Author Topic: Parallel parking advice for INTJs  (Read 13013 times)

shelivesthedream

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Parallel parking advice for INTJs
« on: January 29, 2016, 06:01:01 AM »
BACKGROUND
I am finally overcoming my complex about the driving test and have been taking lessons for the past few months. I have a test booked for early summer. One way in which I am trying to help myself to be less nervous is to understand the bigger picture of why one does things that way so that I always feel like I am certain what to do in any given situation and never have that panic of "Oh no! What should I be doing?! I guess I'll just [do ill-judged thing] and hope for the best!" For example, I understand conceptually how traffic is supposed to flow around large roundabouts from a bird's eye perspective, so what I need to practice is just executing what I know I ought to be doing, not understanding what I should do. My instructor is generally very good at explaining the "why" of anything, but we seem to have hit an impasse on parallel parking. I am only looking for nice, kind, supportive comments that will help me to understand parallel parking. I am really nervous about taking the driving test - as soon as it turns from "just driving" into "taking the test" I completely fall to pieces. I am trying to get me rational brain on side here in the hope that if I can trust in it enough it will be able to give the panic a good, stern talking to.

PROBLEM
My driving instructor has given me instructions on how to parallel park in the "get your car into this position and then turn the wheel like that" vein. I was reversing around a corner like that for a while and kept struggling until something suddenly conceptually clicked about how the car was moving in relation to everything else (and what it would like like from the outside) and now I feel like I can actually do it. I want to feel the same way about parallel parking. The problem is that the instructions don't always work perfectly. All the cars I will be parking behind are of slightly different sizes and I don't always start at exactly the same distance from them, so I often end up slightly too close or too far away from the kerb and have to do a correction. This is where the problems start.

I really struggle with understanding what to do to correct the distance I am from the kerb (be it too close or too wide). I usually look at the back of the car either in the mirror or through the back window and feel like the kerb is very close so turn the wheel to early and end up too far away. I can do what my instructor tells me to correct and it works but when I have to make my own decision I just can't understand how the car will move if I do whatever.

Can anyone explain this to me, or direct me to a resource that can? I am specifically looking for advice on correcting it when it's gone wrong, and ideally from a bird's eye perspective, not a driver-centric perspective. (I.e. not "turn the wheel half a turn to the left" but "what you need to do is backtrack on the curve you've just done until...")

ender

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Re: Parallel parking advice for INTJs
« Reply #1 on: January 29, 2016, 06:11:03 AM »










My experience is that the hardest parts are:

  • In Step 1, being very close to the car you are next to
  • Knowing when to turn in Step 4 so that your car ends up next to the curb

Most people start too far away from the curb and the other car (1) and turn too early (4). Cars that turn in the front can almost pivot on their back tire when backing up, which means you can make your sharp turn (4) much more quickly

Apples

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Re: Parallel parking advice for INTJs
« Reply #2 on: January 29, 2016, 07:36:48 AM »
Honestly, just go practice it about 100 times.  You'll start to get a feel for how the car you're driving turns and what it does when you back up.  My confidence in parallel parking didn't kick in until probably the 50th time I did it, and I got the feel for what the car was going to do.  Good luck!  You can do it!

mskyle

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Re: Parallel parking advice for INTJs
« Reply #3 on: January 29, 2016, 07:57:54 AM »
Honestly, just go practice it about 100 times.  You'll start to get a feel for how the car you're driving turns and what it does when you back up.  My confidence in parallel parking didn't kick in until probably the 50th time I did it, and I got the feel for what the car was going to do.  Good luck!  You can do it!

Also, like anything you practice, you can get OUT of practice - I used to be great a parallel parking, then I had a several years of car/parking situations where I didn't have to parallel park and I got out of the habit. So if you "get it" make sure you keep practicing as you come up on the driving test. It really will "click" at some point, but it really helps to have it in your muscle memory too.

dandarc

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Re: Parallel parking advice for INTJs
« Reply #4 on: January 29, 2016, 08:18:54 AM »
I didn't get good at parallel parking until I started working at an office where all of the good parking spaces are on the street in front of the building.

So practice is good.  Although at my driver's test (17 years ago), I wound up at like a 30 degree angle and determined it was best to just stop and take that hit rather than taking a bunch of smaller hits to correct it - every time you "wiggled" the car, it was X points.  Not being parallel was Y points.  I didn't think I could get to parallel in less than Y/X wiggles.  Still passed, so don't stress out too much over it.

Guses

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Re: Parallel parking advice for INTJs
« Reply #5 on: January 29, 2016, 09:00:41 AM »
Practice with your car, get your bearings.

I drive my car until the back row of seats is flush with the bumper of the car next to me with about a person's width between my car and the parked car. I start reversing and turning until I am about 45 degrees and then I continue to reverse while returning to 0 degrees. I usually am able to land it without needing to correct my position.

Repeat this until it becomes automatic.

CATman

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Re: Parallel parking advice for INTJs
« Reply #6 on: January 29, 2016, 09:07:37 AM »
This is something you're going to have to practice over and over until you get it right. In college I lived in a house where we had to parallel park on the street all the time. We are all crummy at it at first, but if you practice it over and over, eventually you'll get a feel for it and it becomes almost automatic.

Best of luck!

Mr. Green

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Re: Parallel parking advice for INTJs
« Reply #7 on: January 29, 2016, 09:45:12 AM »
I believe you are supposed to have the back bumper of the car that will ultimately be in front of you even with your back tires when you begin to parallel park. So in practice, you pull up next to the car until your back tire is even with the bumper and stop. Cut the wheel hard to the right, then revers so that your car starts angling in toward the curb. At some point you'll have to judge when to straighten out the wheel. If you angle in too sharply, your back tire will hit the curb before you get behind the car in front of you. If you angle to shallowly, you're car won't be close enough to the curb. If you have electric mirrors, it can also be helpful to tilt your passenger mirror down so you can easily see how much space is between the curb and your rear tire as you're getting close to the curb. Ideally, you've angled in just right so that your back tire is close to the curb when you're ready to turn the wheel again to pull the front end of the car into the parking space.

Good luck!

cerat0n1a

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Re: Parallel parking advice for INTJs
« Reply #8 on: January 29, 2016, 12:44:08 PM »
I think you've got some good answers here, particularly ender's, bearing in mind that not everyone has grasped that you're on the other side of the road.... I almost never have to do a parallel park (or indeed reverse round a corner keeping tight to the kerb) and my observation is that many people can't do it very well, but the DVLA obviously think it's important.

Do you adjust the passenger side wing mirror before you start the lesson? If you can use the wing mirror to judge your distance from the kerb when you do the reverse round the corner thing, you can use it in the same way when you're completing the parallel park. It lets you judge how far away you are from the kerb and whether you're at an angle. You can then straighten up eg by steering left when you reverse to move closer to the kerb, or right to come out from the kerb.

I think some driving instructors give you a kind of recipe - put the car x distance away from the one you're parking behind, reverse back until the back of your car is just beyond the back of the other car, then hard left until a particular line on the back windscreen is over the kerb, then straighten up until this line is here, then hard right, that kind of thing. Sounds like you don't get on with that approach.

Maybe ask the instructor if it would be OK to get out and watch while he/she does it? Or get out and look while you're part way through doing it yourself? I think when you're having lessons and perhaps only in the car every few days, it can be quite hard to know where the back of the car is, for example and so you can go back much further than you think you can.

I've seen a bunch of my kids' friends watching videos and animations of it, pretty sure googling for "parallel parking UK" will turn up some good stuff.

Paul der Krake

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Re: Parallel parking advice for INTJs
« Reply #9 on: January 29, 2016, 12:47:50 PM »
Just dropping this here for everyone else:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tf4TIWECZ30

trashmanz

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Re: Parallel parking advice for INTJs
« Reply #10 on: January 29, 2016, 12:55:41 PM »
I agree that practice is key.  Make sure to practice with the car you take the test and be aware of the point on your car (e.g., near the passenger side view mirror) that you need to start turning in from.

neo von retorch

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Re: Parallel parking advice for INTJs
« Reply #11 on: January 29, 2016, 01:05:41 PM »

My experience is that the hardest parts are:

  • There's about half a car-length less between the parked cars :)

(But that's why I drive a Fit and I got damn good at this... I practiced by driving a Tahoe for a couple years, and still managed to use "slightly more than one car length" spots.)

CindyBS

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Re: Parallel parking advice for INTJs
« Reply #12 on: January 29, 2016, 02:50:10 PM »
Practice Practice Practice.  Can you borrow some cones and set them up in a parking lot?  You can stick some inexpensive dowels or meter sticks in the cones to make them more visible.  Maybe a partner/friend can help by watching and even making a video.  Then you have another set of eyes to see where you are going wrong and give suggestions. 

For the test are you going to have to do a head in or back first or is it just your preference?  I know for me, I am a master at the backing in.  If I had to go head first, I'd fail.  If the test is just your preference, I would figure out which you are better at and then only do that way.  IMO, learning both ways just complicates things.

Good Luck!

KittyFooFoo

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Re: Parallel parking advice for INTJs
« Reply #13 on: January 29, 2016, 02:58:40 PM »
FINALLY A THREAD ON MY FAVORITE LIFE ACTIVITY!

The golden key with parallel parking is reacting to visuals.  For example:

* My rear mirror looks a certain way; I have a few more inches to back up
* My back passenger window is lined up with the back bumper of the car, time to cut the wheel and turn in
* My position in the parking space is telling me it's time to cut the wheel the other way

etc, etc.  People who are good at parallel parking, including me (reigning world champion), have these visual cues compacted into unconscious habits.

The way to create these habits is to receive feedback, by practicing over and over and over again, and noticing what went right and wrong at each step.

For example, take the simple skill of being able to tell if your car is backed up on top of the car behind you, or if you have more room in the back.  I could recognize what this looks like by looking at mirrors or out through the rear windshield, but actually explaining what the car looks like when it's fully backed up is virtually impossible.  The only way to learn is to try backing the car up fully, noticing what the car looks like, and getting out of the car for feedback--over and over and over again.

As you mentioned, visual cues change with different cars.  Depending on how different the car is than what you're used to, this will throw you off a little or a lot.  I can parallel park most midsize sedans with no problem.  But when I had to parallel park a U-Haul last year, I had to park and get out multiple times to squeeze it in precisely--I had absolutely no cues for where the back of the truck was.

Go practice 1,000 times (a little over a month at 25x per day), noticing what you did right or wrong each time.  I assure you this will help.  Then report back in this thread. 

OMG I love parallel parking!

Paul der Krake

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Re: Parallel parking advice for INTJs
« Reply #14 on: January 29, 2016, 03:06:12 PM »
For the test are you going to have to do a head in or back first or is it just your preference?  I know for me, I am a master at the backing in.  If I had to go head first, I'd fail.  If the test is just your preference, I would figure out which you are better at and then only do that way.  IMO, learning both ways just complicates things.
I can't imagine parking forward, unless there is tons of space. You can't "cut" that way.

terran

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Re: Parallel parking advice for INTJs
« Reply #15 on: January 29, 2016, 03:19:53 PM »
I think the trick with parallel parking is to remember that the rear wheels can't turn, so the only way to get them where you want them (next to the curb) is to point them there and back up until they're just about there, make sure the front of your car can clear the car in front of you, then start turning the front wheels to get them where you want them (also next to the curb). So try to think about what you want then rear wheels to do first (of course keeping in mind where the rest of the car is so you don't hit anything), then worry about the front.

If you get into the space but you're still a little too far away from the curb the temptation is to back to the rear of the space, then turn towards the curb and go forward, but this is the wrong approach as it will leave your rear wheels basically where they are. What you actually want to do is turn away from the curb and pull forward a bit to get your rear wheels pointed where you want then again and do a mini version of the parallel parking motion until your rear wheels are where you want them and then you can pull forward to get the front wheels where you want them. This won't work in a smaller space though in which case you've pretty well got to get it right in one motion.

Gone Fishing

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Re: Parallel parking advice for INTJs
« Reply #16 on: January 29, 2016, 03:20:17 PM »
Do you have to pass the parallel park to pass the test?  If not just do the best you can and call it a day (as long as you are okay everywhere else!) 

Parallel parking is almost certainly the most difficult driving maneuver, if the instructor is even remotely reasonable, they should give you some leeway on it.

Watch a few driving test pranks on youtube to help relax.  One guy even stops to get a beer! 


Lis

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Re: Parallel parking advice for INTJs
« Reply #17 on: January 29, 2016, 03:24:00 PM »
* My rear mirror looks a certain way; I have a few more inches to back up
* My back passenger window is lined up with the back bumper of the car, time to cut the wheel and turn in
* My position in the parking space is telling me it's time to cut the wheel the other way

This is completely obvious for some people, but for me, I never think to change my mirrors. I don't know, I have them lined up a certain way that makes sense while I'm driving... what if I can NEVER GET THEM BACK TO THE WAY THEY WERE?? (Side note - you can!) Change your mirrors when you pull up next to the car so you can see it better. It really make a huge difference! Then you change them back when you're on the street.

When I started driving (and for the next six years) I was terrified of parallel parking because I was so afraid to hit the curb. Not the other cars, the curb. ::Shrug:: So what did I do? I found a blank stretch road and backed into the curb repeatedly. I'm not afraid to hit it anymore :)

What's that called, fear immersion? I'm not willing to try that with spiders, though.

cerat0n1a

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Re: Parallel parking advice for INTJs
« Reply #18 on: January 29, 2016, 03:43:24 PM »
Bit of context for non-UK posters. It's a part of the UK driving test - you may have to do a number of manouevres, including a reverse park, reverse around a corner, do a three-point turn in a tight spot, all at the discretion of the person conducting the test; no choices involved. So opting to forward park instead, or just not do it at all, is not an option.

You're not allowed to drive solo until you've passed the test. Insurance for learner drivers is expensive (potentially several thousand pounds for a 17 yr old, probably less for an older person, but still high.) So for typical learners, their only driving will be with a driving instructor in a dual-control vehicle. Practising in their own car, or in parents/partners/friends' cars is not an option for most people. Practising 1000 times will almost certainly work, but likely not very a useful suggestion as potentially possible only at great expense.

Mountainbug

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Re: Parallel parking advice for INTJs
« Reply #19 on: January 29, 2016, 03:57:28 PM »
You're not allowed to drive solo until you've passed the test. Insurance for learner drivers is expensive (potentially several thousand pounds for a 17 yr old, probably less for an older person, but still high.) So for typical learners, their only driving will be with a driving instructor in a dual-control vehicle. Practising in their own car, or in parents/partners/friends' cars is not an option for most people. Practising 1000 times will almost certainly work, but likely not very a useful suggestion as potentially possible only at great expense.

Why can't you practice with friends/family? I second the idea of video taping yourself parking, it might help you get better perspective on what you're doing. And I don't know if this helps but I struggled with parallel parking at first also, you will get the hang of it! One day it just clicks.

dandarc

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Re: Parallel parking advice for INTJs
« Reply #20 on: January 29, 2016, 04:00:05 PM »
So if you can't practice in a car, as ceratonia says might be so, you might try practicing with a luggage cart - might help get the concept.

I was at a hotel not too long ago and noticed that the luggage cart they had there has fixed rear wheels but front wheels that can turn - very similar to a car in that one end you could steer and the other end just kind of went where it was going to go.

KittyFooFoo

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Re: Parallel parking advice for INTJs
« Reply #21 on: January 29, 2016, 04:03:11 PM »
Bit of context for non-UK posters. It's a part of the UK driving test - you may have to do a number of manouevres, including a reverse park, reverse around a corner, do a three-point turn in a tight spot, all at the discretion of the person conducting the test; no choices involved. So opting to forward park instead, or just not do it at all, is not an option.

You're not allowed to drive solo until you've passed the test. Insurance for learner drivers is expensive (potentially several thousand pounds for a 17 yr old, probably less for an older person, but still high.) So for typical learners, their only driving will be with a driving instructor in a dual-control vehicle. Practising in their own car, or in parents/partners/friends' cars is not an option for most people. Practising 1000 times will almost certainly work, but likely not very a useful suggestion as potentially possible only at great expense.

Wait, are they allowed to drive in their parents' cars, with their parents as passengers?  You're saying that before getting licensed, most UK learners have only ever spent some handful of hours driving a dual-operated car in driving school?

In FREEDOMLAND, where I am citizen, a driver with a learner's permit may drive with a licensed driver as a passenger.  Also, insurance policies cover vehicles, not drivers.  If you give a child access to one of your vehicles, you must disclose that to the insurance company, which may raise your premium, but it won't cost thousands and you don't have to get a new policy.  It is customary, and in some states required, to log 40-100 hours of solo driving hours with a parent/licensed friend before you can get your license.  Is this different in UK?

OP maybe you should move to FREEDOMLAND!
« Last Edit: January 29, 2016, 04:07:24 PM by KittyFooFoo »

CindyBS

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Re: Parallel parking advice for INTJs
« Reply #22 on: January 29, 2016, 04:04:38 PM »
For the test are you going to have to do a head in or back first or is it just your preference?  I know for me, I am a master at the backing in.  If I had to go head first, I'd fail.  If the test is just your preference, I would figure out which you are better at and then only do that way.  IMO, learning both ways just complicates things.
I can't imagine parking forward, unless there is tons of space. You can't "cut" that way.

We have a lot of street parking in my city and there are people who go head in, my husband included.  You are correct in that it mostly happens where there is more space.  I can't do it at all unless there are 2 open parking spots, at which point I would no longer consider that parallel parking. 

galliver

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Re: Parallel parking advice for INTJs
« Reply #23 on: January 29, 2016, 08:48:48 PM »
Fascinating advice. I'm tempted to go out and practice parallel parking. I've done it a few times but no expert.

Playing with Fire UK

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Re: Parallel parking advice for INTJs
« Reply #24 on: January 30, 2016, 12:24:45 AM »
I think the trick with parallel parking is to remember that the rear wheels can't turn, so the only way to get them where you want them (next to the curb) is to point them there and back up until they're just about there

Supermarket trolleys work the same way. I found this a helpful idea/way to practice before I was driving solo.

Playing with Fire UK

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Re: Parallel parking advice for INTJs
« Reply #25 on: January 30, 2016, 12:27:34 AM »
A piece of invaluable advice I got from a friend when I was learning to parallel park was always to put my hand around the back of the passenger seat and fully turn my head back over my shoulder when reversing. This is extremely useful for all reversing not just for parallel parking.

Practice a lot. Preferably on an empty parking lot on a weekend.

Once you get it it is easy and it's a great skill to have.

I think that the hand on the passenger seat trick is a fail in the UK test.

Make sure you're insured for the road before practising in a car park

cerat0n1a

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Re: Parallel parking advice for INTJs
« Reply #26 on: January 30, 2016, 01:20:20 AM »
Wait, are they allowed to drive in their parents' cars, with their parents as passengers?  You're saying that before getting licensed, most UK learners have only ever spent some handful of hours driving a dual-operated car in driving school?

In FREEDOMLAND, where I am citizen, a driver with a learner's permit may drive with a licensed driver as a passenger.  Also, insurance policies cover vehicles, not drivers.  If you give a child access to one of your vehicles, you must disclose that to the insurance company, which may raise your premium, but it won't cost thousands and you don't have to get a new policy.

You can indeed drive with a licensed driver in the car, but insurance cost is quite high and I don't know many people who do it these days (from observation of teenage son's friends).

Maybe also worth noting that it's far easier to drive in the US or Canada than here. Our cities mostly pre-date cars and population density is far higher. Think Manhattan, or downtown SF.

former player

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Re: Parallel parking advice for INTJs
« Reply #27 on: January 30, 2016, 02:41:56 AM »
In real life, I still get parallel parking wrong and sometimes have to have a few goes at it to be perfect.  What I have found is that it is much easier to line up the drivers' side than the kerb side -

1.  If you are parallel parking it is because there is a space between two cars already parked alongside the curb.
2.  Those cars are probably parked in an acceptable manner (or at least if you line up with them you won't be sticking out into traffic).
3.  Their width is probably much the same as the width of the car you are driving.
4.  You may have a better view of the driver's side than the passenger side, and in any case using the driver's side involves less adjustment of perception.

So, using your driver's side mirror, the point at which to stop your reverse turn into the curb and straighten up is the point at which your rear outside corner aligns with the front outside corner of the car behind you.

Do also use the passenger side mirror to line up to the kerb.  But sometimes the driver's side is a much better view.

Tester

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Re: Parallel parking advice for INTJs
« Reply #28 on: January 30, 2016, 10:41:51 AM »
Regarding practice in a car park.
I don't know how it works there, but in Romania car parks for different businesses are private property and the insurance does not cover you there.
Still, I remember I went to some closed roads or even special practice places where you could do all the things required for the exam.
After some time the special practice places disappeared...
I still think the best idea is to practice a lot - just make sure you can practice in a place where there are no other cars.

sonjak

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Re: Parallel parking advice for INTJs
« Reply #29 on: January 30, 2016, 10:53:14 AM »
I think the trick with parallel parking is to remember that the rear wheels can't turn, so the only way to get them where you want them (next to the curb) is to point them there and back up until they're just about there, make sure the front of your car can clear the car in front of you, then start turning the front wheels to get them where you want them (also next to the curb). So try to think about what you want then rear wheels to do first (of course keeping in mind where the rest of the car is so you don't hit anything), then worry about the front.

If you get into the space but you're still a little too far away from the curb the temptation is to back to the rear of the space, then turn towards the curb and go forward, but this is the wrong approach as it will leave your rear wheels basically where they are. What you actually want to do is turn away from the curb and pull forward a bit to get your rear wheels pointed where you want then again and do a mini version of the parallel parking motion until your rear wheels are where you want them and then you can pull forward to get the front wheels where you want them. This won't work in a smaller space though in which case you've pretty well got to get it right in one motion.

Really great post!

shelivesthedream

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Re: Parallel parking advice for INTJs
« Reply #30 on: January 30, 2016, 11:50:03 AM »
Oh wow, you guys! Thank you all so much for all this! It makes me feel really positive about the fact that I just need to keep practicing and I will get it eventually!

Just to clarify about the UK driving test, as some others have said: you HAVE to do one manoeuvre of the examiner's choice, so I have a one in four chance of doing a parallel park. The main thing is that I don't want to feel like there's one particular manoeuvre I'm dreading. For parallel parking that means going in backwards behind a car of their choice, but without a car behind that one (so you end up with a car in front of you and no car behind you). It's kind of harder because when I have done it with a car behind I have more to go on visually. Also, you can drive with a supervising driver in their car but I don't think it's that common and I certainly don't have anyone who could fill that role for me, so the only practice I have is during lessons. (As much as moving to FREEDOMLAND seems fun, just having a few more driving lessons seems to make a bit more sense... :P ) However, I am having as many lessons as I feel I want and not counting the cost. Finally, while the UK test is generally a test of how competent a driver you seem to be overall, there are a few aspects which are really specific in what counts as a pass or a fail, including manoeuvres. If I were just driving by myself I wouldn't mind having a few goes to get into a space, or driving a bit further to pick an easier one, but doing it in the test is different.

the rear wheels can't turn

I had no idea! This changes things a lot and starts to make sense of why the things I think I ought to do to correct don't seem to work the way I think they're going to.

I think the trick with parallel parking is to remember that the rear wheels can't turn, so the only way to get them where you want them (next to the curb) is to point them there and back up until they're just about there
Supermarket trolleys work the same way. I found this a helpful idea/way to practice before I was driving solo.

This is a good idea! I've been quite tempted to buy a little toy car and practice parallel parking it behind a mug or something.

Maybe ask the instructor if it would be OK to get out and watch while he/she does it? Or get out and look while you're part way through doing it yourself? I think when you're having lessons and perhaps only in the car every few days, it can be quite hard to know where the back of the car is, for example and so you can go back much further than you think you can.

Funnily enough I did actually do that on the left reverse (I never reversed far enough before starting to turn until one day I got out and looked at where my car actually was compared to where I thought it was and got back in the car and said "Yeah, you're right, that's about three feet further forward than I thought!") and that's when it really started to click with me. I'll definitely try to do that during my lesson on Monday if there's no one else about.
« Last Edit: January 30, 2016, 11:52:10 AM by shelivesthedream »

Tester

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Re: Parallel parking advice for INTJs
« Reply #31 on: January 31, 2016, 02:00:30 AM »
Ok, if you only have the car in front, make sure that you don't try to make this perfect.
I know what I am saying - this year I had the test for getting a US driver's license.
In Romania the parallel parking is taught differently than here - you are not allowed to adjust your position - you can only go in reverse.
When I had the test in Romania I was able to do a parallel parking with only going in reverse and leaving 50 cm in front of my car and 50 in the back of my car...
Of course I forgot how to do it as after that I had places where I would go in perpendicular to the curb, not parallel...

One week before the US test I got a driving hour in that area to see how it is.
At the end I had to do a parallel parking behind a car, exactly how you say, without another car behind me.
I did it ok.
During the test, when it came to the parallel parking, I tried to do it fine - well, I was going to hit the curb.
As I knew that would mean failing the test, I told the examiner - if I go further back I will hit the curb.
He said: do what you would do if you would be parking in front of your house.
So I exited and tried again. I had to exit as I was too close to the car in front to adjust with back forward moves.
This time it was a little better, but I would have still hit the curb.
Again, he said to do what I would do at home.
As this time I could do back forward, I did that .

So, keep in mind that at the exam if you won't have a car behind you you will be able to start the parking movement a little later than normal.
If you start it later, that means that even if you don't have enough lateral distance you can get away by not turning the steering wheel completely to the right...
That "should" guarantee you will be able to do it, even if you end up at a bigger distance from the car in front than normal.

But, be also aware that trying to adjust the parking is not really working if you don't understand how it works and more if you don't have enough practice.
So my suggestion remains - practice.
Perhaps talk with the instructor to have several sessions only for the maneuvers?
I know my instructor did this - we got to a driving "range" and he told me - you have to do the following "obstacle course" in under 2:30 minutes.
We will do only this until you do it right.

The course was:
0-1-Start from stand still;
1-2-stop uphill, start from uphill;
2-3-front in parking;
3-4-back out  from parking;
4-5-slalom;
5-6-parallel parking;
6-7-exit from parking;
7-8-reverse, back in parking;
8-9-exit from parking and the course

I remember having blisters and blood on my hands as the car did not have power steering and the instructor had some rubber things on the steering wheel to increase grip for the students - but the rubber grip had some bumps like the lego bricks have :)

The fine thing was that my instructor first demonstrated it while explaining how to do it and why you should do it that way - he explained what the car does and the physics involved.
Then he told me to stay outside and watch him to be able to understand better.
Then after I tried he would explain what I was doing wrong and how to fix it.

Goldielocks

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Re: Parallel parking advice for INTJs
« Reply #32 on: January 31, 2016, 02:14:50 AM »
For my driving test, years ago, I, too was in fear of the parallel park.

Do you know what?   Apparently driving testers have figured out that people don't need to parrallel park anymore, and still be able to drive well.   I don't think my mom has in over 30 years...  So, if all else is going well, you may very well not be asked to....

My test was to park "next to the curb".  There were ZERO cars around.  I just had to pull forward / to the side and stop the correct distance from the curb.   

I bet you will get an easy one like that.


If not:
Choose an empty spot about 2 car lengths long.
1.  practice by pulling up next to the car in front.  Always use the same sideways distance between your car and that one.
2. Reverse slowly, until that cars' bumper is about halfway up your rear passenger door (your spot may vary and be more forward, but it is always the other car's bumper to the SAME spot on your car)
3.  Turn wheel to pivot / reverse into the spot at the curb.
4.  When you clear the front bumper, turn the front of your car to straighten up.
5. pull forward as needed, and stop.


Good luck !  practice

Playing with Fire UK

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Re: Parallel parking advice for INTJs
« Reply #33 on: January 31, 2016, 11:35:52 PM »
I think that the hand on the passenger seat trick is a fail in the UK test.
Still it's very useful for parallel parking and reversing so I'm sticking with it.

Yes - agreed it is a good trick!

frugaliknowit

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Re: Parallel parking advice for INTJs
« Reply #34 on: February 01, 2016, 08:49:22 AM »
Something my father taught me about initiating step 2 (still use it):

Be about 2.5 feet away from the car, then when the middle of your car is lined up with the other car's rear bumper, cut the wheel all the way (toward the curb).  As he used to say, "you need to get your ass in first...".

ooeei

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Re: Parallel parking advice for INTJs
« Reply #35 on: February 01, 2016, 09:39:35 AM »
I think the trick with parallel parking is to remember that the rear wheels can't turn, so the only way to get them where you want them (next to the curb) is to point them there and back up until they're just about there

Supermarket trolleys work the same way. I found this a helpful idea/way to practice before I was driving solo.

Yes, shopping carts are an easy way to help visualize.  You might look a bit odd setting up 3 of them in a store, but it will probably help you significantly at getting the basic movements down.

Lis

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Re: Parallel parking advice for INTJs
« Reply #36 on: February 01, 2016, 11:27:40 AM »
Do you know what?   Apparently driving testers have figured out that people don't need to parrallel park anymore, and still be able to drive well.   I don't think my mom has in over 30 years...  So, if all else is going well, you may very well not be asked to....

Really depends on where you are. I parallel park at least once a week, and while I'm fortunate enough to have a regular spot in my apartment's parking lot, there are a few spots that are parallel parking only. I think it's an important skill to have if you ever move or even travel to a city or town where you need to parallel park.

Side note - I know a handful of people who have cars that can automatically parallel park for you, but not one of them has tried it because they don't trust it. Has anyone given it a try?

Roboturner

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Re: Parallel parking advice for INTJs
« Reply #37 on: February 01, 2016, 11:29:52 AM »
90% of the time this works 100% of the time:

  • Drive next to the car in front until your back bumper is lined up with their back bumper
  • Turn wheel all the way to CURB SIDE
  • When your FRONT BUMPER is lined up with their BACK BUMPER, turn wheel all the way to OPPOSITE CURB SIDE
  • Straighten if necessary (it won't be 9/10 times)
  • Pick up the opposite (or same) sex with your mad parallel parking skillz (YMMV)