Parking Fails – How not to Park Your Car

Parking your car is one of the most difficult things to master whilst learning to drive, and often for long after too. Whether you’re trying to reverse into a space in a car park, or squeezing your way into a crammed roadside, getting your car parked up correctly can be a stressful situation.

The truth is that our roads are not getting any less busy. With more cars than ever fighting for limited parking spaces, it’s important that you are able to take advantage of even the smallest space on our roads.

Are you any good at parking your car?

If you want to be a parking master, have Jedi-like reflexes when reversing into a space, or be King of the parallel park, then here’s some great advice on how (or not) to do it! Rule no 1 – have a plan. Of some sort. Anything really. Not like this driver in Italy where I’m not even sure where he’s trying to park, or what he’s actually trying to do. I suspect there’s some heated language in here somewhere but as I don’t speak Italian, it’s all good. Look out for the religious interlude at 3:58 Rule no 2 – the bigger the space, the longer it will take you to get in there. Have a watch of this video of a driver in Russia. It’s a dream of a space but a nightmare of a manoeuvre! She gets there in the end. Rule no 3 – It’s not a race – slow and steady is the way to go. Go steady on the pedals and use your handbrake effectively. If all else fails, you can hide behind a pillar in shame and hope your car goes away on its own so no-one will ever know! Rule no 4 – what goes in, must come out. Don’t just consider how you’re going to get in to a space but also how you’re going to get out too. I was always told it’s easier to back into a space and come out forwards. No-one told this driver, though I suspect there is a much easier way than the route they eventually chose. Rule no 5 – If you want to drive a big car, you better learn how to handle it. Big cars can cause more damage and are much more difficult to turn in a tight space. But……..if this isn’t the most painful parking fail video in the history of ever, then I don’t know what is. Rule no 6 - whatever you do, don’t expect your backseat drivers to do any better. I hope this driver who let his friend try and do better has ‘any driver’ cover on his motor insurance policy. Want to improve your parking? Our range of parking sensors can help you get into the smallest of spaces and hopefully avoid an epic parking fail. http://xtrons.co.uk/car-media-fitting-accessories/reverse-parking-sensors.html We also have over 15 different reversing cameras available, which work in all weather conditions and at night. Have a look at http://xtrons.co.uk/car-media-fitting-accessories/reversing-cameras.html Read our tips on how to avoid an epic parking fail