What is the best way for parallel parking and reverse parking?

starlit

Basically turning the wheel left then right, left, right again then straighten it up, right, then left etc repeating the procedure when parallel to wall/street/car.

Just a matter of practise?

vibe666

for parallel parking, you should pull up past the space you intend to reverse into, until you are level with the car in the spot in front of yours. indicating will usually (but not always) help stop someone from stopping right behind you so you can't get in.

assuming you are parking on your left (which you should be) then turn the wheel anti-clockwise and reverse in, aiming the rear corner of your car on your passenger side at the curb in front of the car in the space behind where you are pulling into, making sure you are aware of where the rear drivers side wing of the car parked to the front of you is, in relation to the left hand side of your car.

once your passenger side front wing has cleared the rear drivers side wing of the car in front and your rear passenger side wing is close to the curb, turn the wheel all the way clockwise on full lock and you slowly finish the revering manoeuvre and you should slot right into the space in one go, job done.

although i'm sure someone will be along to correct me momentarily.

challengemaster

Depends which side you're parking on

Yes, it is just practice. Go out when it's quiet and you wont be holding anyone up, find a space that you know you'll fit the car into, and just go at it until you get it right.

It's the initial nearly diagonal reverse that puts the car most of the way into the space, you just need to remember that the car will still move a little bit sideways until you fully straighten up the steering wheel, so leave enough room (few inches) for that and it should be fine

Reverse parking is even easier still. Just keep an eye on your mirrors, use the parking lines as guides to know where the car is, and don't be afraid to move forward and then go straight back to straighten the whole car up

starlit

At the moment learning to park car near wall in the driveway. Its quiet wide and the wall/driveway is at a slope. Have to be careful of the wall and pillars. Its not a case of going straight in I could by going beyond the drive way nearer the house but have to go through pillars at either side where a gate use to be.

Would normally drive in straight going forward but if backing out I be backed out onto a road so safer to have the car facing the opposite direction so the front of the car is facing the road and come onto road when pull out safely to head off to town.

I stop near the left of the wall on the road, reverse and lock the wheel to the left to turn it in so its left of the wall then just have to lock it right and straight and lock left again and repeat the process. Find it hard now mind.

starlit

Am I right in saying that your mainly reverse around a corner with the clutch but with little or no acceleration or just a bit at the start but use the clutch and brake whilst completing the manoeuvre slowly? Would that not be considered coasting?

Mainly be at the biting point, going slowly around the corner, looking at mirrors and over all observation left, right, behind, in front including blindspots over shoulders as well as looking in the rear view mirror and side mirrors in particular the direction you are going you use that particular mirror and lock wheel whilst having tail of the car going that particular direction whether its reversing left or right.

Am on the right track on this manoeuvre?

Any advice welcome. Thanks in advance again, sorry to bump my own thread again!

vibe666

challengemaster wrote: »

Depends which side you're parking on

funnily enough, parking came up in a conversation with my dad today and he was saying that you'd be ticketed in the UK for parking the wrong way round (i.e. not on your own side of the road) as you could be causing a potential hazard to oncoming vehicles.

i'm not sure if there's anything in the RotR here tho about it.

challengemaster

vibe666 wrote: »

funnily enough, parking came up in a conversation with my dad today and he was saying that you'd be ticketed in the UK for parking the wrong way round (i.e. not on your own side of the road) as you could be causing a potential hazard to oncoming vehicles.

i'm not sure if there's anything in the RotR here tho about it.

There isn't here, but it's the same in just about all other countries, fine/points for parking on the wrong side of the road.

**Timbuk2**

doovdela wrote: »

Am I right in saying that your mainly reverse around a corner with the clutch but with little or no acceleration or just a bit at the start but use the clutch and brake whilst completing the manoeuvre slowly? Would that not be considered coasting?

Mainly be at the biting point, going slowly around the corner, looking at mirrors and over all observation left, right, behind, in front including blindspots over shoulders as well as looking in the rear view mirror and side mirrors in particular the direction you are going you use that particular mirror and lock wheel whilst having tail of the car going that particular direction whether its reversing left or right.

Am on the right track on this manoeuvre?

Yes, that sounds right! In first or reverse gear, it's not considered coasting, but rather using clutch control - that is, not releasing the clutch pedal fully so as to maintain the speed of the car - so holding it near the biting point while reversing is perfectly allowed.

All around observation is essential (360 degrees, as you are reversing). While you should occasionally look in your mirrors, it's the looking behind you that should be your main observation, as mirrors will not tell you everything - e.g. a kid runs off the kerb onto the road behind you.

As for parking on the right hand side of the road, it isn't illegal in Ireland but it's not wise and getting out of the space can be difficult (as you have to cross both sides of the road). Parking on the right is common when there is a one-way street, and often parking spaces either side of the road. It isn't any more difficult than parking on the left, it's the exact same procedure just reverse everything!