Roadwise States Michigan Driving lessons Parking basics, hills and parallel parking Michigan driving lesson · Railroad Crossings and Parking
Parking basics, hills and parallel parking A 3-minute lesson from the Michigan course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Read time 3 minutes
Course unit Railroad Crossings and Parking
Checkpoint questions 6
Source pages 51 A bad parking job can send a car rolling downhill or put a door into a cyclist's path. A few habits — parking brake, wheel position and checking before you open the door — prevent most problems.
Whenever you park: Always turn off the engine Set the parking brake — don't rely on the transmission to hold the vehicle Take the keys and lock your vehicle Handbook p. 51 ↗ Getting out and back in: Watch for bicycles, motorcycles, mopeds or other passing vehicles Check your mirrors before opening the door Open the door with your right hand so you look over your left shoulder When returning, face oncoming traffic as you walk to the driver's side Handbook p. 51 ↗ Know the rule
Always use the parking brake on a hill. The transmission is not designed to be used as a brake.
Handbook p. 51 ↗ Parallel parking steps: Pick a space on the passenger side; signal and check mirrors Pull alongside the car parked just ahead of the space Brake, shift into reverse and check for traffic behind Back up slowly, checking mirrors and looking over your right shoulder Turn the wheel right to angle the rear into the space When the rear is mostly in, turn the other way to straighten (an "S" turn) Center the vehicle in the space Check for traffic before opening your door Handbook p. 51 ↗ 2–5 feet Gap between your vehicle and the parked car you pull alongside when parallel parking
Handbook p. 51 ↗ 6–12 inches Most your vehicle should be from the curb after parallel parking
Handbook p. 51 ↗ Put it into practice
You park facing downhill next to a curb. Turn your front wheels toward the curb and set the parking brake, so the curb stops the car if it rolls.
Check your understanding Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
What should you always do with the engine when you park? Leave it running with the parking brake on Leave it idling if it's cold outside Turn it off Leave it running if you'll be right back Answer: Turn it off
Whenever you park, always turn off the engine.
Handbook p. 51 ↗ What should you rely on to keep a parked vehicle from rolling, rather than the transmission? The steering lock The parking brake The hazard lights Turning the wheels straight Answer: The parking brake
Set the parking brake — do not rely on the transmission to hold your vehicle in place.
Handbook p. 51 ↗ Which hand should you use to open your car door after parking, and why? Your left hand, to brace against the door Either hand, it makes no difference Your right hand, so you look back left Your left hand, so you naturally look right Answer: Your right hand, so you look back left
Using your right hand to open the door makes you automatically look over your left shoulder for cyclists and pedestrians.
Handbook p. 51 ↗ Which direction should your wheels point when parking downhill? Away from the curb Toward the curb Whichever way is easier to pull out Straight ahead Answer: Toward the curb
Turn your wheels toward the curb when parking downhill.
Handbook p. 51 ↗ Which direction should your wheels point when parking uphill? Toward the curb Toward oncoming traffic Straight ahead only Away from the curb Answer: Away from the curb
Turn the wheels away from the curb when parking uphill.
Handbook p. 51 ↗ How far from the curb should your vehicle be after parallel parking? Right against the curb, touching it At least 3 feet away No more than 6-12 inches No more than 2 feet Answer: No more than 6-12 inches
Do not park more than 6-12 inches from the curb.
Handbook p. 51 ↗ Previous lesson Crossing safety and if you're stuck on the tracks Next lesson Disability parking More in Railroad Crossings and Parking About the source Roadwise’s Michigan course uses the driver handbook edition supplied with this study pack. This lesson cites source pages 51. The linked PDF is a third-party mirror of the handbook, rather than a government-hosted page.
Open the handbook source PDF · View the source edition
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