One of the most difficult skills that new drivers learn is that of parallel parking. This procedure involves navigating your car between two cars in a line that is parallel to the curb. It’s not just new drivers that have problems with parallel parking; I’ve been driving for 15 fifteen years and never quite mastered this skill. Growing up in the suburbs where parking spots are abundant, I was in shock when discovering that I would have to parallel park in Los Angeles if I wanted to enter certain restaurants or stores. Parallel parking was also never covered during Drivers Classes which I took when I was a teenager. Below are some basic guidelines to help you get your car into that tight spot!

The first step isn’t too difficult; simply find a spot you would like to park in. If you’re a beginner you may want to find a spot that isn’t too narrow. Utilize your turn signals in order to indicate that you would like to park and make sure that the cars behind you have stopped. Do not panic and feel like you have to rush if there are other cars behind you. Drive your car to a parallel position next to the car right in front of you and put your car into reverse.

The next step is to turn your steering wheel all the way to the right and slowly back your car up while making sure you don’t hit the car behind you or the curb. Use your rear view mirror and enlist the help of a friend to direct you if possible. Once you are almost in the spot you will want to turn the steering wheel to the left and attempt to get the car to line up with the curb. Position and center your so your car so it isn’t too close to the cars in front and behind you in order to make it easy for all parties to drive out of their parking spot.

Hitting the curb can happen to anyone and isn’t a big deal. Parallel parking isn’t a simple feat and it is a skill that may take plenty of time to perfect. In the beginning you may want to practice in a quiet street so you can get the hang of it before trying to park in the big city. You may want to practice to park in a larger spot and once you master that move on to practicing to fit into a more compact space.

You probably don’t have to parallel park very often if you reside in the suburbs like I do. It’s still a useful skill to have in case you want to go to the beach or visit a bustling city where spaces to park are sparse. Like with anything else, parallel parking just takes time and patience to master. Good luck!

Author Bio: Written by Jacqueline Star – If you are looking for used cars in Green Bay, check out Green Bay Car Dealers. For Nissan’s in the Inland Empire visit Riverside Nissan. In Los Angeles check out Los Angeles Nissan for a great selection.

Category: Automotive
Keywords: parallel parking, parking, cars, autos, vehicles, automotive