How To Parallel Park To Pass Road Test In Saskatchewan?
If you are preparing for the road test in Saskatchewan, then parallel parking is one of the more intimidating manoeuvres you will be required to master. This is because you are going to be tested on your parallel parking skills during your driver’s license test in Saskatchewan.
What’s The Hype About Parallel Parking?
Definition – A technique of parking parallel to the road, in line with other parked cars, and facing in the same direction as traffic on that side of the street/road. You are required to pull up parallel to the vehicle in front of the parking space and slowly back up into the parking space to do parallel parking.
You are required to pull up parallel to the car
- One of the most common reasons why candidates fail their road test in Saskatchewan.
- Failure in the parallel parking part = INSTANT FAIL ON THE DRIVING TEST.
- Did You Know that many drivers struggle with parallel parking years after earning their license?
However, with the correct combination of –
Right Knowledge Imparter By FAIZAN’S DEFENSIVE SCHOOL IN SASKATCHEWAN + Practice + Right Guidance of FAIZAN (SGI Certified Driving Instructor)i.e. the best driving school in Saskatchewan = Confident Parallel Parking In Any Neighborhood.
How To Parallel Park To Pass Road Test?
Whether it’s a crowded residential curb or a busy street downtown, you are required to practice the following steps to confidently parallel park every time.
It should be a no – brainer to learn the 6 steps mentioned below considering the fact that Saskatchewan tests parallel parking and how often you will do it once you have your driver’s license.
Step 1 – The Main Question Is – Do You Know A Place?
The first and foremost step is to approach the space/place and check behind you for other cars and vehicles.
Tips –
- You will want to look for a space with at least 1.5 × the length of your car between the vehicle or object in front and the one behind you.
- Pull up next to the vehicle in the front once you find the spot. You want approximately 2 or 3 feet between you and the vehicle on your right, with your mirrors lined up with theirs. Half of the battle is starting in the correct position.
Step 2 – O.N.E. Metre – That’s All You Need.
Tip – Leave 1 m of space/place between your vehicle and the other vehicle you are parking behind.
You should stop when the rear bumper of your car is in direct line with the vehicle’s rear bumper that’s ahead of the space you wish to park in & put your car in reverse.
Step 3 – Do Not Disturb – Right Shoulder At Work!
- Look over your right shoulder to ensure that the place/space is clear.
- Slowly reverse straight back about ½ × metre.
Step 4 – Now It’s Turn For Your Left Shoulder To Do The Work
- Check over your left shoulder for passing users of the road when your steering wheel is lined up with the rear bumper of the vehicle you are parking behind.
- Steer sharply to the right until your car is at a 45° to the curb.
Step 5 – Reverse Gear In Action
Straighten the wheels of your car and continue in reverse while watching behind you over in the moving direction.
Tips –
- Slow and steady will certainly win the race regarding this step of parallel parking. This is because getting yourself in a hurry can mess up your positioning and cause dramatic turns that will result in you being unsuccessful.
- Glance ahead periodically/repeatedly.
You will wish to start turning the wheel toward the right to swing the rear of your car into the parking space. Continue to back into the space unless your passenger mirror covers the tail light of the vehicle in front of you.
Step 6 – Take A L – E – F – T.
Steer left as far as the wheel of your car will turn when the right end of your front bumper is lined up with the rear bumper of the vehicle ahead of your place/space.
Tip – Your wheels must not be too close to the curb. Kindly go slow and keep an eye on the vehicle behind you.
Step 7 – Hello! Who’s Behind Me?
- Look behind you and back up unless your car is parallel with the curb.
- Move ahead while you straighten the wheel of your vehicle.
Tip – Keep a decent distance between you and the vehicles in front and behind. This helps ensure that everyone has plenty of space to maneuver their cars in and out of their places safely.
How To Parallel Park With Cones?
Great Idea – Practice parallel parking using 2 cones so you do not damage other vehicles. The following steps will guide you to parallel park with cones –
- Find a road with 0 to little traffic.
- Get 2 cones and station them about 15 feet apart to create an area the size of a real parking space.
- Practice unless you feel confident in your ability and get the gist of the maneuver to parallel park.
- You can then move on to real – life circumstances and situations with real parking spaces.
It’s All In The Angles
Did You Know why parallel parking is one of the most difficult things to do for beginner drivers and drivers (in general)? – This is certainly because parallel parking requires the driver to follow a strict approach to get the angles into the parking space right.
The ability to perform parallel parking is an extremely helpful driving skill. Confidently parallel parking with ease will save you from the sheer pain of having to search for a regular parking spot in which to park your car. You should be able to impress your driving instructor and get the feel of parallel parking with a few tries.
If you require to learn parallel parking or additional driving tips, enroll in Faizan’s Defensive Driving School in Regina, Saskatchewan to learn more. We will cover everything you require to get your driver’s license.
Let me know if this is right and correct, the best ways I know is line the bumpers, 1 meter apart, signal right before reversing, turn wheel to the very right but making sure I know where the wheel position is first to make the wheel straight again, going 45 degree angle, turn wheel to the left 2 times or if I memorized the wheel how straight it is, reverse slowly until the top right bumper of my vehicle and the parked vehicle is bottom left are lined up, turning wheel to the left as possible, reverse again until it is parked, then turn wheel straight, and go forward or backwards if I need to. Is this going to work to pass?
Keegan, your technique definitely would work but I would like to add a few points:
1. You always signal when approaching next to the car for parallel parking so motorists behind you know you are going to back up.
2. You always turn the wheel in the direction you want the back of the car to go (like in the 1st step crank the wheel one full rotation/circle to the right.
3. You need to LOOK OUT YOUR WINDOWS OR CHECK 360 before you start backing up for any approaching vehicle or potential hazards – you must wait before you back up if any vehicle is approaching behind or in front (if the road is narrow and undivided) unless they stopped for you. {failure to do so may cause a few demerits points}
4. In the last 3rd step, make sure you check your right outside mirrors to see if you can see the sidewalk or edge of the road nice and straight. you can then go forward or backward if needed.
5. REMEMBER, your parallel parking is not done until your wheels are straight, you shift into the park and release your foot from the brake. (you can also secure your vehicle by pulling up your hand brake but that’s optional)
There are so many ways to parallel parking. Parallel parking depends on many factors such as how far (space between the cars) you pull in next to the car, the size, height, and length of your car and the car next to you, and how skilled you are in backing up.
Let me know if it helps
Cheers,
Faizan
Is there any good reference points to know when your at a 45 degree angle?
Hi Jess,
The reference points can depend on the size of the vehicles. For an average size sedan, when you see the tail light of the car next to you is approximately lining up with your right outside mirror, you are about 45-degree angle. For an SUV or a van, you want to see just a pinch of their tail light in your passenger side window because of the difference in the size of the vehicle.