I get asked this a lot, often by people struggling to do the parallel park, after being taught a “Method” that just doesn’t work for them.
Parallel parking is one manoeuvre on your driving test that is made very complicated by most driving instructors. But, in short, the answer is YES, you can fail your driving test if you can’t parallel park.
How you can fail if you can’t parallel park?
So, there are a few ways that you can fail your test for the parallel park.
The first is observations. This can include not checking blind spots or not keeping an eye on the traffic that might be around as you complete the manoeuvre.
The second is control. This could be touching the kerb or being too far from the kerb when you finish.
You could also get driver faults (minors) for these depending on the severity of the error.
Making your parallel park perfect
Personally, I ask all my clients to visualise what a perfect one looks like and indeed to work out what good enough looks like.
We then work together to achieve the goal of making it perfect.
Ways your instructor can help you
Take some responsibility away from you.
Sounds odd, but lots of driving instructors ask their clients, you, to do too much in the beginning.
You concentrate on the control and let your Driving instructor help you with the observations and gradually remove their help. This should ultimately mean you’ll need fewer driving lessons to achieve your goals.
Or the other way round.
Get your instructor to demonstrate
Lots of instructors never seem to offer this but it’s a great tool. I’ve had clients watch from inside the car and outside the car from various angles. It can really help with visualisation, so you can see what’s happening and when.
Help yourself by moving your mirrors
Please please please move your passenger-side door mirror if you need to. If you can’t see the kerb that you’re reversing towards or if you think it will help you then do it. Remember it’s YOUR test and the mirrors are there to help you.
Take your time!
There really is no rush. Try and take 5 minutes to do the manoeuvre. It will never take you that long, but it will stop you rushing and that’s when things tend to go wrong.
Move it
Ultimately remember you need to complete the manoeuvre to pass the test. So if it hasn’t gone to plan don’t be scared to move it forward and correct yourself.
Don’t start again completely unless you really really need to. Just check you’re safe before you move the car.
Make sure you breathe!
If you feel it’s all getting a little bit too much then take a second to compose yourself and lower your stress level with a little bit of breathing. Out through the nose and then in through the mouth. Don’t breathe too deeply or quickly but just enough to raise your shoulders when you breathe in.
Good luck!