Parallel parking tips?

I need some tips for curved path backing and parallel parking, any advice?

• Well, I'm 19 years old and I took my first driving test this morning. I failed and I didn't even make it to the road. In Michigan there are 3 parts to the test and you have to pass each of the parts in order. In the 1st part.... you have to drive up and stop within 2 feet of a stop line. From there you must back up in a curved path into a simulated driveway from a 90 degree angle. Lastly you have to parallel park. You are allowed 6 errors during this part of the test, and I got 7 so I failed by 1 point. :( I am just no good at curved path backing or parallel parking and I drive a Jeep Liberty, so that doesn't really help. Any advice or tips? I plan on practicing and maybe scheduling another test for next week. Thanks in advance...

• Answer:

  I'm not sure exactly what curved path backing is but I can give some advice in parallel parking. First get a small car, that's going to make it easier to handle. Second, try to see yourself from above. As if you were looking at the roof of your car. As try to guestimate how parallel to the curve you are before you start moving the car and after. If you think you need more room to get the car parallel to the curve remmeber that you can make the car come to a completely stop and then move your tires. That's what alot of drivers don't do they keep moving the car as they rotate their tires and run out of room. If you are actually parkng betwwen to cars use them to give you, when the front door (handle) of you car is at the end of the car that will end up in front of you, that's a goo time to start getting the rear of your car closer to curve. Don't wait until you hit the curve, once the front of your car is not at part of teh car in front (assuming you're looking at it from the side) it's time to start straighting your car, get as close as you can to the car behind and by this time you car should be between them. From there just make sure you are parallel to the curve and you AND the guy behind you have enough room to get out. If you have dominos or car toys try to use them to see how the car would behave if you see it from above