Teaching Parallel Parking

[Mike Schutz]

I have been an absolute failure at teaching parallel parking to my kids. All I have been able to achieve is to get them to respond with the obvious "Dad, what point is there to this - we don't have to do it around here - our ability or inability to parallel park will not kill or maim anyone, yet they don't test our driving on the highway or after dark, which could kill or maim - this is so stupid!" remarks. I have not been able to come up with an easy to understand, step-by-step approach to this skill. I have read numerous web sites and not been able to find one.

So, any suggestions?

[Doug Kitchen]

I have been an absolute failure at teaching parallel parking to my kids. All I have been able to achieve is to get them to respond with the obvious "Dad, what point is there to this - we don't have to do it around here - our ability or inability to parallel park will not kill or maim anyone, yet they don't test our driving on the highway or after dark, which could kill or maim - this is so stupid!" remarks. I have not been able to come up with an easy to understand, step-by-step approach to this skill. I have read numerous web sites and not been able to find one.

So, any suggestions?

Mike,
I'm trying to remember from memory how the Car Talk guys explained it.

But, we'll skip using my memory because I was just handed a note from Lori and my daughter that has detailed instructions:

Signal right, look over right shoulder.

Pull up next to vehicle, put into reverse,
Turn wheel once to the right,
back up until you get a diagonal angle and your side mirror blocks the tail light of the other vehicle. (Click and Clack use the measuring system if I remember correctly).

Then turn wheel 2 times to the left and roll back until you are straight.

Turn wheel once to right and pull up, put in park.

To leave: put into reverse and backup and then put in drive and pull away.

Click and Clack included some insightful comments about the use of bumpers in parallel pahking. ;)

Lori was very happy to be able to provide instruction to her old professor (maybe I should have said former).


Doug

[Bob Evans]

Mike

As one who has been married to a drivers ed teacher for the last 28 years this kind of parking is for parking as well as developing the skills necessary to negotiate the car in tight situations under pressure. Orange cones with large sticks sticking out the top help. Plastic garbage cans help as well.

Hang in there.

Were planning to go to home coming this year. Any chance ofyou being near Boston that weekend.

Bob

[Gina Stevenson]

This bro't back memories. In driver's ed long, long ago our teacher would find a street with several empty parking places, have us pull in, pull back out, then only go a few cars/block/whatever further, do it again, then do it again ... we might have to do it 3-4 times at one stretch. THAT gets nerve-wracking when you're learning to drive, but that's what has made it possible to do that like it's "no big deal." ;)

[Alisa Stoll]

In Ohio we now do maneuverability instead of parallel parking so I didn't have to teach my kids.

However, today's blondie comic might help (6/23)
http://www.blondie.com/

Alisa

[Mike Schutz]

Mike,
I'm trying to remember from memory how the Car Talk guys explained it.

But, we'll skip using my memory because I was just handed a note from Lori and my daughter that has detailed instructions:

Signal right, look over right shoulder.

Pull up next to vehicle, put into reverse,
Turn wheel once to the right,
back up until you get a diagonal angle and your side mirror blocks the tail light of the other vehicle. (Click and Clack use the measuring system if I remember correctly).

Then turn wheel 2 times to the left and roll back until you are straight.

Turn wheel once to right and pull up, put in park.

To leave: put into reverse and backup and then put in drive and pull away.

Click and Clack included some insightful comments about the use of bumpers in parallel pahking. ;)

Lori was very happy to be able to provide instruction to her old professor (maybe I should have said former).


Doug

Doug,
Thanks.
However, this is what I ahve been able to help them with. However, even a minor mistake of a few inches in one of the actions results in missing the mark. So, I am hoping for even more specific instructions.

[Mike Schutz]

Mike
Were planning to go to home coming this year. Any chance ofyou being near Boston that weekend.

Bob

Homecoming in October is on our calendar. With Carissa at ENC, and two of Esther's sisters in the area, we try to get to Quincy several times a year.

Let's stay in touch so that we can get together. My brother-in-law owns the Clambox Restaurant down on the beach - maybe that would be a good place to meet.

[Billy Cox]

I have been an absolute failure at teaching parallel parking to my kids. All I have been able to achieve is to get them to respond with the obvious "Dad, what point is there to this - we don't have to do it around here - our ability or inability to parallel park will not kill or maim anyone, yet they don't test our driving on the highway or after dark, which could kill or maim - this is so stupid!" remarks. I have not been able to come up with an easy to understand, step-by-step approach to this skill. I have read numerous web sites and not been able to find one.

So, any suggestions?

One key aspect of safe driving is having an accurate feel for your vehicle's dimensions. Parallel parking may or may not be a skill one uses day-to-day, but knowing whether your car will fit somewhere is critical, especially for lane changing in heavy traffic and for all other types of parking.

The key mistake that people make in parallel parking is in backing too far before turning the wheel. There is a point beyond which the only possible outcomes are hitting the curb or backing into the other car.

The physical reality is that if your back wheel is even with the rear bumper of the car you are alongside, it is physically impossible to hit that car while backing. (unless you turn the wheel the opposite direction) :basic01 The trick is knowing when the rear wheel is far enough to begin turning the steering wheel.

Two tips:

1. Adjust the passenger side mirror so that you can tell where the rear wheel well is in relation to an object near it.

2. While standing outside the car, have the driver back until you (outside the car) can see that the rear tire is even with the rear bumper of the parked car. Have the driver stop and look to see where the back of the parked car is in relation to the rear window - to establish a frame of reference.

Number 1 is better by far because it will work for virtually any vehicle, whereas number 2 will only work in the vehicle in which you establish the frame of reference.

And yes, I have taught a teenager to successfully parallel park before.

[Barbara Moulton]

I have been an absolute failure at teaching parallel parking to my kids. All I have been able to achieve is to get them to respond with the obvious "Dad, what point is there to this - we don't have to do it around here - our ability or inability to parallel park will not kill or maim anyone, yet they don't test our driving on the highway or after dark, which could kill or maim - this is so stupid!" remarks. I have not been able to come up with an easy to understand, step-by-step approach to this skill. I have read numerous web sites and not been able to find one.

So, any suggestions?

I appreciate your kids' frustration.

I've been driving for 26 years and I don't think I've had to parallel park more than 10 times.

My daughters never parallel park.

[Doug Kitchen]

Doug,
Thanks.
However, this is what I ahve been able to help them with. However, even a minor mistake of a few inches in one of the actions results in missing the mark. So, I am hoping for even more specific instructions.

Mike,

I certainly appreciate your dilemna. Jenny is learning to drive and parallel parking is one of the requirements. She has taken some lessons but it is really something that you have be able to practice often. We provide maneuvarability challenges by letting her park in the garage and backout. Occassionally there is a car behind her and the trick is to neither hit the garage nor the other two cars. It was easier to be outside the car waving my arms like I was directing a plane than to explain what to do sitting next to her.

BTW, if you are concerned about missing the mark, perhaps this thread should be moved to the theology forum? ;)

We will be at the ENC reunion (its our 25th).

Doug

[Jim Severns]

Without going into any specific methodology, I would just recommend finding an large empty parking lot somewhere and just practice. Take a couple of orange cones or buckets or whatever and set them up to represent cars ahead and behind. Then just go for it.

[Ryan Scott]

At 16 years of age I was told:

1. Pull up even with the car in front of the spot
2. Back up into the spot diagonally until your front tires are next to the rear
tires of the car in front
3. Turn your wheel as you continue to back up to straighten out.


Of course, I lived in Colorado at the time and Colorado would give a monkey a driver's license, so I didn't even have to make a left turn on my driving test, let alone parallel park.

My first try ever was under extreme pressure in downtown Quincy heading for Chinese food at Quincy Jade. There was a tight spot right in front of the restaurant and my passenger said, just park there. I sucked it up, not wanting to embarrass myself by admitting I'd never done it before and followed those three steps above. It worked perfectly and served me well for all my years in and around Boston. I only screwed up once and it was with my now wife in the car (so maybe there is only a certain level of pressure that's optimal).

[Billy Cox]

I have been an absolute failure at teaching parallel parking to my kids. All I have been able to achieve is to get them to respond with the obvious "Dad, what point is there to this - we don't have to do it around here - our ability or inability to parallel park will not kill or maim anyone, yet they don't test our driving on the highway or after dark, which could kill or maim - this is so stupid!" remarks. I have not been able to come up with an easy to understand, step-by-step approach to this skill. I have read numerous web sites and not been able to find one.

So, any suggestions?

Just buy one of those new Lexus cars that can parallel park itself. The driver still has to accurately judge whether the car will fit in the parking space or not.

[Mike Schutz]

Just buy one of those new Lexus cars that can parallel park itself. The driver still has to accurately judge whether the car will fit in the parking space or not.

Yeah Billy - that's the ticket.

And when exactly are you moving your tithe to my church? :fav18

[Jim Severns]

Now that I think about it, I have actually parallel parked in San Francisco pointing downhill on an incline. I don't know the exact angle, but it was somewhat difficult to just stand up and walk.

I should get some sort of award for that!