Parking on hills, parallel parking and reversing

Explanation

Parallel parking into a space between two cars:

1. Signal.
2. Pull up parallel to the car in front of the space, at least two feet away, with rear bumpers lined up.
3. Back slowly until your front is even with its front door, then turn the wheel sharply right and back until you are at a 45-degree angle.
4. When your front passes its rear, turn the wheel sharply left, then gradually, as you back in.
5. Straighten the wheels and pull forward in the space.

Hills: facing downhill, turn your wheels toward the curb. Facing uphill, turn them away from the curb — or, with no curb, away from the street.

Leaving: signal when entering traffic from a parking space; when backing out, look both ways and double-check for cars and pedestrians.

Reversing: turn your body to the right and look through the back window — never use only the mirror. Go slowly and watch all directions. Never back into an intersection to turn around.

Example

You park facing downhill on a steep street with a curb. You turn the wheels toward the curb, as the manual says for parking facing downhill. Later, on an uphill street without a curb, you turn them away from the street.

Common mistake

Mixing up the hill rules. Downhill = toward the curb; uphill = away from the curb (away from the street if there’s no curb).

What the manual says

When you park facing downhill, turn your vehicle’s wheels toward the curb.

When you park facing uphill, turn your vehicle’s wheels away from the curb. If there is no curb, turn your vehicle’s wheels away from the street.

To reverse, turn your body to the right to look through the back window. Never use only the rearview mirror for reversing. Go slowly, watching carefully in all directions. Never back into an intersection in order to turn around.