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Why am I the only one who can't.

(55 Posts)
Dollygloss Mon 26-Jan-26 18:22:39

I have been driving forever it seems, with no problems thankfully. It's only recently now I am in less of a hurry that this bothers me. Looking around car parks and drive ways I see that I am (almost) the only one whose front wheels are not straight when parked. Even with the logo aligned properly in the centre of the steering wheel I get a hit and miss result. It's not a big thing in the grand scheme of things but I feel others know something I don't. What am I doing wrong.

David49 Tue 27-Jan-26 15:40:13

Problem with reverse parking at the supermarket is that someone else park close to your boot and you cant get the shopping in!

Flippinheck Tue 27-Jan-26 15:32:23

Oh, this really hit a nerve. I totally identify with you Dollygloss. No matter how straight I thought I was my front was always just a bit out of line, my wheels not straight. For some reason I could reverse and parallel park perfectly, even without the camera.
I gave up driving because my eyesight was poor and assumed that was what caused it, or I was just incompetent, but hadn’t thought about spacial awareness. I never had much of that so maybe that was the case.
I have to admit being heartened to know I wasn’t the only one.

Stansgran Tue 27-Jan-26 15:31:16

I’m not a good Parker at all and make for the disabled spaces if free and get my moneys worth out of my passand many of our parking spaces don’t have a pavement behind anyway to unload shopping.

Tenko Tue 27-Jan-26 15:22:43

Frogs

Am I the only one who gets fed up waiting for a person taking their time reverse parking whilst we have to watch them patiently. 🤔

I don’t get fed up waiting . I appreciate that they may be a new or anxious driver . And an impatient driver is very off putting to the driver trying to park .

GrannyGravy13 Tue 27-Jan-26 15:11:51

Frogs

Am I the only one who gets fed up waiting for a person taking their time reverse parking whilst we have to watch them patiently. 🤔

I always reverse park, one easy manoeuvre straight in.

Nannan2 Tue 27-Jan-26 14:45:02

No frogs, you arent, my son does it all the time, i call it his okey kokey parking😁

Nannan2 Tue 27-Jan-26 14:43:03

Could you need a wheel alighnment maybe?

Frogs Tue 27-Jan-26 14:28:31

Am I the only one who gets fed up waiting for a person taking their time reverse parking whilst we have to watch them patiently. 🤔

janipans Tue 27-Jan-26 14:18:56

When you notice something you can't not notice it! It has probably always been the same but you just never took any notice - maybe you have more time now to notice small, and I have to say irrelevant, things?

leeds22 Tue 27-Jan-26 13:56:33

I used to be a great parker (even though I say it myself!). I got out practice during covid and am now often ashamed of my parking. I hate it when people, usually men, stand and watch me reversing.

lizzypopbottle Tue 27-Jan-26 13:51:13

When I changed from a neat little Ford Fiesta to a much bulkier Ford Puma, I couldn't park it straight for love nor money! I've had it for six months now and I'm a lot better at it.
There are so many things that irritate me about the new model (not limited to Fords, all new makes are the same), too many to list. The only thing I really like is that when I unlock it and the lights come on there's a lit up puma on the ground by the front doors.

Thisisme Tue 27-Jan-26 13:44:41

Rather than turning into a space, I always drive past it then reverse into position so I am lined up with the space. Then when I drive forward into the space my wheels are straight.
This doesn't help with reversing in, where my solution is to do another forward & back to straighten up.

Dollygloss Tue 27-Jan-26 12:26:52

I was at a garage recently and it was casually mentioned my front wheels weren't straightened though I was parked perfectly otherwise.I was there because of a noise near my left wheel so that's probably why. It made me aware of how others park. When I looked around every car there had front facing wheels.
Well done shysal. I would find it hard to park in front of an audience.
welbeck I have used that tip. It works!

welbeck Tue 27-Jan-26 10:27:38

Obviously do not park hard against the kerb to avoid damage to the tyres.
I have never noticed which way up my steering wheel is.
Nor cared.

welbeck Tue 27-Jan-26 10:25:22

I don't really understand the issue.
As long as you are parked within a marked bay or parallel to the kerb what does it matter.
I've never considered this.
For neat parking esp reversing into a bay angle the side mirror downwards.

DamaskRose Tue 27-Jan-26 10:20:54

Unless I park between two cars I’m never straight …

shysal Tue 27-Jan-26 10:15:55

I am pleased that I am not alone. This is a recent thing for me and I get cross with myself. It usually happens at Asda where the white lines are not parallel to the perimeter fence so are slightly angled. I am fine if I can approach from further back.
I remember my reversing into a tight roadside space once got a round of applause from some builders. Very sexist but I was chuffed!

V3ra Tue 27-Jan-26 10:09:20

If the logo on the steering wheel is the right way up, you'll need to turn it a full circle to straighten your front wheels.
Which way to turn is the next question!

Dollygloss Tue 27-Jan-26 00:02:19

In theory we could be fined too as streets are narrow in my local town but I'm not worried about that. Just intrigued. It occurred to me that many of these perfectly aligned front wheels could have park assist which could complete the final manoeuvre of straightening the wheels. I would like to think so and its not all down to superior skills.
Thanks to those who chipped in.

LadyGracie Mon 26-Jan-26 22:22:18

I’m never parked straight, almost but not quite. As long as I’m well within the lines I’m happy.
A friend was fined for parking with a wheel on the white line in Dunelms car park in Cardiff.

Aveline Mon 26-Jan-26 20:33:08

No point in reversing into a space in a supermarket car park. You have to take the trolley to the boot to unload into it.
Who cares if the wheels are straight btw?

tanith Mon 26-Jan-26 20:32:19

I've recently realise I'm doing this too. I have no problem reverse parking correctly but i walk away and have wonky front wheels. Ive been driving 45 yrs 20 of those professionally so I'm wondering if its something to do with spatial awareness?

kittylester Mon 26-Jan-26 20:17:20

Does it matter?

M0nica Mon 26-Jan-26 20:06:26

Why bother. Providing you are within the lines of your parking bay, that is all that matters, or if parallel parking that the car is not skewed into the traffic.

For me perfect parking is something I am really not bothered about.

Jimjam1 Mon 26-Jan-26 19:20:04

Dollygloss I can assure you are not the only one with parking problems. I am the same. I think I am within the lines then get out of the car and always parked at an angle. Don’t forget Dollygloss a lot of newer cars have self parking. Just press a button and hey presto the car parks itself. You are not on your own !