Parallel parking not on driving test in MD

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  • atgcpaul
    Veteran Member
    • Aug 2003
    • 4055
    • Maryland
    • Grizzly 1023SLX

    Parallel parking not on driving test in MD

    It was just announced that Maryland (where I live) no longer tests parallel parking during the driver's license road test. VA and DC don't require it either. MD's rationale is that the skills required to parallel park are already tested in the 2 point turn. Maybe because I consider myself an excellent parallel parker, I think this is a bad move. It irks me to see people parked a mile from the curb or not parallel to it. IMO parallel parking tests your finer driving skill than a 2 point turn does which affords the driver a lot more space to maneuver.
  • durango dude
    Senior Member
    • Mar 2011
    • 934
    • a thousand or so feet above insanity
    • 50s vintage Craftsman Contractor Saw

    #2
    aww man ----- I think I should file a lawsuit for emotional trauma.

    I had to take a MD driving test three (3) times as a teen -------- because the examiner in Mondawmin was
    not impressed with my parallel parking skills.

    Humorously - I perfected my parking skills when I lived in the Middle East in a highly congested city.

    Comment

    • LinuxRandal
      Veteran Member
      • Feb 2005
      • 4889
      • Independence, MO, USA.
      • bt3100

      #3
      Ford is offering a self-parking feature in some of its 2010 vehicles. WSJ's Stacey Delo takes her hands off the wheel and tests Ford's Active Park Assist, a ...


      Uhm, yea, we are already removing that skill from the drivers. As parents believe their kids, "MUST" have a newer, safer car, how will the testing work?
      She couldn't tell the difference between the escape pod, and the bathroom. We had to go back for her.........................Twice.

      Comment

      • TB Roye
        Veteran Member
        • Jan 2004
        • 2969
        • Sacramento, CA, USA.
        • BT3100

        #4
        Stoping at red lights and before making right tuns on red are not tested in California neither is parallel parking. Yellow lights are for going as fast as you can. Turn signals don't need em.

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        • phrog
          Veteran Member
          • Jul 2005
          • 1796
          • Chattanooga, TN, USA.

          #5
          Back in the late 60's I didn't have to parallel park on my test in Knoxville, TN.
          Richard

          Comment

          • TB Roye
            Veteran Member
            • Jan 2004
            • 2969
            • Sacramento, CA, USA.
            • BT3100

            #6
            Back in 1958 when I got my license We had to parallel park and had to do it down town on one of the main street. The license examiner picked the spot. I took the test in a big 4 door chevy and I swear the spot was only big enough for a VW. Did on first try and was with in the 12" allowed from the curb. Now with all the parking lot the only place I parallel is at the Dog Park in our Big Ford Expedition and I have curbed it a few times. I don't think either of my Son's can parallel park though don't know if they even require it now. Back in the day we didn't have power steering or brakes and 3 on the tree. I took driver training in High School and the instructor found a hill for us to practice parallel parking on, Great instructor taught us a lot of good things that i still use today.

            Tom

            Tom

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            • trungdok
              Established Member
              • Oct 2012
              • 235
              • MA

              #7
              Originally posted by atgcpaul
              It was just announced that Maryland (where I live) no longer tests parallel parking during the driver's license road test. VA and DC don't require it either. MD's rationale is that the skills required to parallel park are already tested in the 2 point turn. Maybe because I consider myself an excellent parallel parker, I think this is a bad move. It irks me to see people parked a mile from the curb or not parallel to it. IMO parallel parking tests your finer driving skill than a 2 point turn does which affords the driver a lot more space to maneuver.
              By the same rationale, they don't need to even leave the parking lot since most "skills" are already done while trying to get out of the parking lot. Urrghhhhhh

              Comment

              • cwsmith
                Veteran Member
                • Dec 2005
                • 2737
                • NY Southern Tier, USA.
                • BT3100-1

                #8
                As an older driver, if you live here in NY state, it won't take you more than a few minutes behind the the wheel to wonder WHAT they do require to get a license these days. Typically drivers don't use turn-signals, stop at Stop Signs, know how to transverse trafic circles, allow for merges, or know how to merge or have a clue as to what speed limit signs are for (and I drive fast, usually doing about 7 miles over the posted limit.... but I get passed continuously by some pretty high-speed drivers.) Parking... there appears to be no rules whatsoever.

                Mix in too-loud sound systems, cell phones, on-board electronic distractions, and stuffing your face while driving... and it appears that vehicles are anything but point A to B transportation vehicles.

                On the other hand, the traffic designers don't seem to know what they're doing either.... three lane intersections in which the extreme right lane is hash-marked for no entry and right turns are marked from the middle lane, diagonal parking in the down-town area where you are supposed to stop and back-into space toward the curb, and a very narrow traffic circle that has slanted curb stone to accommodate larger vehicles who can't make the turn and therefore are expected to drive over the curbs. (That traffic circle has been damaged more than a dozen times since it's construction just a few years ago.)

                CWS
                Last edited by cwsmith; 05-21-2015, 10:12 AM.
                Think it Through Before You Do!

                Comment

                • capncarl
                  Veteran Member
                  • Jan 2007
                  • 3564
                  • Leesburg Georgia USA
                  • SawStop CTS

                  #9
                  Having driven a lot of the new SUVs and trucks I don't see why anyone with one of these vehicles would attempt to parallel park them given how little side and rear visibility they offer.
                  capncarl

                  Comment

                  • LCHIEN
                    Internet Fact Checker
                    • Dec 2002
                    • 20914
                    • Katy, TX, USA.
                    • BT3000 vintage 1999

                    #10
                    Most big cities finding a parallel parking space to park in (or any space for that matter) is a once in a lifetime rarity. No wonder its no longer a driving test item.
                    Loring in Katy, TX USA
                    If your only tool is a hammer, you tend to treat all problems as if they were nails.
                    BT3 FAQ - https://www.sawdustzone.org/forum/di...sked-questions

                    Comment

                    • LCHIEN
                      Internet Fact Checker
                      • Dec 2002
                      • 20914
                      • Katy, TX, USA.
                      • BT3000 vintage 1999

                      #11
                      Originally posted by atgcpaul
                      It was just announced that Maryland (where I live) no longer tests parallel parking during the driver's license road test. VA and DC don't require it either. MD's rationale is that the skills required to parallel park are already tested in the 2 point turn. Maybe because I consider myself an excellent parallel parker, I think this is a bad move. It irks me to see people parked a mile from the curb or not parallel to it. IMO parallel parking tests your finer driving skill than a 2 point turn does which affords the driver a lot more space to maneuver.

                      The amusing part is watching someone try to nose into a parallel spot and then try to get the rest of the car lined up behind the front wheels. Hilarious and they usually have absolutely no clue that they needed to have backed in because the back wheels are not steerable on a micro scale.
                      Loring in Katy, TX USA
                      If your only tool is a hammer, you tend to treat all problems as if they were nails.
                      BT3 FAQ - https://www.sawdustzone.org/forum/di...sked-questions

                      Comment

                      • TB Roye
                        Veteran Member
                        • Jan 2004
                        • 2969
                        • Sacramento, CA, USA.
                        • BT3100

                        #12
                        Try it with a Pickup pulling a trailer with a race car on it. I did in 1968 in SF. Took 3 tries, but I was good then. Could I do now, wouldn't even attempt it. Got lucky that time.



                        Tom

                        Comment

                        • atgcpaul
                          Veteran Member
                          • Aug 2003
                          • 4055
                          • Maryland
                          • Grizzly 1023SLX

                          #13
                          Originally posted by TB Roye
                          Try it with a Pickup pulling a trailer with a race car on it. I did in 1968 in SF. Took 3 tries, but I was good then. Could I do now, wouldn't even attempt it. Got lucky that time.
                          This reminded me of something I saw at a rest stop over 30 years ago on a family roadtrip. Posted in the diner was a sign announcing a tractor trailer parking contest. The sign showed the various parking situations--like parallel parking with a trailer--each driver would have to accomplish. I remember being awestruck by the difficulty of the tasks.

                          Fast forward 4 years ago, I borrowed my Dad's trailer to haul away some yard debris to the transfer station. I am not practiced with the trailer. Anyway, once there, I had to back in between several other people who were also unloading. So I squeezed in between two other trucks on the first try, and as I was unloading, one of the other drivers came over and commented, "That was really impressive that you got that short trailer (apparently short trailers are harder to backup straight than longer ones) between us. Nice job." Problem was, I was trying to go on the other side of his truck.

                          Comment

                          • phrog
                            Veteran Member
                            • Jul 2005
                            • 1796
                            • Chattanooga, TN, USA.

                            #14
                            Originally posted by atgcpaul
                            This reminded me of something I saw at a rest stop over 30 years ago on a family roadtrip. Posted in the diner was a sign announcing a tractor trailer parking contest. The sign showed the various parking situations--like parallel parking with a trailer--each driver would have to accomplish. I remember being awestruck by the difficulty of the tasks.

                            Fast forward 4 years ago, I borrowed my Dad's trailer to haul away some yard debris to the transfer station. I am not practiced with the trailer. Anyway, once there, I had to back in between several other people who were also unloading. So I squeezed in between two other trucks on the first try, and as I was unloading, one of the other drivers came over and commented, "That was really impressive that you got that short trailer (apparently short trailers are harder to backup straight than longer ones) between us. Nice job." Problem was, I was trying to go on the other side of his truck.
                            That's when you just smile and say "Thank you."
                            Richard

                            Comment

                            • woodturner
                              Veteran Member
                              • Jun 2008
                              • 2047
                              • Western Pennsylvania
                              • General, Sears 21829, BT3100

                              #15
                              Originally posted by LCHIEN
                              Most big cities finding a parallel parking space to park in (or any space for that matter) is a once in a lifetime rarity. No wonder its no longer a driving test item.
                              It's probably less common down your way where the cities are a little more spread out - in cramped Midwest and Northeast cities, it's still pretty common. If you park on the street in Boston, NYC, Philadelphia, DC, etc. you will likely have to parallel park.
                              --------------------------------------------------
                              Electrical Engineer by day, Woodworker by night

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