How To Parallel Park

Parallel Parking – follow these steps

 

On the test you may be asked to pull up some distance behind a target car, the examiner will then explain that they would like you to carry out a parallel park on the car in front. 

 

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1. Before moving out from behind the target car, you are looking to park behind, do your normal moving off checks.  Once done put your signal on, complete your final check over your right shoulder, then move out and draw parallel to the target car.
   
   
   
    

2. You are aiming to be ‘snug’ to the target car, this will be no more than 60cm / 2 feet away from the parked car.  Make sure that your car is parallel to the target car and stop when the wing mirrors of your car are level with the wing mirrors of the target car.  If the care is facing you, line up to the back door handles of the target car.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
    

3. Once you are in position, stop and put the car into reverse, this will show anyone approaching from behind what you are intending to do as your white reverse lights will come on.  
   
   
    

4. Before moving backwards, you must complete your observation sweep from over your right shoulder all the way round to the back window.  This sweep must be completed every two seconds, as has already been said, it must be done each time before you move backwards. 
   
   
   
    

5. Make sure you complete your right shoulder to back window sweep before reversing and repeat every two seconds until you stop moving.  Creep the car backwards until you are level with the back door handles of the target car.  If the car is facing towards you, creep the car back until you are level with the wing mirrors.
   
   
   
    

6. Make sure you complete your right shoulder to back window sweep before reversing and repeat every two seconds until you stop moving.  As the car is creeping backwards, complete one rotation of the wheel to the left, keep undertaking your checks every two seconds.  You need to stop the car once it is 45 degrees to the kerb, at this point you will see the “pizza slice” in your little round mirror.  The pizza slice triangle is made up when the back of your car is on the kerb.  The spot you are looking for is halfway between the back door handle and the top of the back wheel.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
    

7. Make sure you complete your right shoulder to back window sweep before reversing and repeat every two seconds until you stop moving.  As the car is creeping backwards, complete one fast rotation of the wheel to the right.  Top tip, keep the car moving at a creep as it will give you time to undertake your checks and assess.
   
   
   You will need to complete a second rotation to the right, BUT the speed of this second rotation needs to be judged by looking in your small round mirror.  You can judge how far you are away from the kerb by looking where the bottom of the tyre is in relation to the kerb.  If you are too far away from the kerb slow the second rotation down, if you are too close, speed it up and you may need to go full lock quickly.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
    

8. Stop the car once it is parallel with the kerb and the car in front and straighten your wheels with one rotation of the wheel to the left.  If you are too close to the car in front you can reverse back a little, BUT make sure you complete your right shoulder to back window sweep before reversing and repeat every two seconds until you stop moving.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   This clip provides a parallel park walkthrough - car facing away from you
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   This clip provides a parallel park walkthrough - car facing towards you