Parallel Parking Parallel Parking

Learning how to parallel park is one of the hardest skills for new drivers to learn. From experience, I know that this is true. I hope this page will help

The S method

1. Signal and pull up approx. 3 feet away from the car you want to

park behind, aligning your rear tires with the other car's rear bumper.

2. Put car into REVERSE, and turn wheels ALL THE WAY to the

RIGHT.

3. Slowly back-up until you are at a 45 degree angle. STOP.

4. Turn the wheels ALL THE WAY to the LEFT. (Walter from a driver's school in Canada from yd.com recommends that you roll very slowly while you turn the wheels to avoid putting

damaging stress on the tire sidewalls and steering components.)

5. Slowly back-up until you are parallel with the curb.

If done correctly you should be less then 12 inches from the curb.

Practice will improve your judgment.
The Drive Right book offers these tips:

1. Select a space that is at least six feet longer than your car.

2. Flash your brake lights and put on your turn signal before you pull in.

3. Always look back to check traffic.

4. Take it slow and ease into the spot.

Exiting a parallel parking space

1. Back-up straight as far as you can go without touching the car behind.

2. Turn your wheels all the way to the left (in the U.S.) Then make sure that you put your car in drive. (When I took the driver's test, the person before me parallel parked

their car fine, but forgot this important step when pulling out of the space--and failed their test.)

3. Put on your turn signal.

4. Check traffic, including your blind spot.

5. Make sure your right fender has enough room to clear the car in front of you.

6. Turn wheels slowly to the right when you are half-way out of the parking space.

http://www.teendriving.com/

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General Tips in Driving

General Tips in Driving

* Always wear your seat belt--and make sure all passengers buckle up, too.

* Adjust your car's headrest to a height behind your head--not your neck--to minimize whiplash in case you're in an accident.

* Never try to fit more people in the car than you have seatbelts for them to use.

* Obey the speed limits, Going too fast gives you less time to stop or react. Excess speed is one of the main causes of teenage accidents.
* Don't run red lights.

* Use turn signals to indicate your intention to turn or to change lanes. Turn it on to give the cars behind you enough time to react before you take the action. Also, make sure the signals turns off after you've completed the action.

* When light turns green, make sure intersection clears before you go.

* Don't drive like you own the road; drive like you own the car.

* Make sure your windshield is clean. At sun rise and sun set, light reflecting off your dirty windshield can momentarily blind you from seeing what's going on.

* Drive into your garage straight, not on an angle. Another teen thought her car would straighten out before she got inside, but instead she dented the car and broke the molding on the garage.

* Make sure your car has gas in it. Don't ride around with the gauge on empty--who knows where you might get stranded.

* Don't drink and drive, and don't ride with anyone who has been drinking. Call parents or friends to take you home if you need a ride.
* Don't take drugs or drive if you've taken any. Don't ride with anyone who has been using drugs. Even some over the counter drugs can make you drowsy. Check label for warnings.

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Passing another car

Passing another car can be tricky for the new driver. Whenever in DOUBT on whether you can safely pass, don't try it. Here are some passing tips, many of them listed in the

Drive Right book.
Don't Pass
* When there is a solid yellow line on your side
* When you're uncertain there is enough time or space
* When you can't see around a curve or over a hill
* When behind multiple cars and passing one car doesn't really make any difference
* On two lane roads, don't pass tractors or trucks or other vehicles you can't see around
* In hazardous weather conditions
* When another car is coming toward you in the opposite lane
* When a car is passing you
* When there is construction or road work
* When the car in front of you is going the maximum speed limit
* When on narrow roads, on bridges, or in tunnels
* When you are unfamiliar with the car you are driving and its capabilities
* Don't play leap frog by passing a friend that just passed you

Don't pass in any of the above situations.
Passing with Caution

* Only pass if there's a dotted line on your side.
* Check that the passing lane is clear.
* Make sure you have plenty of space to pass safely.
* Signal before you pass.
* Pass at least ten miles per hour faster than the car you're passing while not exceeding the speed limit.
* Make sure you have cleared the passed car with enough space before pulling back into your lane.

http://www.teendriving.com

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