Parallel parking – something many of us get stressed about every now and again, especially when the only parking spot in sight is a tiny parking bay that you somehow need to manoeuvre in and out of. It’s no surprise that in a Ford poll, the fear of parallel parking was ranked right up there with job interviews and meeting the in-laws as life’s most stressful moments.
The study showed that a third of motorists suffer from the fear of parallel parking, also known as ‘parkophobia’. According to AA Driving Academy Manager, Shahied Haniff, many licensed drivers only know enough about parking to pass their driver’s license and therefore struggle to translate these principles into everyday life. It’s an important part of driving that needs to be understood and life certainly becomes easier, when parallel parking is executed correctly.
Matrix is always right by your side so follow our tips to get you in an out of those tight spots.
1. Slower is better
Don’t race into the parking bay. Rather drive in slowly, making it easier to correct your car if you misjudged the space or angle.
2. Concentrate
It’s important to forget about everyone around you and just focus on the task at hand. The first important step is to find a space that your car will fit into and with a bit of room to manoeuvre.
As you reverse slowly and carefully – while looking for oncoming cars – look for these indicators to lock your tyres in the direction of the pavement:
- The front door of your car is near the back bumper of the front car and you should be able to see the front car’s behind through your back-passenger window.
- Lock your wheels in the opposite direction when: The rear of your car is completely in the bay and you can see the front car’s right taillight through the left part of your windshield.
- Once the rear of your car is entirely in the bay, straighten your tyres and ease in. Drive a tiny bit forward to centre your car if necessary.
Now that you know what to do, ‘parkophobia’ no more!
*Source: Women on Wheels