Parking and reversing maneuvering are important skills. Besides the highly annoying damages of failed backing maneuvers and the total financial losses, there is a connection between such light collisions and the harder collisions -- avoiding scrubbing other cars in the parking space helps avoiding more severe crashes on the road!
The ways in which proper parking maneuvers can be done have been stressed here nicely, and I will only add a few important notes. First, it's possible to practice with cones or some other kind of simulation. In advanced driving courses we found this method highly useful. Another important note is to use your mirrors!
Looking over your shoulder during reversing, as custom in many places, is disadvantageous due to many reasons: The driver's driving position is loosened and, besides being uncomfortable in general, in the case of a hit with a standing car (even at parking speeds) or being hit by a car moving when you park along the pavement besides traffic -- the function of the belt, airbags, head restraint and other devices will be hindered.
Also, the method of looking behind your shoulder yields no advantage in terms of visibility. The driver sees the same rear window he would see in the interior mirror and all but gigantic drivers would in fact increase the blindspot behind the rear bumper. Likewise, the driver cannot see the areas hidden by the C-beams (otherwise visible in the side mirrors) and any objects alongside the car, particularly below door height (curbs, other cars, etc...), especially on the driver's side. He will also lose visible contact with the front of the car, which might cause him to clip another vehicle while turning in reverse.
Also, the difficulties in knowing where to turn the wheel towards while reversing in mainly a result of this method of reversing, where the driver finds that he has to steer in the "opposite" direction. When looking in the mirror, the steering remains intuitive. Likewise, turning the head around cripples pedal control as to common situations of slipping from brake to gas (thereby hitting something) or mixing up the pedals.
In reversing, open the driver's side window, close audio systems, and you have now gained a audible feedback which can help you hear children or engine noise from other cars. For gauging the exact distance from a car behind, you can use all three mirrors, as well as momentary glances behind your shoulder, or peeking through the driver's side window.
you guys should come and drive in greece.... the rush on our awful roads is so much, that actually forces you to park at the smallest spot as fast as you can in one motion :/
I tried to drive in Athens in 1998. It was beyond horrible. total anarchy! It was almost suicidal to walk on the sidewalks with scooters using them! I'm sure it is worse now. I was able to sneak out in the middle of the night. Driving in the Greek countryside is no problem.
you guys should come and drive in greece.... the rush on our awful roads is so much, that actually forces you to park at the smallest spot as fast as you can in one motion :/
That's most of the Europe, at where I have been. Parking skills are extinct in US
I beg your pardon Misha I may be an American dinosaur but I can still park even parallel! It has been awhile but I think I could still negotiate a European alley where I have to fold both mirrors back!
Joined: Aug 02, 2006
Posts: 705
Location: McLean, VA, USA
Posted:
Sat Jul 21, 2012 11:29 am
You certainly are a dinosaur SQT, as well as a handful of other people around. The vast majority does not know no stinking parking. Though, to Americans defense, it is much easier to park say a Renault Clio than a Chevy Suburban, no question about that.
You certainly are a dinosaur SQT, as well as a handful of other people around. The vast majority does not know no stinking parking. Though, to Americans defense, it is much easier to park say a Renault Clio than a Chevy Suburban, no question about that.
Actually it can be easier to parallel park a vehicle with high ground clearance. Pull forward into the space at an angle. climb the curb with your front wheel. Pull forward almost to the end of the space. Drop wheel off of the curb. 9 times out of 10 you will then be perfectly parked. I did this hundreds of times when my job was driving a Ford E-350 van.
View next topic View previous topic
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
