You arrive at the street of your doctor's appointment.
You see a parking space in between two cars, but there's just one problem. You don't know how to parallel park.
Overcome this obstacle in your life, so you can successfully parallel park with no worries going forward.
Develop Confidence
Before you learn the steps necessary to successfully parallel park, you need to develop a positive mindset! Parallel parking isn't something you should see as a chore to avoid, but something that comes naturally when the opportunity arises.
Use these tips:
Research — read driver manuals and magazines, watch tutorials and videos, and even ask people how they parallel park themselves. Start off with this article on learning to parallel park.
Observe — watch others parallel park in real time and possibly pick up some pointers.
Visualize — no matter the amount of space between vehicles, imagine yourself just parallel parking with ease. Turn doubt and negative thoughts into an opportunity to conquer your fears.
Quiz
Matt panics at the idea of having to parallel park at school. How can he better prepare himself?
Practice
Knowledge is of no value unless you put it into practice.
— Anton Chekhov, Russian playwright and short-story writer
Any chance you get, make the time to learn to parallel park. Perhaps you can reach out to a friend and practice with them. If you have the funds, go to a driving school and practice with an expert. Consider practicing during slow traffic hours on a weekend morning to get the most out of your time.
Something to remember when you first start learning: it isn't about perfection, but making progress. Don't be afraid to make mistakes — learn and grow from them.
Some key steps to follow when parallel parking:
Spacing — keep at least a foot to a foot and a half between your car and the other car you pull up to alongside on the road. Also, make sure your cars are evenly lined up with each other. Keep this in mind when you're between cars as well, and avoid being too close to the curb.
Signals — whether it's the right or left side of the road, always turn your right or left turn signal on, so others on the road are aware you plan to back up and park.
Safety — you never know when other cars are approaching from behind you, so always look through your center and side rear view mirrors and over your shoulder, making sure it's safe to begin reversing your car.
Check out this TikTok clip by tech.train.stories on simple steps to parallel parking:
Make It Happen
Eventually, you're going to have to go out there and just parallel park, if you ever want to get over any worries or paranoia you may have. Keep in mind that people who do it naturally and regularly had to learn through trial and error, and so will you.
Be aware of your own safety and the safety of others on the road.
Be proactive — learn from your mistakes and try your best not to repeat them. You're not going to get it right the first time, and possibly not even the second or third time.
Focus — patience and concentration are key when learning to parallel park. Be aware of your vehicle's position when reversing and maintain control of the steering wheel at all times.
Repetition — the more you do it, the more comfortable you'll become. Perhaps you'll eventually become experienced enough to teach others!
Quiz
It's raining outside and Kaleigh finds a space where she can parallel park. Traffic is moving slowly on the street, and she's pressed for time. Which factor is the most important for her to be aware of?
Take Action
Take control of the wheel and start learning the steps to become an experienced parallel parker.
Your feedback matters to us.
This Byte helped me better understand the topic.