Parallel parking-is it ok to do it this way??

Question

Instead of swinging into your space backwards, is it legal to do it this way when parallel parking?

1)line up with the car you intend to park behind

2) Put your car in reverse and slowly back up until you are next to the car you want to park in front of

3) Pull into the spot between the two cars

Is it ok to do it this way instead of swinging into the spot at an angle? Will it be ok to do on a driver's test? Test is soon, please help!

Answer 1

Mr V. always told me to pull up to the car to park behind about 1/2 way. Reverse into spot, swinging the front of your car.

Answer 2

You will find from experience that trying to go in forward first (instead of backing in) is very difficult and requires lots of forward - backward jockeying.     Sometimes it is near impossible to go in forward first.

The only time forward is easier is if there is two or more empty spaces together.

Answer 3

no it won't work unless your back wheels steer also

Answer 4

its deffeniatly not going to work that way... seeing as the wheels that turn are in the front, and not in the back, you will end up crooked and will be sticking out of the space. and any way, you will fail if you pull in head first. i know its teadius to learn how to do it, but it can come in handy. honest truth, the day of my test, i practiced for 15 mins, and that was the first time i had parallel parked besides when i was with the instructor. honestly it isnt all that hard, its just that people make out to be harder than it is. just practice, and dont stop untill you get in the space how you want to, and then stop for the night, end it on a good note. never say you cant do it, it will only fool you into thinking that you cant. good luck!

Answer 5

you are supposed to do it backwards.

you can also see if the dmv has a website and they might have tips on there also.

when you pull out after parking be sure to check your mirrors and signal.

Answer 6

Your idea would work if the steered wheels were at the back of the car. You back in so you get the rear of the car in position, then you crank the steering wheel to practically move the front end sideways into the space. That's the way you do it during your test. You may never have to parallel park again in your life, but you'd better get it right during the test.

Answer 7

Are you saying that you want to drive in forwards rather than in reverse?  If so, it would have been clearer to say so.

Point 1: you need a much larger space to drive in forwards.  in many situations, you have to reverse in or you can't do it

Point 2: therefore proper parallel parking is a valuable skill that you should learn

Point 3: if you are asked to parallel park in a driving exam, but don't (ie you get around it by driving in forwards) you will not pass that part of the test.  or they will just take you somewhere that is too short to drive in forwards, and if you can't get in you will fail it anyway.

That's all.  It's not that hard - just needs a bit of practice.  Like anything else in driving.

Answer 8

It won't work!  

Front wheels steer.  Rear wheels don't.  So in the second part when you need to swing the rest of the car in, you won't be able to do it.  

For max maneuverability, you have to be backing up.  This is why forklifts steer on the back wheels!

Get over your fear of backing up.  Find an empty parking lot and just practice driving in reverse, a lot. Go super slow, learn exactly what the car does, how it pivots differently. It's a little different, you don't just aim it, you actually have to think.  But that's OK, it can be learned.  Be patient.  And practice until you can put the car's rear end EXACTLY where you want it to be.  That can help you out in all sorts of driving and parking situations.

Once you get good at that, parallel parking is just driving backwards into a spot, using a car's forklift-like maneuverability.

Answer 9

You should check the DMV driver's handbook for the guidelines for parallel parking.

I believe you should only parallel park back first, not head first.

Also, it is harder to do head first as you will be further away from the curb and require more correction.

If you were going to do it head first, you would not even line up with the front car just to back up to the rear car. You would just go in head first.

I think the test will be back first, as it was for me. You should check the DMV website for more information.

Answer 10

No hon, you have to back in  Just relax, take a deep breath, and practice  Good luck!