PA drivers test?

Got a question for the PA types (natives especially)

My Girlfriend is going to be trying for her drivers license (at the age of 24) within the next week.

I cant seem to find the specifics on the "parallel parking" arrangement through internet searches.

Anyone have any specs on that? Its the only thing that I am not 100% confident that she is prepared for.

As to why at the age of 24 is she finally getting it? In her family it was car or college. She put herself through undergrad, got a masters, and did study abroad. I am planning on getting her into one of the Tire Rack sponsored drivers school weekends as soon as funds allow. That said, shes doing very well, just gotta keep the temper under control, which is not easy in Pittsburgh.

Pick the test center nearest you and sit there for a half hour watching others do the test. It can be a "just pull up to the curb" or a real parallel park between two cones. After hours she can practice all she wants at the test site.

Depending on where you go for the test, the weather, how "backed up" they are on folks needed the driving test there is a good chance she may not have to do a "classic" parallel park maneuver(sp?). I took my driving test in rural Pa. and was scared to death the car I was driving would develop some kind of safety fault JUST before the test that the inspector would "ding" me for. The guy never did more than a quick look at the car....and no parallel park.

Yet, when I moved to Florida in the late '80s and went for my driving test, I had to parallel park between two cones. Luckily, I had a small car, also did the whole driving test within 3 blocks of the test station.

The above is good advice. It's been so long since I've been through that joke of a test I can't really be much help. I do know that speaking or reading English is no longer a requirement.

In Florida, at least, they've removed the parallel parking portion of the test.

ddavidv wrote: The above is good advice. It's been so long since I've been through that joke of a test I can't really be much help. I do know that speaking or reading English is no longer a requirement.

Ditto. Parallel parking wasn't part of the test when I took it back in 1987.

In rural areas the DMV is rarely open. It was open Thursdays where I grew up, which meant I could spend the majority of the rest of the week practicing parallel parking on their official test site.

If that is not the case (DMV is open all week) just go after hours, I doubt they work more than bankers hours. I'm pretty sure most DMV's with a test center have some place on site where parallel parking is done. I had 2 barrels, I'm sure other places probably just use cones.

BTW, my proctor said I drove too fast and I was going to die. I kept it 5mph below the speed limit at all times....still alive and still have my license, and I'm pretty sure I will die in the future.

I had to do the parellel parking test in 87 here in NJ... I almost got dinged for moving the wheel one handed while backing up. I guess he wanted me to do the shuffle while standing still or slowly moving?

Stupid or not, if you can fail for not knowing, it's best to know. Besides, it's like swimming, you may only NEED it once in your life.....

Pull up next to a parked car, get tail light to taill light.

Crank the wheel right, back up and look right down the centerline of your car.

When you're CL is aimed at the car behind's headlight straighten the wheel.

Go straight back until your right headlight clears the front car's taillight.

Crank left.

Do this three times and you're a pro.

Yeah, we are traveling about an hour out due to stories of the local one ALWAYS failing someone the first time, deserved or not. (multiple sources)

Guess I will go peek at the local place today and see what the setup there is. Just gotta get some parking practice in either way and wanted to get the exact setup.

I got my license in Pittsburgh about 100 years ago. Back then, you took the test at the 5th Avenue test site downtown, which meant city driving and parallel parking on actual, busy city streets. Or you could take it in Washington, PA, which meant a closed-course with no other cars. Basically a parking lot with lines. The parallel parking was simply back into a spot against a curb, marked by lines. Simple. (although I did see one person back over the curb and through a fence) Not sure if that is still an option today.

(my uncle actually did get his license 100 years ago. OK, it was in the 30's. Anyway, he had been driving for a few years delivering milk when they started the license program in PA. He was grandfathered in, never took a test in almost 85 years of driving.)

In New York you have to park behind a car, occcasionally between two cars if the inspector is feeling brave. When I took the bus test he had several of us park between two cars.

ugh.... I remember parellel parking the truck I used to drive. I hated having to do that on a vehicle that was approaching 50feet in length and only side mirrors. Parking my car was a breeze after that

In Ohio they have this "maneuverability test" that replicates parallel parking.
Step 1: pull forward then right/left (your choice) keeping last cone even to your rear bumper.
Step 2: back the car up to where you started keeping last cone even with your front bumper.

JRW,

I took my test in Delaware, OH and thats exactly the test I took..

I took mine in my moms 94 mustang convertable (V6-auto) almost 10 years ago now.

For the GF's test we are borrowing my moms '04 impreza (my cars are a mustang cobra and a miata, both stick. shes gonna learn, but to get started we are borrowing the auto_

Anybody can pass a drivers exam in Pa as long as they don't empty their tobacco spit cup on the PennDOT exam course.

Yinzers get extra points for wearing a Polamalu jersey

mad_machine wrote: ugh.... I remember parellel parking the truck I used to drive. I hated having to do that on a vehicle that was approaching 50feet in length and only side mirrors. Parking my car was a breeze after that

No kidding. After driving a conversion van with all the windows covered and 4x4 pick-ups before that, I got really good at parking it and driving with my mirrors. Even now when driving my TDi wagon with great rearward visibility, I still back up using my side mirrors rather than looking over my shoulder.

Just get one of those cars that do it for you. I have always used my mirrors . I hear so much about blind spots,properly adjusted mirrors practically eliminate them.

As you stated: Mirrors practically eliminate them.

But they do not completely. So don't be beholden to your mirrors.

Here is the hand out I created for my student's parents to check them while they drive: Note: does not format well from Word. Sorry. If you want I can email it to you.

The Parallel Park (RIGHT-CENTER-LEFT) Search target area ahead for appropriate place/space to park vehicle Check rear zone as you approach and slow Engage right directional and pull alongside space to verify room to park (Space should be at least 6 feet longer than your vehicle) Pull forward approximately 2-3 feet from parked car’s driver’s side Stop when the right rear corner or taillight of parked car is visible at rear edge of right rear window of your vehicle Look for a reference target in the distance above middle of the driver’s side mirror Turn steering wheel to the RIGHT as far as it will go Move shifter to reverse Check forward, over left shoulder and to the rear for clearance and safety Looking back begin to let off brake pedal and let the car go backwards. If necessary use throttle (You are attempting to roll the car backwards into a 45 degree angle from the curve) Verify 45* position by centering original reference target you found over steering wheel Stop and turn steering wheel to left to CENTER steering wheel Check forward, over left shoulder, and to the rear for clearance and safety Looking back begin to let off brake pedal and let the car go backwards. If necessary use throttle Back up until right rear corner of parked car is now behind passenger side windshield pillar/mirror Turn steering wheel to the LEFT as far as it will go Check forward, over left shoulder and to the rear for clearance and safety Back up until your vehicle is parallel to curb or edge of road Pull forward if room and park car When prompted pull away from curb: Engage reverse, look back, and back up about 4 feet Engage left directional, check driver’s side mirror and over left shoulder for clearance/safety Turn wheel to left and pull away from curb searching into target zone ahead and down road When your vehicle’s right windshield pillar/mirror is even with parked car you begin turning steering wheel to right remaining as much as possible on right half of road Proceed up to speed limit

Link to alternative procedure: DE of VT

I realize this is not PA but the techniques are the same anywhere. I came up with the first to break the procedure up into distinct manageable skills. I leave it up to the student to eventually put it all together into one fluid movement. 9Which I myself don't even do!)

I took my road test in NYC on an actual street, parking between actual cars (note: if you touch a car, even its bumper, or the curb you failed the road test), but my kids took their road tests in Monroe County, PA. They ahd to parallel park on the course by backing up as if the were in town. The key to parallel parking is to line your sideview mirror with that of a parked car. Once lined up, start cutting your wheels. For that reason, I think it is easier to park on a street than on a closed course.

Where are you in the 'burgh? The Penn Hills testing site on Rodi usually has a line of people practicing the parking part after the office closes. It's just in a shopping center so you can get to it 24 x 7. Just tossing it out there if you want some place that is fantastic to practice.

HeavyDuty wrote: Where are you in the 'burgh? The Penn Hills testing site on Rodi usually has a line of people practicing the parking part after the office closes. It's just in a shopping center so you can get to it 24 x 7. Just tossing it out there if you want some place that is fantastic to practice.

Ingram, so I'm on the other side of town. Might head over there anyways.

vwcorvette wrote: As you stated: Mirrors practically eliminate them. But they do not completely. So don't be beholden to your mirrors. Here is the hand out I created for my student's parents to check them while they drive: Note: does not format well from Word. Sorry. If you want I can email it to you.

The Parallel Park (RIGHT-CENTER-LEFT) Search target area ahead for appropriate place/space to park vehicle Check rear zone as you approach and slow Engage right directional and pull alongside space to verify room to park (Space should be at least 6 feet longer than your vehicle) Pull forward approximately 2-3 feet from parked car’s driver’s side Stop when the right rear corner or taillight of parked car is visible at rear edge of right rear window of your vehicle Look for a reference target in the distance above middle of the driver’s side mirror Turn steering wheel to the RIGHT as far as it will go Move shifter to reverse Check forward, over left shoulder and to the rear for clearance and safety Looking back begin to let off brake pedal and let the car go backwards. If necessary use throttle (You are attempting to roll the car backwards into a 45 degree angle from the curve) Verify 45* position by centering original reference target you found over steering wheel Stop and turn steering wheel to left to CENTER steering wheel Check forward, over left shoulder, and to the rear for clearance and safety Looking back begin to let off brake pedal and let the car go backwards. If necessary use throttle Back up until right rear corner of parked car is now behind passenger side windshield pillar/mirror Turn steering wheel to the LEFT as far as it will go Check forward, over left shoulder and to the rear for clearance and safety Back up until your vehicle is parallel to curb or edge of road Pull forward if room and park car When prompted pull away from curb: Engage reverse, look back, and back up about 4 feet Engage left directional, check driver’s side mirror and over left shoulder for clearance/safety Turn wheel to left and pull away from curb searching into target zone ahead and down road When your vehicle’s right windshield pillar/mirror is even with parked car you begin turning steering wheel to right remaining as much as possible on right half of road Proceed up to speed limit

Link to alternative procedure: DE of VT I realize this is not PA but the techniques are the same anywhere. I came up with the first to break the procedure up into distinct manageable skills. I leave it up to the student to eventually put it all together into one fluid movement. 9Which I myself don't even do!)

Thanks! A procedure like that will really help as a teaching tool.

I can sparse out the formatting, no prob

I haven't parallel parked since I took my test....

Here's the parallel parking test: meander your car into a spot bigger than two city parking spots in as many tries as you need without hitting the cones, and within four or five feet of the curb. Done.

All this depends on the person administering the test. The guy that did mine seemed to be fine with anything other than me being drunk.