A survey conducted by the Australian Road Safety Foundation (ARSF) found that 48% of drivers struggle with parallel parking. This indicates the anxiety of drivers towards parallel parking. Learning parallel parking helps you find parking spaces easily, instead of driving to find a spot to drive straight in. In this blog, we will discuss parking tips and mistakes to avoid during parallel parking.
Understanding parallel parking
Parallel parking is a technique that involves parking a vehicle parallel to the road, usually in a tight space between two vehicles. Parallel parking is considered a valuable skill for Australian drivers. Parking spaces may be limited at peak hours in Australia and this skill allows drivers to make use of the available space. The main challenge faced by drivers during parallel parking is the limited parking spaces. Traffic can also be a challenge to perform parallel parking. Vehicle size and lack of practice are other challenges faced by drivers.
Parallel parking tips for beginners in Australia
Finding the right spot: Analyse the space and make sure that it is enough for manoeuvring and parking your vehicle. Choose a space where you have a clear view of oncoming traffic. Avoid narrow spaces and uneven ground.
Approaching the space: Drive past the space and align the rear bumper of your car with the rear bumper of the front car. Make sure your car is parallel two feet to the side of the parked car.
Turn into the space: Turn your wheels all the way to the right and reverse until you can see the licence plate of the car on the back. Straighten the steering wheel and reverse until the front of your car passes the rear bumper of the first car. Turn your wheel all the way to the left and reverse until you are behind the car.
Adjust your position: Straighten the wheel and centre the car after entering the space.
Exiting the space: Turn the wheel in the direction you want to exit and drive forward. Use turn signals and check the mirrors before manoeuvring. Straighten the steering wheel when the front of your car clears the rear bumper of the car in front of you and merges with traffic.
Common parallel parking mistakes to avoid
Never park too close or too far from other vehicles. This can damage the bumper of your car and other vehicles during parking. Turning too sharply can result in loss of control and cause damage to your vehicle. Perform the parallel parking process in a slow manner without any rush. Failing to use mirrors results in misjudging the space between the vehicles and not seeing oncoming traffic. Use rear and side mirrors appropriately.
Practice makes perfect
With enough practice, anyone can learn parallel parking. Find an empty parking lot to practise parallel parking without the disturbance of traffic. Using cones or markers allows you to practise well and identify areas that need improvement. You can also consider the option of joining a driving school. Driving schools can provide specialised parking lessons to make you familiar with parallel parking.
In this blog we have discussed the top parallel parking tips. We explained the steps to follow and the mistakes to avoid during parallel parking. Practising well under the guidance of a professional can help you learn parallel parking easily. Developing parallel parking skills helps you to park in tight spaces rather than looking for large parking spaces.