How do people not know how to parallel park?!
I’m sitting in my car and some nosed in and spent 6 minutes inching their car around only to end up in nearly the exact same nosed in position that they started in.
Christ.
My lord. And another one. This time a bmw (of course) at least backs in, but his approach angle relative to the curb was about 90 degrees. Good lord I hope I don’t ever seem this incompetent.
My son just got his license this fall. One of the things you have to do in Texas to get a license is parallel park.
We were working through parking, turning and car control one Sunday. I told him that the following week we would give the parallel parking thing a shot.
During the following week, unbeknownst to me, he found a .gif on the internet and watched it several times. First time he tried in the car with me that next weekend, he nailed. He was about 95% in the following weeks and only got better before taking the test.
How do people not know how to parallel park?!
I’m sitting in my car and some nosed in and spent 6 minutes inching their car around only to end up in nearly the exact same nosed in position that they started in.
Christ.
This is exactly why we need smart cars.
How do people not know how to parallel park?!
I’m sitting in my car and some nosed in and spent 6 minutes inching their car around only to end up in nearly the exact same nosed in position that they started in.
Christ.
This is exactly why we need smart cars.
Or limit driving to smart people. The bar is far too low to get a license to drive in this country.
No need, the robots are coming!
Waymo launches first self-driving car service
How do people not know how to parallel park?!
I’m sitting in my car and some nosed in and spent 6 minutes inching their car around only to end up in nearly the exact same nosed in position that they started in.
Christ.
This is exactly why we need smart cars.
Or limit driving to smart people. The bar is far too low to get a license to drive in this country.
This. Please this.
I look at people I graduated with, and there is no way in hell I want some of them driving.
How do people not know how to parallel park?!
I’m sitting in my car and some nosed in and spent 6 minutes inching their car around only to end up in nearly the exact same nosed in position that they started in.
Christ.
This is exactly why we need smart cars.
Or limit driving to smart people. The bar is far too low to get a license to drive in this country.
You want to see a bar set low? Just look at who can have kids!
How do people not know how to parallel park?!
I’m sitting in my car and some nosed in and spent 6 minutes inching their car around only to end up in nearly the exact same nosed in position that they started in.
Christ.
Parallel parking is about 87 levels above where most people are on the driving scale. Going when the light turns green, moving out of the left lane when you are impeding traffic, and actually looking up when you are driving are the skills I am most focused on right now.
How do people not know how to parallel park?!
I’m sitting in my car and some nosed in and spent 6 minutes inching their car around only to end up in nearly the exact same nosed in position that they started in.
Christ.
Parallel parking is about 87 levels above where most people are on the driving scale. Going when the light turns green, moving out of the left lane when you are impeding traffic, and actually looking up when you are driving are the skills I am most focused on right now.
I’m about to head out from school, but when i’m home i’m going to write my own drive test that I think should be the new standard. I’ll post it here for suggestions.
How do people not know how to parallel park?!
I’m sitting in my car and some nosed in and spent 6 minutes inching their car around only to end up in nearly the exact same nosed in position that they started in.
Christ.
Where do you live? I know from my 2 kids going through driving tests in the past few years that the ability to parallel park is no longer a part of the California state driver’s test :-/
Me? My Dad made me take the test in a full-sized Chevy passenger van…and I had to parallel park that monster! He figured if I could pass the test in that behemoth, he didn’t have to worry about my driving skills 
My son just got his license this fall. One of the things you have to do in Texas to get a license is parallel park.
We were working through parking, turning and car control one Sunday. I told him that the following week we would give the parallel parking thing a shot.
During the following week, unbeknownst to me, he found a .gif on the internet and watched it several times. First time he tried in the car with me that next weekend, he nailed. He was about 95% in the following weeks and only got better before taking the test.
What if the space is a little tight?
In Mich. its part of the test. But then after that you never need to parallel park. One of my favorite stores growing up only had parallel parking so I did it alot and got proficient at it (But dont use it much now so still screw it up) my one daughter has been driving 5 yrs I bet she has not parallel parked 5 times in that time period. Its a skill, and if you don’t use it you lose it. Really its not that hard to understand why people cant do it.
Here is the current WA State Drivers Test.
What will I be tested on?
You’ll be tested on:
Starting your vehicle.Leaving the curb, do you signal and wait until it’s safe to re-enter traffic?Controlling the vehicle, do you:
Use the gas pedal, brake, steering wheel, and other controls correctly?Change your speed to suit the number and speed of other vehicles, pedestrians, road conditions, weather conditions, construction, amount of light, and the distance you can see ahead?Driving in traffic, do you:
Use the proper lane?Signal to change lanes?Change lanes carefully?Follow other vehicles at a safe distance?Turn your head and look back before changing lanes?Signal the proper distance before turning?Obeying traffic signals and signs, do you:
Turn into the proper lane without cutting the lane or going wide into the improper lane?Driving through blind or crowded intersections, do you:
Scan carefully for signs, signals, pedestrians, and other vehicles?Yield and take the right-of-way correctly?Stopping
Do you stop smoothly and at the right spot?Can you stop quickly and safely in an emergency?Backing up
Do you look over your right shoulder?Can you back in a straight line?Do you have complete control of your car?Judging distance, do you stay a safe distance away from:
Other cars when following or passing, orPeople walking or riding on the roadway?Respecting the rights of others
Are you courteous to other drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists?Do you pay full attention to the driving task?**Performing specific maneuvers, **can you successfully complete all of the following?
Arms signals for right/left turns and slow or stop. (You may use arm signals during the test.)A brake reaction test/emergency stop.Parking on a hill.Parallel parking.Simulating backing out of driveway or alley into traffic using a corner.
Here is what I propose, in addition to the bare basics above.
Vehicle handling-
A slight slalom. Testing the ability to avoid a last minute obstacle in the road. A quick left-right turn, while keeping the vehicle under control.
Hard braking. This is touched on above, but I know that I wasn’t tested on it. Give a quick-braking test. Using a closed course, stop the car from 60 miles per hour in less than 300 feet. (Last page on this chart: https://nacto.org/docs/usdg/vehicle_stopping_distance_and_time_upenn.pdf) If the car isn’t capable, it should’t be on the road. If the driver isn’t able to keep the direction of the car under control, don’t pass.
Inclement weather. If you live in an area that receives at least the average rainfall or snowfall for the country per year, or some other standard, prove your proficiency in vehicle handling under those conditions. I never had to do any mandated driver training in the snow, or take my test in it, even though Spokane where I live receives 19" of snow more than the national average. I did my learning because my parents are smart, and I wanted to know, as well as have fun, so I would go to parking lots and slide about, and that’s how I learned how to recover from a slide, weight transfer, when to use which pedal and when NOT to use which pedal. If you are taking your drivers education classes in the spring or summer, then you should be required to practice in a car with rear casters at the very minimum. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lmddkkyjcA&feature=youtu.be)
Making the car go where you want it to go. The amount of people swerving and weaving at 65-75 mph on the freeway, who are watching the road and have two hands on the wheel blows me away.
This is just a start. Add things, I want to know what the main struggles you guys see on the road are.
How do people not know how to parallel park?!
I’m sitting in my car and some nosed in and spent 6 minutes inching their car around only to end up in nearly the exact same nosed in position that they started in.
Christ.
Parallel parking is about 87 levels above where most people are on the driving scale. Going when the light turns green, moving out of the left lane when you are impeding traffic, and actually looking up when you are driving are the skills I am most focused on right now.
Ain’t that the truth.
if you cannot start from a stop on a hill at an intersection in a manual without hill assist and without moving backwards or over revving the engine, no license for you!
if you cannot start from a stop on a hill at an intersection in a manual without hill assist and without moving backwards or over revving the engine, no license for you!
I think a manual is also about 87 levels above where most people are on the driving scale.
Anyone having their kids learn to drive a manual? Anyone thinks that’s obsolete?
My 15yr old daughter is just learning to steer the car decently, be smooth on gas and brake, and be aware of weight shifts. I can’t imagine trying to get her to work a clutch as well.
Parallel parking alternative . . . Works well w/a jeep, truck or other higher vehicle.
- Pull in nose first, towards the curb.
- Gently get the right front wheel above and onto the curb.
- Cut the steering wheel left and gently come off the curb,
- Car will fall right into the available spot, nicely adjacent to the curb.
No need to reverse at all. No holding up traffic while parking. Lots to like. Anyone else do this ?
Parallel parking alternative . . . Works well w/a jeep, truck or other higher vehicle.
- Pull in nose first, towards the curb.
- Gently get the right front wheel above and onto the curb.
- Cut the steering wheel left and gently come off the curb,
- Car will fall right into the available spot, nicely adjacent to the curb.
No need to reverse at all. No holding up traffic while parking. Lots to like. Anyone else do this ?
Pfft - that’s old school. 
There’s a better way:
if you cannot start from a stop on a hill at an intersection in a manual without hill assist and without moving backwards or over revving the engine, no license for you!
I think a manual is also about 87 levels above where most people are on the driving scale.
Anyone having their kids learn to drive a manual? Anyone thinks that’s obsolete?
My 15yr old daughter is just learning to steer the car decently, be smooth on gas and brake, and be aware of weight shifts. I can’t imagine trying to get her to work a clutch as well.
It will be obsolete. Electric cars don’t even need a transmission.