Parallel parking is a method of parking a vehicle in line with other parked cars. Cars parked in parallel are in one line, parallel to the curb, with the front bumper of each car facing the back bumper of the adjacent one. Parallel parking requires driving the car in reverse gear into the parking space. Roads that facilitate said parking have an extra lane or a large shoulder for parked cars. It is also employed anytime parking facilities are not available—usually in large metropolitan areas where there is a high density of vehicles and few (or restricted) accommodations such as multi-storey car parks.
Parallel parking is considered to be one of the hardest skills for new drivers to learn. Parallel parking allows a vehicle to park in a smaller space than would be true of forward parking. Driving forward into a parking space on the side of a road is typically not possible unless two successive parking spaces are empty. Reversing into the spot via the parallel parking technique allows one to take advantage of a single empty space not much longer than the car (in order to complete the parking within three wheel-turns the parking space would generally need to be about one and a half car-length long).
If you think proper driving position means having your hands positioned at “10 and 2 o’clock” on the steering wheel (as they taught you in driver’s-education class), get with the times! You see, automobiles have changed considerably in the past few years… and therefore, so should your driving habits. Relax – the changes are minor, and they can actually increase your driving safety and comfort, which will come in handy on those long road trips.
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The first thing you will need is a vehicle. Assuming you have one, the next step is to get in the vehicle, in the driver’s seat. Then wear your seat belt.
For most vehicles, you will need to take the key that came with the vehicle, or a copy, and insert it into the ignition. This is often near the steering wheel and is a round piece of metal with writing with a keyhole in it. Insert the key all the way into the ignition after you find it.
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