How to Parallel Park to Pass Road Test :: Step-by-Step Instructions

Summary

In this instructional video, Rick from Smart Drive Test offers a comprehensive guide to parallel parking, a common challenge for new drivers. He emphasizes the importance of checking for legal spaces, aligning bumpers with the car ahead, and using the 45° angle method to back into the spot. Rick advises staying calm if the curb is hit, and suggests practicing with different cars to master the skill. The video also highlights the benefits of parallel parking for improving overall driving ability, and reassures viewers that examiners typically allow for mistakes during the road test.

Takeaways

• 🚗 Parallel parking is a common challenge for drivers, especially during road tests.
• 😟 Even experienced instructors find parallel parking stressful, so it's normal to feel challenged.
• 🛑 If you hit the curb during a road test, it's not an automatic fail; adjust and try again.
• 🔁 Practice is crucial for mastering parallel parking; vary your practice scenarios to improve.
• 👀 During a road test, examiners typically ask you to park behind one car, not between two, to reduce difficulty.
• 📏 Ensure the parking space is legal and large enough before attempting to parallel park.
• 🚦 Use your mirrors, signals, and shoulder checks to safely position your car for parallel parking.
• 🔄 Turn your steering wheel fully to the right when backing up and align with the 45° degree mark.
• 🅿️ Once aligned, straighten the wheel and continue backing up until you're one-third to halfway down the hood, then turn the wheel fully left.
• 🏁 After parking, shift into park, apply the parking brake, and ensure you're 6-9 inches from the curb.
• 🤔 Despite the challenges, parallel parking is an essential skill that enhances overall driving ability.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video script?

The main topic of the video script is parallel parking, specifically focusing on step-by-step instructions to pass a road test.

Why is parallel parking considered challenging for many drivers?

Parallel parking is considered challenging because it requires precise control of the vehicle's primary controls, including the steering wheel, throttle, and brake, especially at slow speeds.

What is the first thing the instructor advises to check before attempting to parallel park?

The first thing to check before attempting to parallel park is to ensure the parking space is legal, free of any obstructions like fire hydrants, and not in front of someone's driveway.

How should the driver position their vehicle relative to the car they are parking behind?

The driver should position their vehicle so that the rear bumpers are aligned and there is a space of about one meter or three feet between the vehicles.

What is the significance of finding the 45° degree mark during parallel parking?

The 45° degree mark is significant as it indicates the correct angle to start turning the steering wheel while backing up, which is crucial for successfully maneuvering the vehicle into the parking space.

What should a driver do if they hit the curb during a parallel parking attempt on a road test?

If a driver hits the curb during a parallel parking attempt, they should not panic. Instead, they should pull forward, adjust the vehicle, and attempt to back into the space again.

How does practicing parallel parking in different locations help a driver?

Practicing parallel parking in different locations helps a driver become more comfortable and adept at maneuvering in various scenarios, which can improve their overall driving skills.

What is the recommended distance from the curb after successfully parking?

The recommended distance from the curb after parallel parking is 6-9 inches or 15 to 20 centimeters.

Why do driving examiners typically not ask candidates to park between two vehicles during a road test?

Driving examiners typically do not ask candidates to park between two vehicles during a road test because it is considered unsafe and too challenging for new drivers who are already stressed about the test.

What is the purpose of putting the vehicle in 'reverse' before starting to back up?

Putting the vehicle in 'reverse' before starting to back up signals to traffic behind that the driver intends to back up, increasing safety and awareness.

What is the final step a driver should take after parking to secure the vehicle?

The final step a driver should take after parking to secure the vehicle is to put it in 'Park', apply the parking brake, and for manual transmission vehicles, put it in a low gear.

Outlines

00:00

🚗 Introduction to Parallel Parking for Road Test

Rick from Smart Drive Test addresses the common challenge of parallel parking, particularly in the context of a road test. He empathizes with the frustration and shares his own experience as an instructor. Rick emphasizes that hitting the curb is not an automatic fail and advises on how to adjust if this happens. He stresses the importance of practice and provides a tip for practicing in neighborhoods without arousing suspicion. The video promises a step-by-step guide on how to parallel park for the road test, highlighting that examiners typically allow parking behind one vehicle rather than between two, which can help alleviate test-day stress.

05:01

🔍 Step-by-Step Parallel Parking Instructions

The tutorial continues with a detailed explanation of the parallel parking process. Rick outlines the initial steps, including ensuring the parking space is legal and aligning the rear bumpers of the vehicles. He advises on how to position the car correctly, using the rear passenger window to check alignment. Once in position, the driver should put the car in reverse to signal the intent to park. The segment also covers finding the 45° degree mark, which is crucial for the next steps of the maneuver. The video demonstrates these steps in a studio setting before moving to a practical demonstration.

10:08

🎥 Practical Demonstration of Parallel Parking

Rick takes the lesson outdoors for a practical demonstration of parallel parking. He walks through the process of identifying a suitable parking space, aligning with the vehicle ahead, and using the 45° degree mark to initiate the parking maneuver. The demonstration shows how to turn the steering wheel, back up at the correct angle, and then steer into the space. He explains how to adjust the approach based on the distance of the vehicle from the curb and emphasizes the importance of being approximately 6-9 inches from the curb upon completion. The video concludes with a recap of the steps and a question for viewers about their parallel parking techniques, inviting engagement and sharing of experiences.

Keywords

💡Parallel parking

Parallel parking is a driving technique where a vehicle is parked parallel to the road, between other parked cars. In the context of the video, it is a crucial skill that drivers must learn and demonstrate during a road test. The video provides a step-by-step guide on how to execute this maneuver, emphasizing its importance in teaching due care and control of the vehicle.

💡Road test

A road test is a practical driving examination that assesses a driver's ability to operate a vehicle safely and in accordance with traffic laws. The video script discusses how to prepare for and perform parallel parking as part of a road test, highlighting that while it might be a challenging skill, it is an essential part of the assessment process.

💡45° degree mark

The 45° degree mark is a reference point used by drivers to determine the correct angle at which to begin turning the steering wheel during parallel parking. The video explains the importance of identifying this mark to successfully maneuver the vehicle into the parking space, which is a key step in the parallel parking process.

💡Rear bumpers alignment

Aligning rear bumpers refers to positioning one's vehicle parallel to the vehicle in front of the parking space, with the rear bumpers of both vehicles in a straight line. This is a critical step mentioned in the script to ensure that there is enough space to park and that the vehicle is correctly positioned for the parallel parking maneuver.

💡Mirror, signal, shoulder check

This phrase encompasses a series of safety checks that a driver must perform before changing lanes or making a turn: checking the rearview mirror, using turn signals, and performing a shoulder check to look for vehicles in the blind spot. The video script uses this term to illustrate the proper procedure a driver should follow before attempting to parallel park.

💡Reverse gear

Reverse gear is a gear setting in an automatic or manual transmission that allows the vehicle to move backward. The video script instructs drivers to put their vehicle in reverse gear when preparing to parallel park, signaling to traffic their intention to back into a parking space.

💡Steering wheel

The steering wheel is the control used to direct the front wheels of a vehicle, which is essential for maneuvers like parallel parking. The video provides detailed instructions on how to turn the steering wheel to the right and left at specific points during the parallel parking process to guide the vehicle into the space.

💡Throttle

The throttle is the mechanism that controls the amount of fuel sent to an engine, which in turn controls the vehicle's speed. While not directly mentioned in the script, the concept of throttle control is implicit in the discussion of controlling the vehicle's speed during slow-speed maneuvers like parallel parking.

💡Parking brake

The parking brake is a secondary braking system used to hold a parked vehicle in place and prevent it from rolling. The video script instructs drivers to apply the parking brake after successfully parking the vehicle to secure it, which is a standard safety procedure.

💡Automatic transmission

An automatic transmission is a type of vehicle gearbox that automatically changes gears without the need for a driver to manually select them. The video script provides specific instructions for drivers of automatic vehicles, such as putting the vehicle in 'Park' after parallel parking, which is different from the procedure for manual transmission vehicles.

💡Manual transmission

A manual transmission requires the driver to manually change gears using a clutch pedal and gear shift. The video script briefly mentions that for drivers of manual transmission vehicles, after parallel parking, they should put the vehicle in first gear, apply the parking brake, and then shut off the vehicle.

Highlights

Parallel parking is a common challenge for drivers, especially during road tests.

Hitting the curb during parallel parking is not an automatic fail; you can adjust and try again.

Practice is key for mastering parallel parking, and varying practice locations can be beneficial.

Parallel parking during a road test usually involves parking behind one vehicle, not between two.

Ensure the parking space is legal and free of obstructions like fire hydrants before attempting to park.

Align your vehicle with the one you're parking behind, with the rear bumpers in line and three feet apart.

Use the rear passenger window to check the alignment of your vehicle with the one you're parking behind.

Put your vehicle in reverse to signal your intention to park and to alert traffic behind you.

Locate a 45° degree marker to help with the initial turn when backing into the parking space.

Turn the steering wheel all the way to the right and back up until you reach the 45° degree mark.

After reaching the 45° degree mark, straighten the steering wheel and continue to back up.

Turn the steering wheel all the way to the left when one-third to one-half way down the hood of your vehicle.

Once the vehicle is straight in the space, pull forward until you can see the top of the rear bumper of the vehicle in front.

Secure the vehicle by putting it in 'Park' and applying the parking brake after parallel parking.

The ideal distance from the curb after parallel parking is 6-9 inches or 15-20 centimeters.

Parallel parking teaches due care and control of the vehicle, which improves overall driving skills.

A practical demonstration of parallel parking is provided to illustrate the step-by-step process.

The video concludes with a recap of the parallel parking steps and a reminder to check the distance from the curb.

Engage with the community by sharing your parallel parking techniques and experiences in the comments.

Transcripts

[HOW TO PARALLEL PARK TO PASS ROAD TEST :: STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS]

Hi there smart drivers, Rick with Smart

Drive Test talking to you today about

parallel parking.

Whoo-hoo-hoo.. the dreaded parallel park!

And I am not laughing at you - I share

your frustration in the challenge of

parallel parking for the purposes of a

road test. When I did my instructors'

course, I had to do a parallel park and

not only that, I had to do step-by-step

instructions of how I would teach a

student. Now up to that point, I'd been

parallel parking 18-wheelers, so I

thought, you know, parallel parking your

car - not too much trouble. But when I was

on my practical test for my instructors'

license, all I remember thinking was,

"don't hit the curb, don't hit the curb,

don't hit the curb!" So your

frustrations and challenges with

parallel parking are well-founded. And

today, hopefully we're going to shed some

light on that. Now one point that I do

want to make about frustrations and

parallel parking for the purposes of a

road test is, if you do hit the curb

don't freak out. It's not an automatic

fail on a road test if you hit the curb:

simply pull forward, adjust the vehicle

and back into the space.

Don't give up on that. And the other note

about parallel parking -

practice practice practice. And when you're

practicing in your neighborhood

and you're parallel parking off cars, do it

two times and then go and find another

car. Otherwise people are looking out the

window, wondering what you're doing.

So today I'm going to talk about

parallel parking and shed some light on

how to do that maneuver for the purposes

of a road test. We'll be right back with that

information.

Stick around!

[OPENING CREDITS & MUSIC]

So what we're going to do today is I'm

going to go over the step-by-step

instructions here in the studio with you

and then afterwards we're going to go

out to the car and we're going to

parallel park and give you some

practical demonstration on how to go

about parallel parking. As well, you may

be saying to yourself, "now why do I have

to parallel park because I'm never going

to parallel park after I get my license

anyway?" And we know as driving

instructors that a great many people

never parallel park again after they get

their license. However, it teaches you due

care and control of the vehicle and how

to control the primary controls of the

vehicle: the steering wheel, the throttle, and

the brake. And when you are able to

proficiently execute slow speed

maneuvers, it makes you a better driver overall.

So this is going to transfer into your

larger driving. So let's get started with

parallel parking. Now for the purposes of

your road test, driving examiners are

never going to make you park between two

vehicles. It's just questionable on

their part in terms of safety, and the

fact is it's just too daunting for new

drivers who are stressed out because of

the test. And you know, their driving

skills are not at a high level. So most

of the time, they're just going to make

you parallel park off one vehicle. There

will not be a vehicle behind you. So just

keep that in mind when you're parallel

parking. That may ease some of your tension

when you actually go for the road test.

Now if you're taking driving lessons,

your driving instructor may in fact make

you parallel park between two vehicles.

But for the most part on a road test...

unless they're a real ogre, they're not going to

make you parallel park between two

vehicles. They're just going to make you park

behind one vehicle. So that's the

first thing - get that out of the way. The

next thing is... so first thing you do

when you pull up to the car, make sure

the space is legal. Of course the driving examiner's

not going to try and trick you,

it's going to be a legal space. So

you wanna make sure there's no

fire hydrants or you're not parking in

front of somebody's laneway or whatnot.

And you pull up to beside the other

vehicle and you want the rear bumpers of

the vehicles to be in line with each other. And

when you pull up here beside the other

vehicle, you want their to rear bumpers

in line with each other and when you

look out

the passenger window--the rear passenger

window--

you should be able to see the back

corner of the vehicle through your rear

passenger window. That's how you know

that the rear bumpers will be lined up.

As well, this space here between the two

vehicles should be 1 meter or three feet.

So you pull up beside the vehicle - as you

approach the vehicle, mirror, signal shoulder

check. So you put your signal on, you

shoulder check and you looked in your

mirror to make sure that you could park

there. As well, as soon as you get up

beside the other vehicle and you put

three feet between you and the other

vehicle and you're lined up with the

bumpers on the rear, put your vehicle in

"reverse." That way traffic behind you

knows that you're going to back up and

you're going to parallel park.

The other thing you want to do as soon

as you stop, breathe, put it in

reverse,

take a moment and find and locate your

45° degree marker. And you can see here in

the image how you locate the 45° degrees.

Most of the time, the 45° degrees is

either going to be somewhere around the

post in the front windshield on your

left side - so you're going to find your 45°

degree mark.

So the next thing you do, you find your

45° degree mark--you've already got

it in reverse--you turn the steering

wheel all the way to the right, and start

to back up. And you back up until you are

at 45° degrees and you are facing direct

on your 45° degree mark. When you hit your

45° degree mark, you bring the steering

wheel back to straight. On most

passenger vehicles--cars & light trucks--

your're going to bring it back one and a half

turns, until your wheels are straight.

Then you're going to continue to back up

into the space until you are

approximately one-third--so this is the

post--one-third past the back corner of

that vehicle before you turn the

steering wheel all the way the left. And

the vehicle comes around and you back up

until this vehicle is straight in the

space. Once you get the vehicle straight

in the space, you move forward until you

can just see the top of the rear bumper

on the vehicle in front of you. When

you're finished parallel parking and you

get the vehicle into the space you stop,

you secure the vehicle by putting it in

"Park." Most of you are going to be driving an

automatic transmission. Put it into park and apply

the parking brake. For those of you driving

a manual--if you're brave enough to drive

a manual on your road test--put it into a

low gear--first gear--apply the parking

brake, secure the vehicle and shut it off.

Now when you get the vehicle into the

space behind the other vehicle, the examiner--

most of the time--is going to open the

door and s/he will have a look to see how

far you are from the curb. Now you should

be 6-9" inches from the curb or 15 to 20

centimeters from the curb behind this

vehicle. The one other factor that you

need to keep in mind is when you're

pulling up to the space and locating the

space as to where you're going to

parallel park - this vehicle here, if this

vehicle is wider or farther away from

the curb, then you need to go deeper into

the space. So you'll need to go farther

down the hood, probably halfway down the

hood before you turn the steering wheel

all the way the left to get into that

space. So quick recap on how you parallel

park. To set up, you come up to the space,

you locate the space - the space is legal?

Mirror, signal, shoulder check to make

sure that you can pull into the space.

Pull up to this...

beside this vehicle so you're three feet

away from the vehicle or 1 meter. Stop

your vehicle so that you can see the

rear corner here--the taillight of the

vehicle--through the window of the rear

passenger window on your vehicle. Stop,

put the vehicle into reverse right away

so that vehicles behind you will know

that you're backing up into that space.

Locate your 45° degree mark, turn your

steering wheel all to the right, back up

until you're facing square on your 45°

degree mark. When you get to your 45° degree

mark, bring your steering wheel back to

straight--one-and-a-half turns--and back up

until the back corner is one-third to

one-half way down the hood, depending on

how far this vehicle is away from the

curb or how wide it is. When it's

one-half to one-third, bring your

steering wheel--turn your steering wheel

all the way to the left--into the space.

When the vehicle is straight in the

space behind the vehicle in front of you,

stop, put it in a forward gear, and pull up

until you can just see the top

of the bumper - the rear bumper of the

vehicle in front of you. Stop, secure the

vehicle

by applying the parking brake and

putting it into park. The driving examiner will look

to see how far you are from the curb.

All going well, you're 6-9" inches or 15 to

20 centimeters from the curb. So what

we're going to do, we're going to go out

to the car, to go for a drive,

find a car and we're going to show you

how to parallel park in a car.

Locate the space, that vehicle's about average

normal....so we pull up. Stop so I can see the

rear of the vehicle just straight down

there. Pick out my 45° degree angle, which

is this bump in the hedge here. I've got in

"reverse," so that I can see. All the way to the right with the steering wheel.

Ok I'm facing my 45° mark - right there. I come

halfway down the hood... right about there.

All the way to the left with the steering wheel.

Back all the way in. We're straight and we stop...

into first gear. Steer all the way back, and

pull up and stop so we can see the top of the bumper. Secure the vehicle.

[MUSIC: MEAN STREETZ--Downloaded from YouTube's Audio Library]

So in conclusion, today we talked about

parallel parking. We talked about the

setup: making sure that when you pull up

to the parking space that it is legal

and that you can park there - that you're

not parking in front of fire hydrant

other places that you cannot park. You

pull up beside the other vehicle - three

feet from the other vehicle. And you

should be able to see the rear of that

vehicle--its tail light in the back

corner of the passenger side window on

the door in your vehicle. And then we

showed you a clip of that. You pick out

your 45° degree mark. You turn your

steering wheel all the way to the right,

and back up until you are facing that 45°

degree mark. And then you come down the

hood a third to half way, depending on

how far that other vehicle is away from

the curb. If it's close you don't go down

the hood very far; if it's farther away

or a bigger vehicle then you're going to

go farther down the hood - so deeper into

the parking space. When you get a third

of the way down the hood or halfway down

the hood, you're going to turn your

steering wheel all the way to the left.

And back in until the vehicle is straight.

And then pull up just so you can see the

top of the bumper of the vehicle in

front of you. Stop and secure the vehicle

so it will be in "Park." Most of you will

be driving an automatic transmission, so you'll put it into

park and then put the parking brake on

and stop. And tell the examiner that you're

done.

Oftentimes the examiner--all going well,

you didn't hit the curb and whatnot--will

open the door and check to see how far

you are from the curb. And

ideally you should be 6-9" inches or 15 to

20 centimeters, if you're measuring in

metric. That's how you do a parallel park.

Question for my smart drivers: what

technique do you use to parallel park?

And for those veteran drivers, do you

still parallel park? Because we know as

driving instructors, that seventy percent--

approximately seventy percent of drivers--

do not parallel park after they get

their licenses. It's just too daunting of a task.

So leave a comment down in the comment

section there -

answer the question. All that helps out

the new drivers learning to get their

license.

I'm Rick with Smart Drive Test. Thanks

very much for watching. If you like what you

see here share, subscribe, leave a comment

down in the comment section. All that

helps us out. As well, hit that thumbs up

button. Check out the videos below: all of

that will give you great information

for those you endeavoring to get your

license

and help you be successful in that

endeavour. If you're on a mobile device,

check out the cards in the upper

right-hand corner. Those too will give

you links to all of the great videos.

Thanks again for watching. Good luck on

your road test. Remember pick the best

answer not necessarily the right answer.

Have a great day. Bye now.

[CLOSING CREDITS, MUSIC & BLOOPER]

Ohhhh, let's see how that works?

How's that workin? Looks pretty good. I

look pretty hot don't I? [LAUGHING] I am a good

looking guy...

yeah I am... yes I am! I don't know... the

lighting looks pretty good too!? Good

frame, got that setup. I don't think it's

going to go anywhere!? We are ready to go

and do the video on parallel parking...

YAAAAAAYYYYY!!!