Half of Americans ‘afraid’ of tricky driving maneuver – instructor explains how to nail move every time

DRIVERS have revealed their most-hated driving move commonly used on motor vehicle tests, according to a new survey.

But a driving instructor has unveiled a four-step trick that will help ease the tension of the frustrating maneuver.

Getty

Getty

Nearly half of American drivers hate parallel parking, according to studies from The Zebra , a Texas-based insurance company.

The study asked 1,000 residents about their feelings about the street-side parking move – 48% of respondents said they have a genuine fear of the maneuver.

The survey, which included non-drivers, said that most people feared holding up traffic.

Respondents who actively use their cars had a more rosy outlook on the maneuver – 53% of American drivers in the survey said they feel “very confident” in their parallel parking skills.

Still, several respondents expressed nervousness about hitting parked cars, the curb, or causing damage to their own vehicle.

The company called it “parallelophobia.”

However, drivers can take four steps to help ease their fear, according to the private airport parking company Rightway Parking .

Rightway Parking paired with Haydn Balch, a veteran driving instructor, to create a simple four-step process for drivers.

Balch, who has instructed drivers for over a decade, said nervous parallel parking has led to expensive repairs and even longer waits for nearby traffic.

He said drivers should start by stopping their vehicle a door width apart from the car they aim to park behind.

Once the cars are correctly aligned, he said drivers can swoop into the spot in these four steps:

• Turn on the directional toward the curb that the vehicle will park beside.
• Reverse slowly and turn the steering wheel all the way toward the curb where the vehicle will park.
• Continue in reverse until the passenger door handle aligns with the curb – then turn in the opposite direction.
• Finally, straighten the wheel and put the car in park.

Balch also suggested drivers should avoid so-called “dry steering” in reverse.

He said the term refers to a driver’s cranking the wheel while the car is still stationary.

Parallel parking tips

Parallel parking can be stressful. Here are some tips from The U.S. Sun to help drivers ease into their street-side spots.

• Align the car parallel to the one in front of the desired parking space.
• Check mirrors and surroundings for pedestrians or other vehicles.
• Shift into reverse and turn the steering wheel towards the curb.
• Slowly back into the space, watching the front bumper’s clearance.
• Straighten the wheel as the car moves further into the space.
• Once the front end is clear, turn the wheel away from the curb.
• Pull forward to center the vehicle within the space.
• Ensure the wheels are no more than 12 inches from the curb.

Balch said the maneuver would grind the tires into the road and could damage the tire treads.

He added that the harsh turns could also make drivers more susceptible to encounters with the curb and may damage a car’s rims.

“Keep your wheels in motion to avoid dry steering,” Balch added.

Finally, he suggested drivers avoid stomping on the gas pedal when pulling into the spot.

Over-accelerating, generally due to nervousness from the potentially stressful maneuver, could lead to thousand-dollar repairs, he warned.

“Over-acceleration and hitting the curb too fast can lead to a blown tire and damage the steering system,” Balch said.