For the experienced driver, the ins and outs of parking seem almost second nature. But, if you’re still new behind the wheel, getting that perfect park job first try can feel almost impossible. One of the most intimidating things for any new driver is the infamous parallel park. It requires a unique combination of spatial awareness, mechanical precision, and patience that can only be achieved through “Practice, practice, practice.” says Jason Bentley, a professional driver and trainer at Schneider National, a trucking company based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. For many drivers, parallel parking brings a great deal of anxiety and fear: holding up traffic; scratching someone’s car; hitting the curb or even getting blocked in are all reasonable things to worry about. Bentley deals with up and coming truck drivers on a daily basis, and stresses how important it is to “take it slow and keep calm” when performing any difficult maneuver in order to minimize the chances of any of those things happening.
An quiet road and no one behind you will make the process both much easier and less stressful. Also be sure to check whether you can even fit in the spot you’re trying to back into. From here, the actual process isn’t too complicated. Line your vehicle’s mirror to the one in front of the spot, making sure to not be too close. Right now, your vehicle is straight, 12 o’clock. For the next steps, “make extensive use of your mirrors” to enhance your parallel parking experience. Cut your wheel to the right and begin reversing until your vehicle is at 10 o’clock, pointing left. Bentley says it’s safest to “stop to make the turns of your wheel” instead of doing the whole park in one go. Then, once you are certain that your bumper will clear the bumper of the car in front of you, cut your wheel to the left and back into the spot. Once you feel that most of your car is in the spot, straighten your wheel and adjust as needed. Ideally, you should be about a foot off the curb with enough room to get out.
With 40 years of experience under his belt, Bentley admits that “it’s not something you do often”. Still, it’s good to be a pro at it. It’ll feel great doing it flawlessly and confidently no matter how precarious the parking situation gets.