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Types of Parking

Parking a car is actually an art which has to be performed perfectly. Unlike parking a two-wheeler which is an easy task, you need to be very careful and smart while parking a car.

With most Indian roads getting crowded, the most daunting part of having a car is finding a suitable parking place. Of course, if parking rules are strictly followed properly, parking can become an effortless task. There are different ways of parking a car. Primarily, there are three types of parking - Parallel Parking, Reverse Parking, and Perpendicular Parking.

Let's explore these types of parking to get a better idea about using parking space.

Parallel Parking

Parallel parking as the name suggests, is parking vehicles one behind another. The driver needs to be extremely careful while parking as there is a possibility of damaging other cars. This may involve driving forward past the car that you want to park behind, so that you can reverse into a gap. This will give you a good opportunity to gauge whether or not your car will fit into the gap. The knack of parallel parking is to first bring the car parallel to the car that is parked from the vacant space. Then, slowly reverse your car until you reach half way of the other car. Turn the car to fill in the vacant position till you reach an angle of 45 degrees.

Reverse Parking

Most drivers face problem with reverse parking. Not everyone can manage a trouble-free reverse parking. The first step in reverse parking is to use both outside rearview mirrors. Once you shift the gear to the reverse mode, release the clutch slowly while simultaneously pressing the accelerator pedal. Just as the car starts moving, keep the accelerator pedal pressure steady and then release the clutch completely. Start moving the car slowly at a controlled speed level. This allows you to settle with the steering which will take you to the desired direction. Always keep track of the road with the help of outside rearview mirror so that you know about the objects that are behind you and can adjust your drive accordingly.

If there is a car behind, reverse slowly until the corner of the other car appears in your side window. Turn the steering wheel fully to the left (which will make the car swing to the side), and check your mirrors and blind spot to ensure safety of the other car. Keep on reversing until the front of your car lines up with the back of the other car. Ensure that there is enough room for you to clear the back of the other car. Then, turn the steering wheel fully to the right which will make the car swing towards the kerb.

Perpendicular Parking

In this type of parking, the car is parked at a disciplined angle in a parking lot. It is advisable to reverse the car into the parking space given that there is no problem while exiting. The removal of the car from the parking lot becomes easy once it is parked properly. Once the corner of the car gets passed without touching another car, turn the steering to the left after ensuring the path is clear by looking through the outside rearview mirror. Keep moving the steering wheel until the boundary of the car is clear on both sides. Then, shift the gear shift to reverse mode and twist the steering wheel to the right. As the car enters the slot, slowly straighten the car.

Here are some tips for easy Perpendicular Parking:

Spacing:

Park to Left -- stay as far to the right as possible on approach.

Park to Right -- stay as far to the left as possible on approach

Speed:

Use "creeping" speed by applying brakes when the front of car enters space.

General Parking Tips

Here are some easy-to-follow parking tips for all car users:

If you're getting into your car after you've been away from it for some time, make sure there are no children or dogs nearby that you may run into.

Before you enter or exit a parking spot, turn your head and look over your shoulder - don't rely on your mirrors. Even if you have a reversing sensor or camera, these are no substitutes for turning your head and using your eyes. If you are using a reversing device for the first time, use it on a quiet road initially.

If you're not parked within a parking bay, i.e., you have parked over a designated line, you may get a ticket from a parking inspector, depending on the bye-laws of the local council in that area.

Always look in the direction in which your car is travelling. If you are going backwards, turn around and look behind you; if you are going forward, look straight ahead of you.

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