Maryland drops parallel parking from driver’s test.

[elleng]

It’s part of the driving experience dreaded by many drivers, young and old — parallel parking.

Trying to fit your car between two other cars, often with only inches to spare, can test the skills and confidence of any driver.

Well, drivers applying for their licenses in Maryland can breathe a little easier.

Maryland’s Motor Vehicle Administration has dropped parallel parking from its statewide test.

“The MVA consistently evaluates its assessments of both the knowledge and skills tests,” the agency’s Buel Young tells WTOP.

Young says the skills demonstrated in other tests including judging space and backing are similar to parallel parking.

“In analyzing the skills test, it was determined that the currently used 2-point reverse turn, when combined with the on-road portions of the test, adequately assessed the individual’s ability to operate the vehicle.”

http://wtop.com/maryland/2015/05/maryland-drops-parallel-parking-from-drivers-test/



Going out to back into some ice cream now. Get outta my WAY!!!

[SoCalNative]

1. California dropped it a while back

As a result, they don't seem to teach it, so not many people these days cans manage the art of parallel parking.

[Auggie]

2. Sometimes I think California dropped basic driving skills

[yeoman6987]

3. It's a dumb thing to learn anyway.

I am 46 and never needed to parallel park in my whole life. Got my license in Florida where no parallel parking required and never needed it. Another reason Maryland is supreme. No need to parallel park in Arnold Maryland. Good riddance to something long past its usage.

[xfundy]

6. You must not go into the city much.

Parallel parking in most cities is not optional unless you park in a garage.

[MADem]

7. I agree--if you can't judge the space and have a good sense of your car, you're going to be driving

in circles forever in an urban setting!!

[yeoman6987]

8. Don't care much for cities but if I do, it's parking garages for sure.

[SheilaT]

4. I know my sons didn't need to parallel park when

they got their licenses in Kansas around ten years or so ago.

I don't remember doing it for my first license, but I suppose I did. The next time I took a driving test, in 1976 in Virginia, I didn't parallel park either. The examiner, a pretty big guy, had to cram himself into the passenger seat of my VW bug, and only had me drive around the block. Easiest driving test ever.

I'm actually pretty good a parallel parking because I used that skill a lot when I lived in the DC area.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

5. I can see still teaching it but it's one of those things you can probably just choose not to do IRL.

Plus 'kissing' someone's bumper cau$e$ a lot more damage these days.