Just passed my driving test, now I need parking help!!

crystaltipps

I can relate to this...parking is tight outside my house (row of terraced and semi detatched). When I have to 'parallel park' I swear I entertain the neighbours with my squeezing into the spaces available.

I do seem to be able to get in properly about 70% of the time now...it was nearer 30% when I first passed about 8 months ago.

Practice does make perfect....I overheated my car the day before my test, trying to perfect bay parking. Ended in tears, convinced I would fail...I can now nip into them quite confidently and easily.

Passing my test and being able to drive is one of the best things that I have achieved....I now don't give two hoots if it takes me longer than most to park outside my house....I am legal (3 minor faults on my test), and they can have a smile if they wish! Don't let it put you off...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uLECuGK07U

I am sure you can't be as bad as this!!!!

Sambucus_Nigra

don9999 wrote: »

Am I the 'only' person to think that it is 'usually' better to drive into a car parking space FORWARDS, rather than backwards?

I often see people advising to 'reverse' into a parking space, because it makes driving out simple.
I agree with the second bit, because, of course, driving forward is easy (you can see where you're going).
But it means the initial reversing into the parking space is more difficult (reversing isn't particularly difficult for 'me' or many other people, but I DO appreciate that it is difficult for many people, and certainly more difficult that driving forward).

So...why do 'I' recommend driving FORWARDS in to a parking space?

Well firstly, you are driving forwards, so can see where you're going, so is relatively simple. (In many car parks, I am prepared effectively to do a mini-three point turn if necessary, to get into a space forwards. ie. drive forwards turning into the space; if it is tight or awkward, reverse a little continuing the turn; finally drive straight into the space. Is very simple.)

Secondly.....getting out. YES. You DO have to reverse. But......you are reversing into a BIG space. NOT reversing into a tiny parking space. Surely it is MUCH simpler to reverse OUT of a parking space (where you are reversing into a big space without cars on either side) that it is if you are reversing IN to a parking space where you have to avoid cars on either side?

I often see people trying to reverse into a space, and having a lot of difficulty. They inch backwards, trying to look over both shoulders. Never sure where the back of the car is. Forwards, backwards, forwards, backwards. Inch by inch by inch.

Sometimes I see friends doing it and when asked they say they do it so that it's easier to drive out afterwards. It's only when I point out the irony of the situation, that they realise it would be a lot simpler to drive FORWARDS into the parking space, and then the reverse out afterwards is very simple - quick reverse out, and drive off. SIMPLES.

It is recommended to reverse in and drive straight out because you hit less people or other cars that way. Simples.

bethg2009

Thanks, thanks, thanks I thought I'd get a few "Smart" remarks lol but you're all so kind and understanding. I'm gonna leave a little earlier for work today as I ended up being late yesterday panicking that I couldn't find a decent spot and had to park literally half a mile away. (I work in a hospital, so you can imagine parking anyway!!)

Will let you know how i get on

Thanks again

wba31

don9999 wrote: »

Am I the 'only' person to think that it is 'usually' better to drive into a car parking space FORWARDS, rather than backwards?

I often see people advising to 'reverse' into a parking space, because it makes driving out simple.
I agree with the second bit, because, of course, driving forward is easy (you can see where you're going).
But it means the initial reversing into the parking space is more difficult (reversing isn't particularly difficult for 'me' or many other people, but I DO appreciate that it is difficult for many people, and certainly more difficult that driving forward).

So...why do 'I' recommend driving FORWARDS in to a parking space?

Well firstly, you are driving forwards, so can see where you're going, so is relatively simple. (In many car parks, I am prepared effectively to do a mini-three point turn if necessary, to get into a space forwards. ie. drive forwards turning into the space; if it is tight or awkward, reverse a little continuing the turn; finally drive straight into the space. Is very simple.)

Secondly.....getting out. YES. You DO have to reverse. But......you are reversing into a BIG space. NOT reversing into a tiny parking space. Surely it is MUCH simpler to reverse OUT of a parking space (where you are reversing into a big space without cars on either side) that it is if you are reversing IN to a parking space where you have to avoid cars on either side?

I often see people trying to reverse into a space, and having a lot of difficulty. They inch backwards, trying to look over both shoulders. Never sure where the back of the car is. Forwards, backwards, forwards, backwards. Inch by inch by inch.

Sometimes I see friends doing it and when asked they say they do it so that it's easier to drive out afterwards. It's only when I point out the irony of the situation, that they realise it would be a lot simpler to drive FORWARDS into the parking space, and then the reverse out afterwards is very simple - quick reverse out, and drive off. SIMPLES.

I think you are the only one. Go to your local supermarket around lunch time on Saturday, you'll see many cars driven forward into a bay that are parked not straight/over lines etc. then reversing out, into a busy car park? what if you're in a small car (like the OP) and 2 chelsea tractors have parked either side?

I can reverse into a bay first time and get it straight, and then driving forward out of the bay means that if i have the chelsea tractors either side, i havent got to edge out as far to see then if i was reversing.

plus after driving into the bay, which takes going in, coming out a little, then going in, when reversing out, you cant just turn the wheel to swing out as the front end swings round and can collide with the car alongside you (as happened to me - i was the car alongside, stood back to allow my parking neighbour to get out the space without the hassle of me trying to get in my car next to him, and he subsequently planted the front of his car into the side of mine...) so it may take an "out straight, back forward a little, back a bit, drive off" to leave...

Like i said before, reversing in takes a little more effort, take your time and looking around, but can be done in one manouvre and the physics are better with regards to the back wheels being the pivot and the front wheels being the variable...

worried_jim

Is this thread a wind up?

garethgas

don9999 wrote: »

Am I the 'only' person to think that it is 'usually' better to drive into a car parking space FORWARDS, rather than backwards?

I often see people advising to 'reverse' into a parking space, because it makes driving out simple.
I agree with the second bit, because, of course, driving forward is easy (you can see where you're going).
But it means the initial reversing into the parking space is more difficult (reversing isn't particularly difficult for 'me' or many other people, but I DO appreciate that it is difficult for many people, and certainly more difficult that driving forward).

So...why do 'I' recommend driving FORWARDS in to a parking space?

Well firstly, you are driving forwards, so can see where you're going, so is relatively simple. (In many car parks, I am prepared effectively to do a mini-three point turn if necessary, to get into a space forwards. ie. drive forwards turning into the space; if it is tight or awkward, reverse a little continuing the turn; finally drive straight into the space. Is very simple.)

Secondly.....getting out. YES. You DO have to reverse. But......you are reversing into a BIG space. NOT reversing into a tiny parking space. Surely it is MUCH simpler to reverse OUT of a parking space (where you are reversing into a big space without cars on either side) that it is if you are reversing IN to a parking space where you have to avoid cars on either side?

I often see people trying to reverse into a space, and having a lot of difficulty. They inch backwards, trying to look over both shoulders. Never sure where the back of the car is. Forwards, backwards, forwards, backwards. Inch by inch by inch.

Sometimes I see friends doing it and when asked they say they do it so that it's easier to drive out afterwards. It's only when I point out the irony of the situation, that they realise it would be a lot simpler to drive FORWARDS into the parking space, and then the reverse out afterwards is very simple - quick reverse out, and drive off. SIMPLES.

No your not the only one. I agree 100% with your post. Its common sense that you'll have tons of room to reverse out, someone will stop and let you because they want your space and you can get at your boot!!

Strider590

Reverse park, it may seem daunting but it's far easier to get the car into a space when your reverse. Use the mirrors to line up the car and it's simple......

Practice on some road cones on a large open space
If you can't find any cones just ask a student if they've any spare.

Once mastered, you'll laugh laugh at the feeble attempts of nose first parkers

Can I just say also a big thumbs up for coming and asking the question!!

Alot of people pass their test and then blunder around parking nose first, smashing up cars, parking very badly and all because they have this lack of confidence, this irrational fear telling them that if driving in a straight line is nerve racking, then reversing would cause the world to end. But they have it completely wrong!

Oh and I learnt to reverse park before I even started taking driving lessons, I bought a car and it was kept in my parents double garage, the only space available was the right hand side. So it was reverse or be trapped in the car..... It was a heap of junk (Austin Metro) and needed work doing, so it was forever being moved out onto the driveway and back. I've been reverse parking ever since

spiro

In terms of parking in bays my view is:
1) In a supermarket I think its better to drive in, reason being the number of people I see trying to get trolleys between cars so they can get to the boot when they reverse in.
2) In an office car park, wehre you will be parked all day, you should reverse in. This is because you are less alert when you first get into the car. This has been backed up by research and my client insists all cars in their staff car parks and reserved in.

Personally I think bays should be in a herring bone pattern (45 degrees to road) rather than the more usual grid patter (90 degrees to road) because it makes it easier to getting in, safer getting out and the roads around the car park can be narrower.

Lirin

Practise. It's all you need. Maybe a friend as well if you want to tell you how you're doing. I'm teaching my 10-yr-old DSD to park, reverse, etc- so she has plenty of practise by the time she tests. She's aware of how many degrees it takes to turn the wheel for this angle, etc.
I always reverse into a parking spot, as it logically makes much more sense. I can reverse in first time, park it straight, and no messing around when I leave. Plus, for the likes of supermarkets, etc, I generally seem to arrive when it's quieter. My dad used to get me to reverse in over an open car pit when I was 10-12 so he could service the car- you tend to learn fast to get it right then!

Grab anything as a marker- a couple of bags of rubbish, a couple of wooden posts, and use them. A tip that will help you learn the width of the car- find the centre of the lane you're in and watch where the white line from the centre of the road intersects. After a while, you'll get more comfortable- you likely just have nerves over the width and size of your car rather than the actual parking.

Strider590

spiro wrote: »

In terms of parking in bays my view is:
1) In a supermarket I think its better to drive in, reason being the number of people I see trying to get trolleys between cars so they can get to the boot when they reverse in.

A lot of new supermarkets have footpaths down the back of the spaces, in a bid to encourage reverse parking (and reduce problems of damaged cars and people demanding CCTV footage etc).
Unfortunately you then get people who reverse park and forget to use the path when they return, so STILL try to squeeze a trolley down the middle :rotfl: