Parallel Parking

If there is a space you would like to get into that requires the parallel parking manoeuvre, you will need to:

-Pick the space you want to go into, then drive alongside the car in front of the space. You need to leave half a metre (50cm) gap between the side of your car and the other car.

-Slowly drive forward in first gear until your knees are level with the front of the other vehicle.

 

-Then pick reverse gear and slowly drive backwards, keep your steering wheel straight until in your left wing mirror the vehicle disappears from view.

-At this point still driving the car slowly backwards, turn your steering wheel slowly and gradually full lock to the left. (Be aware at this point your car bonnet will swing out into the other side of the road so be careful as this is potentially dangerous if full observations are not constantly used).

 -Then once the same reference point you use in bay parking comes into line with the back right side of the other vehicle, begin to slowly and gradually turn your steering wheel full lock to the right (this brings the car bonnet back into the correct side of the road)- still reversing.

 -Once the car looks like it is straight turn the steering wheel back to the straight position (usually one and a half turns- to the right on this occasion)- quickly this time.

-Then back into neutral and handbrake on. (If you feel like you need to go forward a bit to make up the gap feel free to do this, as long as it’s sensible to do so).

Remember:

There may be a possibility that your car will stray either too close or too far away from the curb when carrying out this manoeuvre, all you need to do is correct the positioning of the car either left (to go closer to curb or right to come away from the curb)- the same curb correction used in left reverse.

Remember to always throughout the manoeuvre check all round observations including blind spots. If another vehicle comes behind or towards you  assess whether they’re going to wait for you or not, then take appropriate action eg. Turn your left indicator on to tell them you have stopped for them etc.


Watch these videos for a different perspective:

 

Bay parking

Before you try and do bay parking you need to understand how reversing works so that you feel confident reversing in your car, and secondly you have to find your reference point in order to be able to carry out the manoeuvre in the first place.

How reversing works:

-To get into reverse gear you need press the clutch down to the floor and select reverse gear on the gear stick, then find the biting point.

-To reverse back slowly press the clutch down.

-To reverse back quickly bring the clutch up (release pressure on the clutch with your foot).

-When reversing you need to look over your shoulder to move into a clear pathway.

Reference point for bay parking:

The reference point for bay parking is the point where you begin to turn the steering wheel in order to reverse into the parking space.

To find this you need to:

-In the middle of the road reverse slowly straight backwards and stop when the line of the bay comes just parallel under your left wing mirror (the bottom of your wing mirror should look like it's touching the bay line).

-Get out of your car and stand on the line you have lined up with facing towards the wing mirror.

Walk in a straight line from the bay line towards the car wing mirror. The wing mirror needs to be in line with the bay line you are standing on, in order to get your correct reference point. If wing mirror is not in line with the bay marking you will need to get back into your car and move forward or backwards correctly line up with the bay line. Again, get out and check the line until wing mirror and bay line are parallel with each other.

-Once bay line and wing mirror are in line sit in your normal driving position and see where the bay line meets a reference point inside your vehicle (see image below yellow line, edge of door handle become reference point)- it could be a door handle or mark on the window etc. This reference point will then act as your point for point of turn when beginning to turn into the bay. 

 

Remember that if you want to go into the right bay you need to use the same method for finding the right hand side reference point for point of turn. Usually in most cars you can transfer the left reference parallel to the same object that is on the right hand side of the car opposite, for example if the left door handle edge is my reference point, this will also be the reference on the right hand edge door handle for going into a right bay.

 

Bay Parking:

-First drive into the centre of the road (only if it’s safe and convenient to do so) and select reverse gear and find the biting point.

-Then check observations, begin to reverse backwards in a straight line keeping the steering wheel straight at all times.

-When car comes to the bay line you wish to turn at (remembering at point of turn it will take you 3 bays back) put full lock on either left (on left bay park) or right (for right bay park). Remember to observe the road around you.

-Then eventually when you feel the car is straight quickly take the full lock off and bring steering wheel to the straight position, so that your wheels are completely straight.

-Reverse backwards (keeping steering wheel straight) until the car fits in the bay nicely. Then secure car and into neutral.

Remember you should be doing this manoeuvre all on clutch control, and possibly using the brake if needing to slow down. Sometimes you may need to use the accelerator (gas) pedal to prevent the car from stalling for example reversing into a slight incline going into the bay as it gives more power to the car therefore preventing it from stalling.

Left reverse (round a corner)

-Drive past and make sure the road is clear.

-Stop on the other side of the road around 3 car lengths away from the junction. Keep a 30cm (1 ft) distance away from the side of the kerb- always maintain this throughout the manoeuvre.

-Prepare the car and find the biting point to reverse etc.

-Check observations, start from left blind spot to right (check all mirrors).

-Reverse slowly keeping the steering wheel straight, whilst doing this look over left shoulder. Glance in left mirror to check the correct 30cm distance of car and kerb.

If car gets too close to the kerb e.g. less than 30cm from kerb, turn one full turn to the right slowly. If car gets too far away from the kerb e.g. more than 30cm from kerb, turn one full turn to the left.

-When the corner of the kerb disappears from the back window stop and put the handbrake on. Check in left mirror to see if distance of kerb and car are still maintained at 30cm. Prepare the car and check observations.

-Now turn steering wheel one full turn to the left (because you will be going round the corner at this point).

-When the car looks parallel (straight) with the kerb straighten the car up by turning the steering wheel one full turn to the right, whilst steering keeping the 30cm distance from kerb. (Use back reference point to adjust car to make it parallel to the kerb).

-Reverse back 3 car lengths and stop (secure the car and return to neutral).

Remember:

Don’t dry steer (steer with steering wheel when car not moving) because this is counted as a minor driving fault in the actual test.


Check out this great video below for a visual look at the maneuver: