Parking Made Easy (PDF) - AAA Carolinas

Perpendicular Parking
Perpendicular parking is a method of parking vehicles side-toside,
perpendicular to an aisle, curb, or wall and is a skill that
is required to pass your basic driving test. This mode of
parking is commonly found in parking lots and parking
structures. Parking lots that use perpendicular parking often
have two rows of parking spaces arranged front to front, with
aisles in between.
Entering the Space
Because backing out of a perpendicular parking space is more
difficult and dangerous than it is with other modes of parking,
it is recommended you back into this type of space.
1. Pull up perpendicular to the space in which you intend to
park until the vehicle’s front seat back is aligned in the
center of the parking space.
2. Signal, look for traffic and pedestrians by completing a
head check, and quickly turn the wheels while rolling
slowly to a 45-degree angle.
3. Shift into reverse, signal and quickly turn the wheels to the
right or left while rolling slowly backwards.
4. Straighten the wheels and slowly back completely into the
space.
Exiting the Space
When it is not possible to back into your parking space, you
will exit by backing into traffic. You must back slowly to
ensure it is safe and oncoming traffic sees you. Oncoming
traffic has the right of way and you must let them pass before
you back up. Signal left or right as appropriate to alert others
of your intentions. Also, if you are in a mall or shopping center
parking lot, remember to make sure there are no pedestrians
crossing next to or behind your vehicle.
Remember you must turn your head around, and look out the
rear and side windows of your car. Try to look through the car
next to you to see if there is oncoming traffic. If you cannot,
you must back very slowly until you can see that the way is
clear. Once you have backed out of the space and are in the
traffic lane, stop, shift to a forward gear and drive off.
Back out slowly and be prepared to stop. Back straight out
until the back of the car parked on the driver’s side is
between your front tires and the front of your car, then turn
the wheel. If there is no car on the driver’s side but one on
the passenger side, back until the rear of the car on the
passenger’s side is about even with you, then begin to turn
the wheel.
Angle Parking
Angle parking is similar to perpendicular parking, except
vehicles are at an angle to the aisle – usually an acute angle
with the direction of approach. Angle parking allows drivers
to park more quickly because it is much easier. Using the
techniques identified below may help you park your vehicle
more precisely in an angled parking space.
Entering the Space
Always use your turn signal before slowing and turning. Go
slow when parking and make sure you stop before you hit
anything. Take special care not to hit the vehicles parked on
either side of you.
1. As you drive in the parking lot, check left and right for
pedestrians and vehicles backing out of spaces.
2. Signal to alert others of your actions.
3. Before entering the parking space, position yourself
approximately three to four feet from parked cars.
4. When you are able to look down the first line of the space
you wish to enter, roll forward slowly and quickly turn the
steering wheel left or right as appropriate. Continue to
move forward slowly until the curb or line is visible under
the driver’s outside mirror. Straighten the wheel to center
the vehicle in the space.
5. Before leaving your vehicle, check both the left and right
sides of the vehicle to ensure proper clearance from other
vehicles.
Exiting the Space
1. Check in all directions to make sure the way is clear of
pedestrians and objects that may impede your movement.
2. Always turn and look directly behind you while backing up.
3. Signal left or right as appropriate to alert others of your
intentions.
4. Yield the right of way to pedestrians, cyclists and
approaching traffic.
5. Steer with one hand, while looking out the rear window.
6. With your foot on the brake, shift into reverse, check
traffic, and look over your shoulder.
7. Back out slowly to make sure other vehicles or pedestrians
see your vehicle.
8. Remember that oncoming traffic has the right of way.
9. Quickly turn the wheels in the direction you wish the
vehicle to go after your vehicle clears other vehicles or
obstacles, such as pillars and posts.
10.Complete the maneuver by shifting into drive and
canceling the turn signal.
Don’t let parking be intimidating. Use the
information provided in this brochure to help
you navigate your way into any type of available
parking space.
Provided as
a public service
by your AAA club.
Traffic Safety Programs
1000 AAA Drive
Heathrow, Florida
32746-5063
www.aaa.com • 1-800-JOIN-AAA
Stock Number 3392 Copyright ©2005 AAA. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. October 2005

AAA understands that parking may be intimidating at times
and developed this brochure to provide you information to
help keep you safe and in control as you navigate your way
through the finer points of parking a motor vehicle. Topics in
this brochure include:
■ Modes of parking;
■ Finding a parking space;
■ Entering and exiting a parallel parking space;
■ Entering and exiting a perpendicular parking space; and
■ Entering and exiting an angle parking space.
Modes of Parking
Regardless of the parking location (parking lot, parking
structure, etc.), there are three basic modes of parking, based
on the arrangement of vehicles – perpendicular, angle, and
parallel parking.
Finding a Parking Space
As you are looking for a parking space, make sure you keep
an eye on traffic and pedestrians around you. Concentrating
solely on finding a parking space could cause you to neglect
sudden changes in traffic ahead or lead you to make a move
without checking or signaling.
Once you have located a possible parking space, use the
following tips for entering the parking space.
Parallel Parking
Parallel parking is a method of parking a vehicle in parallel to
other parked vehicles. Vehicles parked in parallel are in one
line, parallel to the curb, with the front bumper of each
vehicle facing the back bumper of an adjacent one. Since
parallel parking is parallel to the curb of a road, roads that
feature this type of parking have an extra lane or a large
shoulder for parked cars.
Parallel parking maneuvers are rarely associated with injuries
and deaths, but when you are struggling to back into a space,
this is of little comfort. Because parallel parking is one of the
hardest skills for new drivers to learn, the following tips may
help you master the fine art of parallel parking.
Moving Into the Space
These directions assume parking on the right side of the road.
Placing your vehicle in a parallel parking space is a side
movement to the rear that requires concentration and good
control of both steering and speed. Keep your speed low and
follow these steps:
1. As you approach the parking space, adjust your lane
position to within four feet of the line of parked cars.
2. Drive forward and steer left or right so that you have a
space about two to three feet wide between the side of
your vehicle and the parked car. Stop when the rear
bumper of your vehicle is in line with the rear bumper of
the car you want to park behind.
3. If you are parking an automatic transmission vehicle, shift
into reverse while pressing down on the brake pedal with
your right foot. If you are parking a manual transmission
vehicle, you must control your speed by using the friction
point of the clutch while in reverse gear. Check for traffic
in the next lane. (When backing, the front end of your
vehicle will swing out in the opposite direction you turn
the steering wheel.)
4. Turn the vehicle’s steering wheel at a smooth steady
rate all the way to the right while backing slowly. Make
sure you keep your foot on the brake pedal to control
your speed.
5. When the back of your vehicle’s front seat is in line with
the rear bumper of the vehicle you are parking behind,
turn the steering wheel quickly and smoothly back to a
straight-ahead position. Again, keep your speed slow.
Failure to straighten your vehicle’s front wheels
produces such a sharp angle with the cub that the rear
right wheel will strike the curb. If you turn the steering
wheel too far to the left, your right front fender may
collide with the left rear fender of the vehicle behind
which you are parking.
6. Continue backing at this angle until your vehicle’s right
front fender just clears the left rear fender of the vehicle
behind which you are parking. At this point, your
vehicle’s left rear fender should be aligned with the
inside edge of the left headlight of the vehicle parked in
the space behind you.
7. While looking over your left shoulder, move back slowly
and turn the steering wheel quickly and smoothly all the
way to the left. Continue backing slowly, and stop just
before touching the car parked behind you.
8. Shift to drive and, while moving very slowly forward, turn
the steering wheel to the straight-ahead position.
Continue moving forward in a straight line until you are
about one foot behind the car ahead and stop. Then shift
to reverse and, while backing slowly, turn the steering
wheel all the way to the left. Continue moving back slowly
until the rear of the right front tire lightly touches the curb.
At this point, your vehicle should be centered in the space
parallel to, and within six inches of the curb.
You accomplish parallel parking on the left side of the road in
much the same manner. The main difference is that at each of
the checkpoints you turn the steering wheel in the opposite
direction. Since you can see the checkpoints more readily, you
may find parallel parking on the left is easier than parking on
the right.
The final step in parallel parking – not only a safety measure
but also required by law in many states – is turning the
steering wheel to angle the tire against the curb or toward the
side of the road. This step may prevent your vehicle from
rolling downhill or into the street. Parked cars accidentally left
in neutral without set parking brakes can create a hazard,
especially if there is any chance other vehicles may strike them.
In automatic transmission vehicles, set the parking brake and
shift to park. In vehicles equipped with manual transmissions,
shift to reverse and set the parking brake.
Exiting the Space
This is the easy part. If you are in correctly, all you need to do
is to back up and then pull out of the space. Back as near as
possible to the car parked behind you without hitting it. If you
can see the rear tires of the car parked in front of you, you
should be able to pull out in one move. If not, to exit a parallel
parking space, move slightly forward or backward, as required.
Turn the steering wheel left or right until the front wheels are
pointing straight ahead. Move backward in the space until
you are almost touching the car behind you. At this point,
reverse steps 2 through 5 for entering a parallel parking
space. Again, be sure to signal, check for other cars, and move
your vehicle slowly as you proceed into the traffic lane.
It is generally illegal not to leave sufficient space for
neighboring vehicles to steer out of the parallel parking line,
to park too far from the curb, or to leave too much space
between your vehicle and the neighboring vehicles.
Begin with your rear bumper
even with the bumper of the
vehicle you’re parking behind.
Turn steering wheel all the way
to the right while backing
slowly.
turn steering wheel straight,
then to the left, clearing
bumper of vehicle in front,
Stop before touching vehicle
behind. Straighten steering wheel.
Center vehicle in parking space.