When parallel parking, how far should a vehicle be from the curb?

When parallel parking, how far should a vehicle be from the curb?

• A. No more than 6 inches
• B. No more than 24 inches
• C. No more than 12 inches
• D. No more than 3 inches

Answer: (C)

The key idea is to park close enough to the curb to stay out of the lane, but not so close that you risk scraping or damaging the tires. The recommended target is roughly 12 inches or less from the curb. Being about a foot away makes it easy to straighten the car and re-enter traffic safely. If you’re much farther away, you waste curb space and stand a better chance of blocking part of the lane; if you’re too close, you risk rubbing the curb and damaging the tires or rims. So aiming for no more than about 12 inches from the curb hits the right balance.

The key idea is to park close enough to the curb to stay out of the lane, but not so close that you risk scraping or damaging the tires. The recommended target is roughly 12 inches or less from the curb. Being about a foot away makes it easy to straighten the car and re-enter traffic safely. If you’re much farther away, you waste curb space and stand a better chance of blocking part of the lane; if you’re too close, you risk rubbing the curb and damaging the tires or rims. So aiming for no more than about 12 inches from the curb hits the right balance.