How To Parallel Park | Driving Test Manoeuvres

Parallel parking is often thought of as the most challenging manoeuvre. Here is your method to allow you to do it without stress!
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[@peterthompson9854]

This is a skill that leaves you after passing your test. I have parked like this everyday for work, so have got back the skill. I recall my driving instructor telling me various tricks involving the stickers on his back window, but my Dad had me driving backwards for miles around quiet roads staying a foot from the kerb, so I learnt how to properly orientate the car. I know a lot of people avoid this maneover at all costs, so I think a bunch of people will find this useful. Nice one Ashley.

[@ShedTV]

One thing my Dad taught me 30 odd years ago is that if you're weighing up whether a space between two cars is big enough, use the car to measure it. In other words just stop along side and look to your left. Sounds obvious, but when you start doing this you realise how useful it is.

[@theaikidoka]

If anyone is having issues with practicing parallel parking (particularly on busy roads with inconsiderate space-closers), you could try going to a quiet supermarket car park and using their bays instead of a road. Start in a bay and pretend one of the white lines is a kerb, then just practice going forward and stopping a length or so forward and to one side. Then reverse in and check your position. You can do it over and over without inconveniencing anyone or damaging your rims if you make a mistake - this method helped me a lot. Edit: an additional benefit is you won't scratch or dent someone else's car if it's quiet. You could even take a trolley and put it in the middle of the adjoining bay to give you something to keep a correct spacing from (return it afterwards, obviously).

[@therealchayd]

That's a great idea! Even though I've been driving for over ten years, I still can't parallel park reliably due to the lack of suitable spaces and a quiet road to practice on. Off to Sainsbury's car park this evening, I think!

[@kiradotee]

Warms my heart every time Ashley says "thank you, buddy"

[@ibs5080]

One other thing to be aware of with this manoeuvre, even more so on a two way road is what's known as your "front end swing". On a two way road for example, just because the traffic behind you in your direction is waiting for you to complete your manoeuvre, be aware that your front end will swing out as you reverse and steer, which can encroach into oncoming traffic depending on the road width.

[@PedroConejo1939]

Also worth remembering when wanting to pass someone who is parking. I always wait until they're essentially in the bay, though I have had people abandon a perfectly good park and drive off without looking.

[@ibs5080]

@@PedroConejo1939 Yes that's a good point. I've also had occasion where I'm the one parking and whilst I'm in the midst of doing so, a waiting car has whizzed past me with their engine roaring impatiently as they accelerate away. As if to show me their annoyance at being slightly delayed. Well I'm sorry but I needed to park & there was nowhere else less obstructive! I'm sure they also need to park from time to time too!

[@thomaselliot2257]

@@ibs5080 you tell them 🤨 😄

[@ibs5080]

​@@thomaselliot2257 Together with a "You're on camera mate!" Material for another Deluded Viewer video!

[@thomaselliot2257]

@@ibs5080 they'll be annoyed that you found it first 🙂

[@inscrutablemungus4143]

Being in the US, I've almost never had to parallel park, until a few weeks ago when I had to street park in a touristy lake town in the midwest. Thankfully, I'm from a state where we still have a real road test with parallel parking, so the practice ended up coming good. Even if the maneuver is never used, I think it's a great test of car control for new drivers.

[@stuartjohnston1086]

Good video. I did the reverse park during my test. Prior to the test though, my instructor took my round the typical test route. He asked me to reverse park between 2 cars and directly in front of 2 drive ways with drop kerbs. I did hesitate at this and he said it's not a problem, we are not parking up here. During my test the examiner asked me to reverse park at exactly the same spot, lol. No hesitation this time, I just reversed in no problem.

[@deliriousdrama2.078]

My driving test examiner was really nice. Gave me an extra chance when I forgot my right blindspot check and rolled back on a hill and told me “here is fine” on my parallel park when I was about to hit the curb. My car’s indicator is quite annoying and automatically turns off. While doing the manoeuvre, I was focused on observations and he reminded me of the indicator as there was someone approaching. I didn’t get a fault for that. The “they don’t want to fail you” advice from Conquer Driving really rang true with this examiner, but it was mostly down to my dedication to driving safely to pass my test.

[@drumajo9598]

I love to parallel park now! However, when I first passed my test in '96, I was dreadful at manoeuvres as I didn't drive for 4 years after passing through fear! Now I love the challenge of a tight spot 🎉

[@BenjaminBauckham]

Perfect timing, I've been meaning to re-learn these since passing 😅

[@smilerbob]

Top notch video as always 👍 I see so many drivers fearful of this manoeuvre after passing their test that they try driving into the space first but then lose all the angles and struggle

[@picklestheswift]

I don't mind parallel park, everyone seems to hate it but I love it! I guess it is how you have been taught possibly? My instructor uses the same method as Ashley.

[@smilerbob]

@@picklestheswift I have never had issues parallel parking, the method I was taught was the same as Ashley but had to adapt over the years to park in a space big enough for one vehicle (city parking!). While different in a couple of ways the principle is still the same 👍

[@oliveryoung6402]

@Smiler Bob That’s because on a busy road a parallel park is nigh on impossible. Cars will close the gap behind entering the space needed for parallel park. It’s why you see most people driving front end in and mounting kerb to enter space. It is an effective method on a busy main road.

[@cmartin_ok]

I learnt to drive before parking was in the Test. I read motoring magazines and occasionally there were articles on "better driving" and the info on parallel parking struck home and I still use it to this day: Pull up very close to the vehicle ahead of the space. As soon as your back wheel is past this vehicle and alongside "empty" space, turn the wheel and aim for the kerb in the centre of the gap with the rear nearside corner of your own vehicle. As you approach it, turn the wheel the other way, all the time keep watching how far your front swings out into the road and also make sure that your nearside front doesn't hit the vehicle in front of the space in which you are parking.. Most of the time this gets me into the space in one go, but if necessary, move forward and back whilst shuffling the wheel to complete the move and to get your own car parallel to the kerb

[@Phlash1]

I have been waiting for you to remake this vid. I will send this to my neighbour as she really struggles and think she would find this hugely helpful.

[@ibs5080]

It's always rather interesting to parallel reverse park when your parking spot is along a curved road.

[@theaikidoka]

I live on a hill with a curved road, and my preferred direction of travel when I leave means I should back into a space and exit driver's side (boot facing downhill). The geometry is simple, yet it's surprisingly difficult to track the curve through just mirrors. I have found stick-on blind-spot mirrors VERY useful in helping to keep the correct distance from the kerb.

[@therealchayd]

Those are the worst, there are some spaces near a place I occasionally go to in London. After much trying and a few wheel scrapes, I just give up and find somewhere easier 😂

[@Paprikajlo]

For some reason I never struggled with parallel parking (or spacial awareness stuff in general for that matter), it sort of came naturally and I'm kind of good at it. But when people ask me to explain/teach them how I do it, I am clueless. Don't even know where to start. It would be interesting to dissect the psychology behind such things (i.e. what is "doing it by feel" and why do we sometimes struggle to pass on the skills we're good at). Cheers!

[@kenbrown2808]

part of that is that teaching is, in and of itself, a skill.

[@thomaselliot2257]

That's me as well, like people ask me for directions or to describe something ,or to explain what I mean about something , I get tongue tied ,inarticulate, and end up by saying that I can picture it but can't put it into words , which helps no one , so even the fact I have driven for 46 years , I couldn't do what Ashley does .

[@Paprikajlo]

@@kenbrown2808 Indeed it is. The odd thing is I'm usually not bad at that either. I mean, I tend to explain things in a manner that preschoolers would understand clearly. Things I do consciously I can easily explain to another person. As for this, it's like at some point it ended up in my muscle memory or something and now it resides there and only there.

[@gravemind6536]

I can teach someone the basics when it comes to parallel parking but some things you just cannot teach things like judgement, spatial awareness and some people have better natural ability than others.

[@tarnmonath]

I'm old enough for parallel parking not to have been a thing when I took my test, so I was never taught how to do it. However, I lived in north London for a while, so I had to teach myself PDQ. But there are elements in this video I'm keen to try out. namely, the two uses of the nearside mirror. I'd never come across that before.

[@adrianstensrud]

Great video! Most others only show how to do it when you have another car as a reference point behind you, and nobody seems to cover the left rear view mirror vs. the curb technique!

[@ibs5080]

At around 3:50 re using the nearside door mirror. I often tilt that mirror downwards in order to get a view of the curb and not curb my alloys.

[@doctorsocrates4413]

This was the one i struggled with..needed further lessons but i got through my test and it was a very challenging manoeuvre...However after 30 years of driving i have never once employed it in any scenario...i avoid it...thank you ashley for your video.

[@wrightwoodwork]

So you must have driven past many spaces in your life , you ca t drive into every space but you can reverse into them all that the car will fit

[@theaikidoka]

I'm not being sarcastic, but you should really learn that skill. It will give you so many more options. Try going to a quiet supermarket car park and use their bays instead of a road. Pretend one of the white lines is a kerb, then just practice going forward out of a bay and stopping a length or so forward and to one side (left or right). Then reverse in and check your position. You can do it over and over without inconveniencing anyone or damaging your rims if you make a mistake - this method helped me a lot. Hope it works for you.

[@doctorsocrates4413]

@@theaikidoka thanks...i have come across drivers with 30 years experience who have never encountered a roundabout before..you see not all drivers drive all over the uk..some potter around in their local city or towns and never come across certain situations.

[@theaikidoka]

​@@doctorsocrates4413 Absolutely, that's why I wasn't being sarcastic. If the daily drive doesn't include those situations you don't get the opportunity to practice. I have very limited experience with slippery roads because I live in Devon not Yorkshire. No offence meant.

[@doctorsocrates4413]

@@theaikidoka no offense taken my good friend...but your right i should practice the manouver more often..i am fifty years old now and i tend not to travel as far as i used to when i was self employed..stay safe my friend and thanks for your input.

[@ricequackers]

The automatic mirror dip on reverse feature on BMWs is an absolute god-send for manoeuvres like these so you can see the kerb clearly. Really ought to be standard on all cars.

[@PedroConejo1939]

I have those on my C5 but I normally have them disabled because they operate whenever I put the car in reverse regardless of the manoeuvre.

[@gravemind6536]

Lots of premium German cars have that. I manage without it but the mirrors on my car are good and if I move my head to left enough I can see the back wheel perfectly.

[@brianperry]

Once mastered its easy. its possible to park in a far smaller gap than driving into a space...Its very satisfying reversing straight into the available space, perfect parallel position from the kerb...

[@PedroConejo1939]

The joys of trying this in a right-hand-drive car in France or Spain. You soon learn to get into extraordinarily tight spaces with dispatch. I was taught - in the UK in an RHD car - to start the left-hand-down turn-in slightly sooner, when the rear of your car is level with the car you are alongside (works if you have a short overhang at the rear - don't try that in your '71 LTD), and to look for the kerbside headlight of the car behind you in your driver's door mirror, and then to start your right-hand-down steering as soon as your front wing is level with the end of the car in front. It's very similar but with different reference points and it works well in tight spaces.

[@kenbrown2808]

I learned in a 15 foot long car. it still works.

[@ibs5080]

Even though I passed my test in 1978, I have a question I've often though about: If it's a particularly tight parking space, is it best to put on full lock in one direction for as long as possible and then switch to full opposite lock at the right time? My theory is that for tight spaces, you need to maximize the pivoting effect in each direction given the short distance you have to manoeuvre. If you only apply partial lock in each direction, are you basically "losing out" on the pivoting effect to be able to get into a tight space in the short distance available?

[@picklestheswift]

My instructor has taught me to use full lock in tight spaces, but I'd feel it would be helpful if Ashley did a video on tighter spaces

[@kenbrown2808]

in the US, it is full lock, each time. the width of the lanes are such that it places you perfectly.

[@ianmason.]

The physics/geometry of it says you have to use full lock to park in the minimum distance travelled. So yes, a tight space requires as much steering lock as you can pour on.

[@conorgreen3384]

I passed my test in 2009 and was taught to do full lock. Get parallel to the car you're going to be parking behind, when in line with their wing mirror then start full lock (obviously minimal speed), then when you are about 45 degrees then full lock the other way. Should be bang on with that.

[@paulmarsh1144]

You are a very good teacher,thank you 😊

[@kenbrown2808]

US cars and US parallel parking bays have customarily been made such that you pull ahead, in the driving lane, until your car is alongside the car you are parking behind. then go to full lock, and reverse until your front bumper is even with the other car's rear bumper; then go to full lock, and continue reversing until you are parallel with the curb. and of course, the proper response if the driver asks the passenger if they are close enough is "we can walk to the curb from here"

[@Ep1cure]

A trick I use, especially when the curb is somewhat curved is, before the manoeuvre, look at how the car behind is parked. If it's perfect, then line your rear with that car. Adjust to suit if not. Avoid being wider out where practical to protect your car from those who drive too close to parked cars. A bit cynical, because that car can protect yours to some degree, but then that car is also more visible. And extra width from cars sticking out further on may be missed by poor driving. If that isn't practical, then increase distance from car behind where possible is an option that smooths the line. You can't guarantee anything, just improve your odds.

[@davidrumming4734]

I have to adjust my mirror to face more downwards in order to easily see the kerb edge. The parallel park wasn’t part of the test when I passed….I had to learn how to do it myself. Very difficult to describe the process too.

[@PatrickBijvoet]

What I learned about 28 years ago (no aids only mirrors) is more or less what you told here, with one addition, when you stear in and the corner at the drivesside of the bonnet is in an angle of 90 degrees on the curb, you can easily turn back. I still use that until the day of today and it is one of the things I remembered the best. I do nowadays use the rearview camera for parking too, I almost never use the automatic parking on my present car. I did use it on my former car. I am wondering if the technique with our lefthand steeringwheel cars differ from that of righthand streeringwheels. Although I have driven righthand steeringwheel cars in South-Africa, the only problem I had was judging my distance during driving from parked cars.

[@christopherfanshawe1425]

Nice video Ashley. Just a suggestion but how about a video for reverse parking into a space between cars, using a marked bay or a gap of one and a half car lengths. This was something that I taught every pupil before the test, so that they were properly prepared for the real world. This would include techniques for controling the traffic if in a busy road. The sad reality is that the driving test reverse parallel park, is not a real world manouver and requires different techniques in busier and tighter situations. Sadly in over twenty years in driver training, I can barely remember ever seeing other instructors treaching this. Furthermore, I have had to train many qualified drivers in this area, who all agreed that they had never been taught effective reverse parking techniques in their origional training.

[@MrWobling]

Hi Ashley future video suggestion - what do you think of using driving aids like Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Keep Assist, and when is their use best avoided?

[@alanhindmarch4483]

I am amazed by the number of drivers that can’t or are frightened of doing a parallel park and would rather go and find a bigger space or drive in, front near side wheel over the pavement and spend the next few minutes shuffling backwards and forwards.

[@nicb900]

this method will definitely help me, new car, and still getting used to the points of reference

[@picklestheswift]

Superb video, even though I know how to do parallel park it's interesting to know what your method is. Can you do a video on smaller parallel parking spaces?

[@theaikidoka]

Stick-on blind-spot mirrors are also useful if you have already set your preferred position for wing-mirrors and don't want to fine-tune them when parking. The wider field of view will let you see the kerb and more of your car body.

[@leeholden8658]

This was the manoeuvre I had in my test. My instructor taught me almost the same way. On the day of my test I tried this again and couldn’t believe the examiner chose this as my manoeuvre. Had a cyclist turn a corner whilst I was along side the car I was using and I sat and waited for him to pass before continuing. The examiner also said to ignore the drop curb as it was a busy street. Thankfully I did the manoeuvre before the drop curb. Oh and just to clarify my instructors car also had a rear camera but even on my lessons I chose not to use it. I knew I couldn’t afford a newer car and thought my first car wouldn’t have one (sure enough my 2003 CRV doesn’t) the camera is a good idea,but I didn’t want to rely on it and miss the normal observations that could make me fail my test

[@fireburn95rs]

I got the piss easy reverse on the right lol. On a very wide road with not many parked cars too so I was pleasantly surprised.

[@leeholden8658]

@@fireburn95rs I was so wishing I got that one 😂 your so lucky 🍀 I wonder how many of todays drivers could do all of the manoeuvres today. I do the three point turn almost every day which is what they would have done. Looking at some of the parking in bays at supermarkets they’d all fail 🤣

[@fleurdedieubeaute9162]

Lovely, thanks for video.

[@TheVicar]

I've been driving for over 30 years and I still find that I can reverse park fine at pace, but if I take my time I can't do it. So I'll give the advice in this video a go and try a slow reverse

[@mk63369]

Lov the video for my p2. Thank you

[@lukyangho]

Hi, Ashley. Massive fan of your channel. Do you have tips for parallel parking for narrow residential streets with cars parked on both sides? I really struggle to get a good angle reversing without front of the car swinging too close to cars parked on the opposite side of the street. Any help much appreciated

[@toebo9683]

We must live on the same street 😆. I normally have to use any available gaps between the cars parked opposite to be able to get any front end clearance otherwise I wouldn't get any where near the kerb, especially trying to fit in on a crammed residential street... Our car is 5 1/2 kerb edges long, when I go to park up I count the kerbstone edges and if the are less than six and half/ seven kerbstones and cars parked on opposite side I don't attempt it because our car won't fit in. The Joy's of having no other option... 😖😵‍💫👍

[@michael8815]

I could parallel park fine during learning, but since I've started driving in my own car I've found there's never 2 car lengths in available spaces. I see other people parking in similar spaces and they seem to do a full lock when parking - is there a better technique for tighter spaces?

[@oliveryoung6402]

You need to get tighter to the car that you initially pull up beside. Then it’s just playing it by eye. Problem is as you say, you’re taught how to parallel park in a way that isn’t actually applicable to real life situations. You would simply just pull into the left in the situation that Ashley is showing. On a busy Main Street with one space between two cars it’s a different kettle of fish altogether. You’re holding up traffic and attempting the most difficult driving manoeuvre in my opinion.

[@xusiaxod6255]

Interesting you mention dry steering. I was always taught not to do it but there is another driving instructor channel that always teaches his pupils to dry steer and says its not a problem. So which is it??

[@squarewheelsorguk]

People seem to overthink this manoeuvre. If you start by driving forward out of the space (as you did in this video), the actions you'll require to do the reverse-parking are simply a 'video rewind' of the driving forwards. Nothing magic about it. Simplifying how we think about it could be helpful. Also, as my car has no sensors or cameras, when parking in an invariably tight space at the parade of shops I use the reflection in shop-fronts to confirm how close I'm getting to the car behind.

[@radishpea6615]

why cancel the signal, why at 2.38 sit with no signal when at 1:50 it is explained why the left signal is on, what has changed? Was it forgotten about as it went on 10 or more seconds later. For those with electric mirrors, tilt the near side mirror down, makes it easier. Some cars tilt the mirrors automatically when reverse is selected. I'd like to see a video where the space is much much smaller then 2 spaces between the cars such as 1.5 or even 1.25 the length of the camera car

[@deyfuck]

He says it in the video. "The signal is to show *these* vehicles what I'm doing", as in, these specific vehicles approaching him. Once they pass he isn't signalling to anybody anymore, so he cancels it. Later on some new vehicles arrive, so he then puts a signal on for *those* vehicles. He goes into his thoughts on signalling in other videos as well.

[@radishpea6615]

@@deyfuck Why cancel the signal, what is gained? Please explain the benefit of cancelling the signal and sitting there with no signal.

[@deyfuck]

@@radishpea6615 The argument goes that signalling for a reason, and not signalling for no reason, means you always maintain the mental association between observation and signalling. If you signal even when nobody benefits from the signal, you disconnect signalling from observation. That can then lead to sloppy behaviours like leaving no time between signalling and lane changing, not signalling properly on roundabouts, not signalling for the benefit of bikes, pedestrians etc, forgetting to switch signals off, and so on.

[@radishpea6615]

@@deyfuck I have heard some of that argument and it is not one I agree with as it is a blanket statement.... applies to everyone. I see nothing wrong with signalling as a precaution incase there is someone you have not seen. Personally, I think it was pointless turning the left signal off and sitting there with no signal.

[@deyfuck]

​@@radishpea6615 Other people would see it as pointless to signal to nobody. Occassionally in his videos, Ashley does signal "as a precaution", so I doubt he sees it as a blanket thing anyway. As a fairly new driver I find it helpful to make an active decision about each signal, but admittedly have noticed some muscle memory taking over at times.

[@nigelleyland166]

Parallel parking is my one hated manouvre, mainly as when I do need to do it, there is realy two full car lengths to play in, resulting in a fair bit of shuffling back and forth to achieve the aim.Thus ensuring my troublesome left leg cicks off big time causing genuine pain!

[@Soldmysoulforablurayplayer]

Would driving an automatic help with that?

[@stug45]

Please can you do a car park etiquette video. Things like pedestrians have right of way and what to look out for etc

[@1Crypto]

Even if we are asked to do 3 line method, we can still do this method instead without being marked down?

[@hamshackleton]

I was taught to steer slightly into the gap as I approach, then swing back out, to start the back of the car into the space when I reverse into it. (Brtish School of Motoring 1970 ish).

[@hamshackleton]

Hi, Ashley. I found this in my google account today. Is it genuine, or is somebody phishing or hacking? - Congratulations you’ve won 🎊some package - - etc etc.

[@hamshackleton]

Disregard that! I have found, indirectly, that it is a scammer, who is posting similar things on various channels, hoping for a reply, then requesting money for postage to send the item. Of course there IS no item.

[@cloudrider7386]

If i have to park not between two cars but behind one like in your example i would just pull in without reversing obviously. But if there was a car parked behind then i would pull beside the front car back wheel to back bumper and reverse while turning until i see the entire car behind in the mirror. Then i would just eye it out to the sidewalk. If its a really tight spot i might gently touch the sidewalk with the rear wheel and make micro turns to straighten out for maximum manoeuvring room

[@mda5003]

With some VWs you can select and turn the left-hand door mirror switch on the driver's door panel which then lowers the mirror when in reverse gear - is that allowed on the driving test?

[@JGmedia18]

Reversing into a tight spot ( not covered in this video) I see time and again people making the same mistake, i.e not pulling past the obstacle sufficiently and therefore starting the turn too late. I always pull well past to get a better perspective and give myself plenty of warning when reversing to commence the turn.

[@GSFJAY]

Hi Ashley, im a big big fan of your channel, im an adi down jn wales and you have helped me alot over the last few years, I was wondering what program you use to edit your videos. For example where you put the animations in and put 2 clips over each other, hope that makes sense, thanks

[@ashley_neal]

Hi Jamie. I use Final Cut for all my editing and simply overlay screenshots of my iPad in certain situations. Thanks for your support!

[@kenbrown2808]

bit of a brag. some years back we borrowed my parents' 30 foot motorhome for a trip to yellowstone park, with a planned stop in Jackson Wyoming, to pick up steaks for dinner. Jackson wyoming has no car parks, and all the parking is parallel parking on the street. so I had to drop my wife at the butcher shop and promise to circle around until she was done. but when I circled around, there were two spaces open right in front of the butcher, so I was able to park up.

[@amobridget9952]

Hello Ashley, please have you got any availability Sir? Thank you 😊

[@hudders11]

I've honestly tried a few different variations of this 1-2-1 method, and in my fiesta, it just doesn't work, I end up too far away from the kerb. I don't know if it's because full lock on my steering rack is only 1 and a half turns of the wheel and therefore that many turns back away from the kerb adds too much steering.

[@ashley_neal]

Your mirror is set too high. If you lower it down, you see the triangle of road surface for longer and will end up closer.

[@hudders11]

@@ashley_neal thanks, I'll try that. Honestly, my instructor was ok but for the manoeuvres I was taught a cheat sheet to pass a test, not how to drive. The parallel park is a perfect example. I was taught reference points based on the reversing camera in my instructors Mercedes A Class. Obviously highly specific to that car and that camera. I've had to relearn every park after passing in ways that work in the real world. Not ideal! I think examiners should refuse to take cars for test that have those door stickers ref points on to force instructors to teach their customers how to park properly.

[@wrightwoodwork]

More or less the same. The only bit I do differently is once I've done the steer into the space I'm also checking the front passenger side bonnet and as soon as i can it's being bought in and straightened. I'm doing this in a van so it's a combination of mirrors looking out the side windows and front to get it. I can do either side. When I learned to drive my instructor set the challenge of getting into tight spaces. The trick is to not be too tight then can enter slightly steeper then start to turn out a bit harder. As the front of the vehicle will still be out, its a case of drawing forward with wheels turned in and a slight reverse to straighten up. In the real world you need to able do within 1 car parking space, it's not often on a busy high street you will get 2 parking spaces. Saying that the pace at first does need to be easier at first, but once mastered needs to be tighter.

[@Equiluxe1]

When I learnt to drive in the early 1970's I was told parallel parking was a no no as at that time it meant what the yanks call double parking, parallel parking is another imported american term. We had to practice " reverse parking" my first go was on my first lesson as the instructor was into throwing you into the deep end, he found a nice spot with only a length and a half car space, turnned out that is what the testers also wanted.

[@keithhindley4823]

Haha, you should try it in Spain two car lengths, lucky if you get a foot each end

[@AM2K2]

Cheers - would appreciate updated forward and 45 degree reverse bay parking!

[@michaelgurd7477]

The method bad drivers use is to drive in forwards mounting the kerb with the front N/S wheel. Perhaps that's why we see so many SUV's in towns and cities.

[@grahamnutt8958]

This works out just fine with a vehicle that has door mounted mirrors but it isn't so easy when you own a Classic. Many of them don't have a nearside mirror and quite a few vehicles have them mounted above or forward of your front wheels. To parallel park in those circumstances requires a high level of skill; especially if its pouring with rain as your mirrors effectively become useless...... Something for you to consider when a Classic vehicle is available for you to drive. In the unlikely event that mine is put back onto the road; you will have a chance to try this manoeuvre. Stay safe out there.

[@gravemind6536]

I would have thought the mirror being further forward would help you see more of what the back of the car is doing I can relate to mirrors being useless when wet though as I drive buses and when its raining everything in the N/S mirror is a blur and the only thing that stands out is lights.

[@grahamnutt8958]

@@gravemind6536 You are not wrong in some respects but a 1960's mirror is usually flat glass unlike the modern stuff which is better in many ways. I might as well not have mirrors on my Car as they're about as much use as a Chocolate Fireguard 🙀 lol 😂.

[@gravemind6536]

@@grahamnutt8958 I can believe that, the mirrors on my 2016 Toyota Auris are much better than the mirrors on my 2003 MK4 Golf and they were decent too.

[@jrathod2577]

Reallyy need some tips and proper reference video on big and long WAV parallel parking.i am very struggling since 3-4 months would be more appreciated.🙏🙏

[@laceandwhisky]

Even after lessons still after tests I always see people failing reversing. They must know they are bad at it. Why not go practice it's the only way to get more experience and better at it. 😊

[@Andy1119]

Used to be really good at this wehre I used to live it was a necessity. Since moving to where I am now I'm awful at it as I never have to do it.

[@Freddyzx12312]

Living in a city, with busy one way roads and very few parking spaces, have still to do my first solo parallel park

[@WolfmanWoody]

Reginal Molehusband knew how! Eventually.

[@ibs5080]

Oh yes, I remember that Public Service Information film well. Apparently the original film footage went missing. Even searching deep in the vaults of the BBC archives came up empty as did pleas to the general public for recorded copies in any format. So they ended up recreating it but made to look in somewhat past years.

[@thomaselliot2257]

I remember the catch phrase " Well Done Reginald Molehusband "

[@2009numan]

would have been nice to see you do that with another parked car behind you as well

[@richardgiles2484]

Always find it amazing that the amount of that have absolutely no idea how to park. Sounds funny, but it not really as they are a danger to others 😢

[@2009numan]

this video is ok if you are a car driver, not quite the same when you are driving a van though

[@kenbrown2808]

it's still pretty much the same until you hit double length. then you have to reduce your turn angle appropriately.

[@2009numan]

@@kenbrown2808 you don't have as good a view to the rear though having no back windows

[@kenbrown2808]

@@2009numan being dependent on back windows to drive backwards is a handicap a lot of small car drivers have. while ignoring a back window if it is there is poor driving, any driver should be able to make all necessary observations even if something is obscuring the back window.

[@bobanob1967]

The hardest part of parallel parking is finding a space to park in!

[@Do_not_assume]

Clutch control? No one drives a manual car in London due to the expansion of the ULEZ zone. Do people in Liverpool still drive manual cars?

[@smilerbob]

Random question, what does a manual vehicle have to do with ULEZ? My vehicle is manual and I can drive through London

[@ibs5080]

​@@smilerbob Hello Bob. How's your Sunday? I suspect what the OP is eluding to is that an increasing number of London drivers are switching to EV's which will be automatic rather than manual. Mind you, it's only relatively older cars affected by the ULEZ, as opposed to the London Congestion Zone.

[@smilerbob]

@@ibs5080 So far so good, some roads are being repaired near to where I live so hopefully a less bumpy ride every day. How are you? Yes, I thought that may have been the reason but wasn’t sure if there was anything else I had missed with any possible changes 👍

[@Do_not_assume]

@@smilerbob I'm sure major car manufacturers around the world have stopped producing manual vehicles for a long time now and have moved onto making automatics like my Nissan Qashqui which is an automatic petrol. I haven't driven a manual car for Donkeys years and I don't think I ever will (unless I go abroad). Not only that but there's a great push by the mayor (Sadiq khan) to get every driver to move over to Electric vehicles. And all EV and hybrids are automatic to comply with the new ULEZ euro 6 rules. So putting all this together means that if you live in London and you don't want to pay the £12 daily charge you'll be driving a car no less than around 5 years old, roughly and newer cars, vans, buses, trucks etc are all automatic. Anyone with a manual vehicle will have to keep it off Londons roads in garages etc (unless they want to pay the £12 daily rate). However there may be exceptions like your car. What do you drive, how old is it, is it ULEZ compliant and where do you drive it in London (inside or outside the North circular/A406)?

[@smilerbob]

@@Do_not_assume I didn’t realise that was coming so soon. For some reason I thought that was happening in 2035 but looks like they are now aiming for 2029. Automatics here I come! As for my vehicle, it is a 17 year old Ford Focus 1.6 petrol that is ULEZ compliant. When I am in London Inam most definitely inside the zone as I park in the Westminster area. If my vehicle becomes non compliant then I will park outside of the zone and use public transport until such time as my vehicle needs to be changed. As I am only there at most twice a year now I am not changing my vehicle just for ULEZ. If it was a few years ago and I was in London 3 times a week then that would be different if my vehicle became non compliant Thank you for clarifying and apologies if my original post seems abrupt or rude, that was never my intention. Sometimes my mind works in short statements otherwise I ramble on (see paragraph above)

[@chillies4156]

Nice video

[@dejhon_s]

Great video but 90% of the time that method wouldn't work here because parking space are tight so you just eyeball it and know the size of your vehicle.

[@ashley_neal]

It does kzbin.info/www/bejne/hpPCgaGcjqxlfaM

[@gav2759]

Apparently our car does this for you, if you press the right button. I must have a look for it someday

[@TheVicar]

Your car or the button?

[@gav2759]

@@TheVicar Well there's many a true word spoken in jest. Please tell me I'm not the only one to take the car to the shops, walk home, and later, panic when I see the car has apparently been pinched!

[@gav2759]

@Ashleyneal02 Goodness, I am excited, whatever could it be?

[@TheVicar]

@@gav2759 I contacted them and they stole £1.3million from my account. Bugger As for losing my car I've had a couple stolen in the past and one day I was working at an NHS site in Liverpool and they had 2 identical carparks next to each other that were squares with bordering trees. I knew exactly where I'd parked it, but in the wrong carpark. The sense that it had been stolen was instantly true until I looked to my right and could see it over there

[@richlondonrich]

I'm literally amazing at parallel parking. Once a guy literally clapped.

[@petenikolic5244]

you should not need more than 3 feet more than the lenght of your car to get in