energize

It might just be how my dad attempts to teach me, but parking a car correctly (in a regular parking lot space; it's not even parallel parking) is seemingly nearly impossible to do on a consistent basis. It seems that no matter what I do, I will get at least one of the following wrong: being in the middle of the parking space, the wheels being straight, or the car being parked far enough into the space.

I'm starting to really dread the occasional driving lesson with my dad because I really can't seem to get this right; it doesn't help that he seems to yell at me sometimes.

So. Any other interesting driving stories?

(I guess I'm one of those people who get good grades/test scores but suck at anything practical...)

Twizzle

I flipped off an undercover cop car. He let me off with a warning. Are you a woman btw? NOT BEING SEXIST, just curios.

energize

You might want to calm down on the road. :P And no, I'm a guy.

spdf

energize, sometimes it's difficult to know where the edges of the car are from the perspective of the driver's seat. It's something you really get used to with practice, so your dad probably does it witout even thinking about it and maybe doesn't understand why it's a problem for you.

The front of the car is usually not as far ahead as it appears. Often a driver will pull forward, but not knowing exactly where the front bumper is, they'll stop short and leave too much space in front of the car. It would help to stop where you think the front is, and then get out and look. If you can pull up another 2 feet, then next time you park, go as far as you think you should, then roll ahead another 18 inches or so. (Use a landmark out the side window if possible.) Then get out and check again and see if you're really where you think you are.

It's going to take some practice getting out to see where the car really is before you get a better sense from the driver's seat of where you're really at.

Good luck!

kobudnik

My parents never really taught me to drive. I just kind of did it on my own. Went to get my permit, drove home on the highway. I mean I'd driven a few times with my parents in enclosed parking spots, but I was just messing around, not really "learning" per se.

I'm a pretty good driver imo. Not the best parker though. Should probably work on that.

But, as true with most things, practice makes perfect, so keep driving.

mariia

For me, the way my side mirrors were angled, i could see the parking lines when i was parked correctly. So, after i park, I check in both mirrors and if I can see the ends of the lines, then I'm in far enough, and I just make sure that I'm within both the lines.

I don't usually pay much attention to whether or not the wheels are straight.

notanengineer

As for parking straight in the spot, just keep practicing and you'll eventually get the hang of it. Give yourself a wide enough turn radius so that you have space to make corrections as you're straightening out. Don't drive straight into a parking space whenever you have the opportunity (for example, when you're parking in an empty lot) because you won't learn how to do it when there are cars that way.

As for going far enough into the space, just go however far you feel is right, and then let up on the brake a little to get in further. It's alright if your bumper touches the curb, and eventually you'll get a feel for how far you can go without that happening. Just don't bump the car in front of you if it's that sort of spot.

If you're backing in... the key is being familiar with your car's turn radius so that you can go x distance past the spot, turn the wheel all the way, and fit in exactly.

AUGirl

I had the same troubles as you when I started learning to drive.

Parking is SO FREAKING HARD. But then again... I learned to drive in a massive SUV. I now have a small mazda MX6 (tiny car) and parking is so much easier... So is driving.

It takes a while, but you'll eventually get the hang of it. I could barely park when I got my license.

emorylegacy

It took me forever, too. My parents attempted to teach me and failed miserably. I ended up learning off of youtube (***) and practicing with my mom or dad saying nothing. I also learned in a midsize SUV, which does make it harder.

I could also barely park when I took my test... failed backing into a parking spot and parallel parking because I HIT ONE CONE EACH TIME

But I passed, yeehaw

You're not alone!

Mathemagician1

OP must be a female. Very few males would be having this problem. I'm not trying to start a flame war, it's just one of those things where guys and girls differ.

Edit: Just saw post saying OP is male. You need to step up your game sir.

THE`HAIRY`LEMON

contradiction much?

tipa891

I had all kinds of problems, mostly stemming from my fear of driving. I find it's mostly the pressure and nerves that make it difficult.

This reminds me of a funny story when I was getting my license a few months ago. I was standing in the tag agency, leaning against a table, when a student driver rammed a car into the wall behind me. She got the brake and acceleration pedal mixed up. She knocked the wall of the foundation, and I got hit in the butt pretty hard. She was so embarrassed, I felt bad for her. It was an interesting experience so I thought I'd mention it.

rebeccar

^Haha, my first day of driver's ed, the kid who was driving said "So.... which one is the gas and which is the brake?". You should've seen the blatant fear in all of our eyes.

OP, best advice I can give you is to be wide when you're turning. Give yourself a lot of space between the side of the road you're on, and the parking space, and you'll have more room to maneuver.