose of the maneuver is to park at the edge of the carriageway or on the side of the road in conditions of tight traffic, "squeeze" into a small free space between two standing cars.
To successfully, as they say, "automatically", to perform this difficult maneuver, some initial skills will not be enough. It will take some experience, which drivers gain only with years of practice. At first, prepare for annoying signals from other road users that you will block roadway in vain attempts to put your car parallel to the curb, and not at an angle of 45-60 degrees.
Therefore, even having received the license, it will not be superfluous to once again practice with parallel parking somewhere on an empty free area and get acquainted with the advice of experienced drivers. However, first, let us recall once again what is the technique of staging a car by the parallel parking method.
What to look out for before performing parallel parking
Moving along the road, it is not so easy to monitor the situation and at the same time look for a parking space. However, try to concentrate anyway and make sure of the following before starting the maneuver:
- First, make sure there is enough space you choose to park your car. If you are an inexperienced driver, do not try to squeeze "back to back". This is fraught with accidents. It is very important that the length of the free space exceeds the dimensions of your machine by 2-3 meters.
- Second, think about those around you. If the car you have left blocks the only pedestrian path or blocks the exit for someone, it will be not only impolite, but also unsafe. We already have enough boors on the roads. In addition, hardly anyone wants to find their vehicle with flat tires or a huge scratch made by a nail.
- Make sure the rules road traffic allow you to park the car at this place. Be guided only by signs and road markings, but by no means other machines. Traffic police officers generally do not care how many motorists are fined: two or three.
- You can also pay attention to the safety of the parking space itself: you should not leave vehicles next to a cliff or under a half-fallen hundred-year-old oak tree.
- Please note that vehicles with four-wheel drive the turning radius is slightly smaller than the others. Pay attention to this when taxiing into a parking space.
How to do parallel parking correctly
Having found a parking space, which will most often be located in the middle between parked cars, you should perform a certain sequence of actions. In this case, the classic version of parking to the left of the curb is considered. If you want to stop on a one-way carriageway on the right side, the procedure is exactly the same, but the steering wheel will need to be turned in the opposite direction.
- First of all, you need to smoothly drive up to a free space and slow down strictly in line with the car behind which you are going to park. For safety, keep a distance of 50–100 cm from it. It is also important that the free space is at least one and a half times larger than the dimensions of your car. This will give a certain freedom of maneuvering and avoid annoying collisions with other cars.
- With the steering wheel turned as far to the right as possible, start driving in reverse and watch through the right side mirror... Do not forget, of course, to turn on the right "turn signal" before starting the maneuver. Stop immediately after you see the right headlight of a car behind you in the right rearview mirror.
- Return the steering wheel to neutral and back up slowly until your right mirror is level with the rear bumper of the vehicle in front. Stop.
- Turn out steering wheel as far as possible to the left, and back up until you are strictly parallel to the curb between two standing vehicles. The dimensions can be followed using mirrors. Usually instructors do not recommend leaning out of windows for better view, but if it's convenient for you, it is better to do it not quite right at first than to hit someone in the bumper. In addition, mirrors give only 70% of the surrounding space. Everything else is hiding in the so-called dead zones.
- Be careful not to run over the curb or catch cars in front and behind you. If the car ends up getting a little crooked, the free space will allow you to make some adjustments. It is not recommended to abandon a car that has become uneven, because the protruding corner of a parked car can impede the passage of other road users.
Newbie tips from experienced car owners about parallel parking the right way
- The most important advice for parallel parking - it's not in a hurry. Vanity will only lead to mistakes. And remember that it will usually take even an experienced driver 16 to 25 seconds to complete the maneuver. And a beginner will still need time to overcome stress and remember theoretical recommendations;
- In conditions of heavy traffic, before engaging reverse gear during a maneuver, you should light up the emergency gang so that none of the drivers collides with you;
- Never forget that a nimble pedestrian or cyclist can literally come out of nowhere, so for any maneuver, look at both the left and right mirrors;
- In order to better remember the dimensions, to feel them, to avoid scratches and dents on your car after touching curbs, pillars and, God forbid, other vehicles, it is recommended to glue tightly inflated balloons on the sides before parking the car. A sharp pop will allow you to hit the brake in time, provided you have a good reaction. This method will save you from several mistakes, and after that you will already acquire sufficient skill.
The problem of parking in a big city is becoming more and more urgent. The difficulty lies in the fact that you need to find a place where to stop and try to park correctly. It is sometimes difficult for experienced drivers to find a free seat where they can easily enter, and, most importantly, then leave. Not to mention newbies who have a hard time parking.
Recently, most cars are equipped with parking assistance systems, which greatly facilitates this task for inexperienced beginners. But, nevertheless, all drivers need to know the parallel parking technique and correctly implement it in an urban environment.
In order for you to understand in detail and to be able to easily apply the theory in practice, we have divided the entire process of parallel parking into 4 stages. Detailed explanations with a visual training video will help you quickly understand the specifics of performing this maneuver and are not afraid to carry out it on the streets of the city.
- Warn other drivers by turning on the turn signal. Drive slowly along the line of parked cars, looking for free space.
- When you find a parking space, slow down and try to determine by eye whether your car will fit there. Remember, to fully fit the front and rear of the vehicle, you need an additional 60 centimeters.
- Ignore the rushing car enthusiasts in the back who are frantically blinking their headlights or honking you. It's up to you to park well, the rest is not important.
What could be the error:
If you inaccurately match the dimensions of your car with the available space, it may turn out that the car will not fit in it. In cases where there are no special markings for parking cars, cars may stand unevenly. Therefore, soberly assess the size of your "horse" and do not try to squeeze it into a place where only the "mini" can hardly park.
Alignment
The second stage of parallel parking is no less important, since it correct execution your entry into the place depends.
Follow these steps:
- Finding appropriate placewithout turning off the turn signal, you need to drive by.
- Stop your car next to an already parked car, at a distance of 80 centimeters, being seated in front of the selected free space. Make sure that rear wheel your car is aligned with the end of a stationary car. To accurately perform this maneuver, just look out the window back door and stop the car only when the end of the parked car is aligned with the C-pillar of your car.
What could be the error:
If you stop too close to a stationary car, you may scratch the cars while entering the parking lot. You should try to align the rear wheel with the end of the other car, if you do not, you will hit your car, or you will find yourself at a different angle than you should be before the third stage of parallel parking.
Entry
The third stage of parallel parking is the most important. Pay attention to all the described actions, since it depends on how you enter the free space.
Follow these steps:
- Park the car in the back and turn the steering wheel to the right.
- Back up slowly, making a 45-degree angle with the sidewalk, then quickly align the wheels.
- Back up at a 45 degree angle until the right rearview mirror is aligned with the left corner of the vehicle in front. Once you have achieved this, you can stop the movement. There are a couple more ways to help you know when to stop. If you see in the left-hand mirror that the end of your car is directly opposite the headlights of a car in the back or rear right wheel approached the sidewalk.
What could be the error:
If you do not turn the steering wheel completely to the right before you start driving into an empty seat, then you will need more room for a 45-degree angle. Therefore, the lack of distance from the vehicle behind you will not allow you to align your car.
If you drive in at an angle less than 45 degrees, you will not be able to get close to the sidewalk and level the vehicle. If you drive at a steep angle, then almost the entire distance in front of you and the car in front will disappear, and again you will not be able to align your car.
If you don't backtrack properly, your car will stick out of the lane. But if you reverse for too long, you will drive onto the sidewalk and you will need to drive a little forward to position the vehicle properly.
Straightening
The fourth stage of parking is the easiest. It is the final part of the whole process and if you have coped with the first three points, then you will learn the last part without effort, although it will not do without geometry.
Follow these steps:
- When you drive in at a 45 degree angle and the right rearview mirror is aligned with the left corner of the front car, turn the steering wheel fully to the left.
- Back up slowly until you are sure your vehicle is parallel to the shoulder. Look in the rear-view mirror, if your car is exactly in a row with the car behind, it means that you have parked correctly (provided that standing car parked parallel to the sidewalk).
- Once parked parallel to the side of the road, stop traffic and straighten the wheels. Take a safe distance from cars in front and behind, leaving equal space between them.
- Before stopping the engine, place the engine in neutral and apply the parking brake.
What could be the error:
Do not turn the steering wheel very quickly to the left as this will cause your vehicle to hit in front standing car... You need to make sure that the front of your car has already missed the rear of a parked car, or that the right mirror is aligned properly. Do not turn the steering wheel too late, as this leaves no room in the back to level the vehicle.
How to do parallel parking: step by step instructions
Perhaps you will find an empty seat, which will be the last in the row. In this case, take your time to take it using the front of the car, because you will need a lot of space to align the car parallel to the side of the road without backing up. When driving in reverse, the turning radius of the car is much smaller, which does not negate its maneuverability in confined spaces. We advise you to follow the same rules above, missing only the moment where you need to look at the back of a parked car.
Forward parallel parking
If you still want to do the parallel parking maneuver using the front of the car, you can use the following trick. When entering a row, you will need to drive onto the sidewalk (if it is low enough): move forward slowly, getting your front right wheel onto the side of the road. As soon as the rear right wheel is level with the curb, turn the steering wheel all the way to the left. This will pull you off the curb, but your vehicle will now be closely aligned with the sidewalk. There should still be a little space in the front, do not forget about this. This is a maneuver you can do if you are completely confident that you can handle it and if there is enough room for the trick.
The above rules for parallel parking are applicable to conventional hatchbacks and sedans, but in practice there are different situations and here it is already necessary to assess the dimensions of the car, visibility, etc. Exercise caution on the road and be attentive and careful when parking your car.
Don't panic or rush when parking on a one-lane, one-way street. First, give a signal that you will park and then calmly do your job, ignoring the cars driving behind you and demanding to let them pass. If you are in a hurry, you will not be able to park properly.
Hone this skill to mastery by repeating it over and over. Very soon you will be able to quickly and accurately drive backwards into an empty seat, thanks to one movement of the steering wheel.
To show you the principle of parallel parking, we have provided a video tutorial from YouTube.
But in addition to documents, driving requires well-developed skills. The topic of today's discussion is especially relevant for novice drivers. The problem of parking vehicles is becoming more and more popular in large settlements, where it is more and more difficult to find a free space. Parallel parking will help to drive into a small opening between neighboring cars step-by-step instruction for which will be given below. In order to park in a city or any other place with an abundance of transport, you need to complete several stages, each of which we will consider in detail. Thanks to this instruction, even novice drivers will not feel discomfort.
We start with the fact that you need to find a free niche between other standing cars. Slow down, turn on the direction indicator and slowly move along the line of parked cars. If such a place is found, you should first assess how it fits in its dimensions for your car.
Standard dimensions should be such that at least another 50-60 centimeters can be freely added to the body length - if you are a professional driver. If you are a beginner, then this distance should be about 2 meters.
At this stage, it is important to sensibly assess the dimensions of your car. Otherwise, it turns out that you can't squeeze it in, and you have to look for the next place. All this time, cars driving behind, for which you have created an obstacle, may impatiently honk and flash high beam - you don't need to pay attention to it.
How to properly check-in
The next stage will determine how easy and successful it will be to complete the race for dummies. As soon as we found a free opening, we drive past it a little further and stop. The direction indicator, however, remains on, signaling our intentions. The nearest parked car should be positioned so that our rear wheel is flush with the edge of its body. To do this, you can look out the window and orient yourself.
All this time, it is necessary to carefully evaluate the distance to nearby vehicles. If you do not comply, then there is a risk of scratching someone's property. It is also important to observe correct angle - it should be enough to make the maneuver in reverse. 
Now we proceed directly to entering the parking space. We turn the steering wheel to the right and begin to take it back. This must be done slowly and watch that an angle of 40 degrees is formed. The maneuver is performed until the right rearview mirror reaches the left corner of the vehicle in front. How to make sure of this - there is another tip for beginners. In the left mirror, we can see that we have approached the curb (sidewalk), or the back of our car is in such a way that the headlights of the car behind us disappeared from sight in the mirror.
If the wheels were not turned out before desired anglethen we probably won't have enough traffic to level our car and put it parallel to others already parked on both sides. Too large, as well as too small an angle, will not make it possible to put the car straight.
End of parking process by side mirrors
If the previous steps of parking were performed correctly, then we will only have to straighten the vehicle. After we have taken an empty seat and drove into it at an angle of 40 degrees, we carefully observe the mirrors, left and right. As soon as the right mirror reaches the rear edge of the car in front, we begin to twist the steering wheel to the left to the extreme position. 
Continuing to move in reverse on the mirrors, we make sure that our car is parallel to the roadside. After this, you can stop moving and finally straighten the wheels. Additional maneuvers may be required to the front or rear along the shoulder to allow sufficient clearance for front and rear drivers to exit.
At this stage, you need to be extremely careful - if you start moving the steering wheel to the left too quickly and sharply, there is a risk of catching in front standing car... To avoid this, we look so that the right front mirror goes out to required level, which was mentioned above. If you start to turn the steering wheel in back side too late, there is not enough space to align.
These skills need to be honed at every opportunity. After some time, you will definitely achieve mastery. For those who still feel insecure behind the wheel, the nearest race track will help you learn how to parallel parking. There you can learn the secrets of parking without the risk of damaging someone else's car. That's all for today, dear friends.
Having mastered the skills of parking, you can easily go even to. Good luck on the road, subscribe to blog updates and we will be in touch!
In the pocket! Now you can move around the city in your car, but there will be a lot of inconveniences for a novice car enthusiast. In conditions big city, there is a problem of finding parking spaces and if a place is difficult to find, then another snag appears, but how to park correctly?
In a driving school, of course, we are taught this technique, but with self-driving, due to lack of experience, there is some fear of reverse parking or other types of parking. In this article, we'll look at useful driving techniques to help you learn how to park properly.
Reverse parking
How to reverse park correctly? Consider the near and far method (perpendicular), as well as parallel.
Near parking between cars. We find a free space and drive closer to it, stop so that the front wheels are on the marking line (see the picture - position No. 1).
Next, turn the steering wheel all the way to the side of the parking lot and move to the side at an angle of 42-47 degrees. As soon as the corner of the car appears in the right mirror (neighbor to the right), we stop (No. 2). Now, we unscrew the steering wheel in the opposite direction and slowly hand it over, controlling the process in the mirrors. We stop when your car is level with the neighbors, for example, on the mirrors or on the doors (No. 3).
Long distance parking between cars. We stop so that your driver's seat is on the same level with the second car in the parking lot (No. 1).
We unscrew the steering wheel in the direction of the parking lot and return it back until your car takes a level position along the parking lines (no. 2). It remains to align the wheels and back to the end (no. 3).
How to park correctly - parallel parking. We are looking for a free space between cars, it is desirable that it be spacious (one and a half cars would fit). Once the place has been found, we stop parallel to the car behind which we will stand (No. 1).
We turn the steering wheel towards the parking lot and slowly back up at an angle of 42-47 degrees until position 2 is obtained. Next, we twist the steering wheel in the opposite direction and, continuing to take back, we take correct position (№3).
Video: how to park in parallel (in reverse).
We have covered the most common ways - how to properly park backwards.
Reverse exit (from the parking lot). We hand over exactly back until we catch up with our front bumper with the ends of the dimensions of the neighboring cars (No. 2).
We unscrew the steering wheel in the opposite direction from the exit and back it up until free movement forward (No. 3). We turn the steering wheel in the right direction and go (№4).
Forward parking
How to park in front correctly? Let's consider parallel and perpendicular methods.
Check in before. We find a free space and stop so that the bumper of your car is in the middle of the future parking lot (No. 1).
And the distance between your car and the starting line of the parking space should be within 1.5 blocks vehicle... Using the steering wheel, we move to position number 2. Then, we twist the steering wheel in the opposite direction and move back (No. 3). We put the wheels straight and drive into an empty seat (No. 4).
Video: how to park in front (perpendicular).
How to park in parallel in a forward direction. We stop next to the car, in front of which we will park so that your driver's seat is on the same level with the bumper of the neighboring car (No. 1).
Now, turning the steering wheel in the desired direction, slowly drive into the free space parallel to the curb (No. 2). We put the wheels straight and back using mirrors (no. 3).
How to quickly become a parking ace?
We got acquainted with the theory, and it takes practice to feel confident when parking! If you just got behind the wheel, then do not rush to join the city stream. It is better to find a calm area, place pegs on it (you can put loved ones instead of them), which will pretend to represent other cars.
And with the help of such an autodrome, you will feel the dimensions of your car and learn how to park correctly different ways... Believe me, this way you will save your own and other people's nerves, and the banknotes will remain with you - in case of damage to someone else's or your own car due to an unsuccessful arrival in your pocket.
For every novice driver, reverse parking is the most difficult operation. And not every driving school teaches this method to park, giving only the basics in driving and parking. Many drivers are forced to gain experience in this maneuver on their own, sometimes making mistakes or causing damage to other car owners.
Therefore, in order to avoid such situations, it is better to study the parking process in detail first in theory and then slowly in practice.
Parking types
Before starting the study, it is worth understanding for yourself two important truths: parking can be parallel and perpendicular. These two methods are very different from each other.
Parallel parking is placing the car parallel to the curb and, accordingly, to the road. This method is relevant when there is a need to stop for a short time, drop passengers or drop into the nearest store.
Perpendicular parking - the car is parked perpendicular to the curb and road, at right angles. This type is used when staging transport for a long time, in parking lots, in the courtyards of multi-storey buildings, etc.
Important! Depending on your situation, you can use one or another parking method.
Reverse parking for women
Most women studying in a driving school are embarrassed to ask an instructor to teach them how to park in reverse. So in the end, all they can do is stop at the curb.
Attention! In driving schools, there are special areas for teaching parking in reverse, perpendicular and in a parallel way!
But do not despair, our article will help you gain basic theoretical skills that you can easily apply in action.
Reverse parallel parking
So, let's take a closer look at parallel parking.
At first glance, this is the easiest method to park your car by the side of the road. In fact, the difficulty can lie if there is not enough space for a free entrance, and you need to squeeze in between two other cars.
Choosing a place
So, if you estimated the distance less than 1.5 times the length of the car, then it is recommended to look for another place. Even experienced drivers do not always risk squeezing into such a pocket, let alone newcomers on the road. It's easier to look for more free space than to risk causing damage to three cars at once.
We carry out a maneuver
Parallel parking in reverse between two cars is performed if the distance exceeds 1.5 car lengths.
In the same way, you can make a maneuver to put the car in a special pocket on the side of the road. Parallel parking in reverse is very simple, as you can see for yourself.
In more detail and clearly, you can see how to parallel park in reverse in the video:
Reverse perpendicular parking
The most difficult maneuver is considered to be perpendicular parking in reverse in urban conditions, when there is very little space for turning and entering. Therefore, this method of staging should be approached very carefully and slowly. After several attempts, you should be able to park your car fairly easily and quickly perpendicular to the road. As the saying goes, experience comes with practice.
Choosing a starting position
When parking perpendicularly backwards, it is extremely important to choose the right position from which to start driving. To do this, you need to pass the car that will be on your right after successful parking, so that your rear hood is at the level of its front bumper. This is the starting position for starting the pocket-check maneuver.
We carry out perpendicular parking backwards
The width of the main passage between cars is on average 6 meters. This is the distance at which you will maneuver and use it to enter your pocket.
- Stop as mentioned above, unscrew the front wheels all the way, in the opposite direction from standing next to car side;
- drive as far forward as possible and stop. Please note: in the right side mirror you should see the left rake angle the cars they were just standing next to;
- align the wheels to their original position, slowly begin to move backward, approximately 1-1.5 m;
- as soon as your rear wheel is level with the front corner of someone else's car, unscrew the steering wheel in the opposite direction from it and slowly drive into your pocket;
- making sure that you do not hit the standing car on the left, turn the steering wheel all the way and, entering, observe the distance from the right car;
- when you place your car at the same distance from both people standing next to you, then put the wheels straight and go straight in reverse.
Thus, you can park your car in a parking lot, in a parking lot or near your house - wherever there is a need for perpendicular parking.
To fully understand reverse parking between two cars, the video will help you:
The most common mistakes
Young and inexperienced drivers alike can make exactly the same mistakes when parking backwards. To avoid them, you just need to understand why they happen.
Mistake # 1 Collision with the nearest car located in the direction of travel.
An incorrectly chosen place of the starting position can lead to just such a situation, and cause damage to other people's property. In this case, you have passed the original location. To avoid a collision, stop, turn the wheels straight and drive forward one meter. Then turn the steering wheel again in the opposite direction from side car and repeat the movement backwards.
Mistake # 2. Hitting the second, distant car.
The reason for the collision is, again, the wrong starting position - you did not reach it. In this case, it is recommended to turn out and start over.
Mistake number 3. Offset of the car from the center: to the left or right side. In some cases, this can lead to a side collision or the inability to open the car door.
Align the car
When parking perpendicularly in reverse, there is often an offset to one side of the central lane. If you also succeed, then there is an opportunity to fix everything.
- Turn the steering wheel all the way so that the wheels turn towards a greater distance;
- drive forward and drive approximately one meter. Your goal is to turn the axis of the car at an angle in relation to parking space;
- align the wheels straight and drive one more meter. In this case, the distance between your rear wheels and nearby cars;
- now turn the wheels towards a smaller distance and drive a little forward;
- all you have to do is align the wheels to their original position, and drive in reverse into the gap between the cars.
How to Reverse a Parking Lot
Be extremely careful when reversing out of the parking lot, you must be ready to step on the brake pedal at any time and stop the car.
- Turn on reverse gear and start slowly leaving your pocket;
- at the moment when your windshield will be opposite rear bumper the car located on the right, turn the steering wheel to the right;
- watch out for the left wing so as not to hit nearest car;
- the more you drive out of the dead end, the more turn the wheels to the right;
- when fully driven, stop, turn the wheels in the opposite direction and start slowly moving forward.
What is important to know about
Some drivers do not attach much importance to compliance general rules when parking backwards, resulting in unpleasant collisions and property damage. Here are the basics correct parking:
Important! Observing and considering these simple rules, you will not only save your car from damage, but also protect other road users from damage.
Remember that if you cannot get out of the parking lot or enter on your own, you can always ask the parking worker or other drivers for help.
