Parking tips for new drivers

Why parking really feels hard

Parking is often harder because of feel and nerves than because of skill. You do not yet sense where the front and rear of the car end, and when reversing, the direction you turn the wheel does not connect easily with how the car moves. Add the thought that someone is waiting behind you, and you rush, and rushing causes mistakes. Parking comes down to three rules: move very slowly, stop when you are confused, and get out to look when you cannot see. It is fine not to get in on the first try. Pulling out and starting over is far safer than forcing a bad attempt.

Learn your car's size and reference points

Practicing in a large, quiet car park builds feel quickly. Put something light, such as an empty box, on the ground and check where your front and rear bumpers reach it, and where the parking line appears in your side mirror when the wheels are on it. With reference points like these, you no longer have to guess every time. Keep your seat height and backrest in the same position so the reference points stay in the same place. Tilting the side mirrors down while reversing to show the ground lines helps, and some cars do this automatically.

Reverse parking step by step

Half of reverse parking is where you stop before you start. If you begin too close to the space, you run out of room to turn. The steps below are a general flow and vary a little with the size of the car and the width of the space.

• Drive past the space and stop with a sensible gap from the parked cars
• Check for people and cars around you, then select reverse
• Reverse very slowly while turning the wheel toward the space
• Watch both mirrors until the gaps to the left and right lines look even
• Once the car is parallel to the lines, straighten the wheel and back in straight
• Stop as you near the curb stop or wall and apply the parking brake

Parking nose-first and pulling out

Parking nose-first is easy going in, but on the way out you must reverse into the aisle with limited visibility. Many people consider backing in safer because you can then drive out facing forward. Some car parks set a required direction, though, so follow the signs. Before pulling out, it is a good habit to walk around the car once. A small child right in front of or behind the car may not show up even in the mirrors. When you move into the aisle, ease the front of the car out very slowly to give passing people and cars time to notice you.

The flow of parallel parking

Parallel parking means fitting between cars along the roadside, so judging the space matters. First check that the gap is comfortably longer than your car. Turn on your hazard lights to tell the car behind that you are parking, and pull up alongside the car parked in front of the space. Reverse slowly, and when the rear of your car is roughly level with the rear of that car, turn the wheel well toward the curb. Once the car is angled in and its front has cleared the other car's rear, turn the wheel the other way to bring the car parallel. Scraping the curb can damage the tire sidewall and the wheel, so keep watching the gap to the curb in your mirror.

Trust cameras and sensors, but do not hand over

Rear cameras and parking sensors help a great deal, but they are not perfect. Rain, snow, or dust on the lens blurs the picture, and the camera does not show the sides of the car well. Sensors may warn late about, or miss, thin posts, low curbs, and people who move suddenly. Use the screen and beeps as a guide, and keep checking your mirrors and turning your head. Wiping the lens now and then with a soft cloth helps. If the warning keeps sounding and you cannot see why, getting out to check is the surest option.

Slopes, underground garages, and mechanical parking

When you park on a slope, put the car in park and set the parking brake firmly. In Korea, regulations require drivers on slopes to turn the wheels toward the edge of the road and use something such as wheel chocks to prevent rolling, so check the official guidance for details. Underground garages are dark, with many pillars and curving aisles where people can appear suddenly. Turn on your headlights, move slowly, and follow the one-way markings. In mechanical parking systems, follow the attendant and the signs, respect the size and weight limits, and always make sure everyone is out of the car before the machine moves.

Checks before getting out, and places not to park

When you open the door after parking, check your mirror and turn your head for cars, bicycles, motorcycles, and people coming from behind. Reaching for the handle with the hand farther from the door naturally turns your body and makes it easier to look back. Areas around fire hydrants, intersection corners, crosswalks, near bus stops, and fire lanes are places where stopping or parking is banned or restricted. Check the Road Traffic Act and your local government's official guidance for exact distances and times. Practice in a safe place with no people around, and if you feel unsure, get help from a driving instructor or an experienced passenger. This guide offers general tips; in real situations, follow the law and the signs on site.