RI Driving Test

Submitted by possiblecoin t3_10l7vw8 in RhodeIsland

I just scheduled my daughter's driving test (in MAY, gotta love the DMV) and I got to wondering, why is parallel parking weighted so heavily? It's literally one of the four core skills tested. I've been driving for over 30 years and I would bet I've parallel parked less than 100 times, and I've lived in predominantly urban/suburban environments. A 16 year old in Foster or Burrillville might never see a real world opportunity to parallel park until they leave home. It just seems funny that stuff like merging and or making a left turn without crippling the road grid wouldn't receive greater emphasis.

0

Comments

You must log in or register to comment.

moreobviousthings t1_j5v7bmu wrote

I don't know the reasoning of DMV. But I think that the ability to effectively parallel park is a clear demonstration that the driver knows where the wheels and the four corners of the car are located, and how the vehicle actually turns. If you can parallel park, you should certainly be able to park any other way. And if a car parks very close to you in a parking lot, you have the skills to be able to get out of your spot without hitting the adjacent car. An understanding of how the wheels work in parallel parking can be applied to other close maneuvering: one should be less likely to cut a corner too close and hit the curb, for example. Parallel parking requires a good understanding of close maneuvering which can readily be ported to many day-to-day situations.

45

NoChoice6899 t1_j5vaoko wrote

This! Before I knew how to parallel park, I side swiped a car being to close in a parking lot when I first got my license. This is so true. I wasn’t taught how to parallel park, I taught myself

8

BingBong022 t1_j5vqru0 wrote

How did you get your license?

2

NoChoice6899 t1_j5w2xwt wrote

There was other parts of the test. They didn’t make me parallel park. I have no idea

3

BingBong022 t1_j5w3kka wrote

This is why I can't wait for self driving cars to take over. Most people are bad drivers, don't know how to drive or park, damage other people's cars and property. Insurance rates should come down dramatically or cease to exist

−4

NoChoice6899 t1_j5wq4sw wrote

Okay I was 19 and wasn’t taught during the drivers test. How is that my fault? I know how to drive and park now. I said I taught myself to parallel park. This was the only time I hit someone and I was a new driver.

1

BingBong022 t1_j5x99rg wrote

I'm just saying I can't wait for self driving cars because people cause more accidents than ai. Not sure why you're getting so defensive and taking my opinion on self driving vehicles personally?

0

possiblecoin OP t1_j5vakhn wrote

Interesting explanation. I didn't think of the spatial awareness implications as opposed to simple "parking".

−1

Evytb_2000 t1_j5vb1zh wrote

Parallel parking wasn't on the test for me and gotta say I wish it did. It's a useful skill and knowing how to do it before you're trying to Parallel park on a busy street with pissed off drives would save a lot of stress and a lot of people hitting parked cars

14

CoffeeMilkSteaks t1_j5vdivb wrote

I think I got lucky when I took my test. The instructor only had me reverse in a straight line along the curb.

14

Various_Butterscotch t1_j5w2sv3 wrote

Same. Taken in RI in 2018.

1

MissChampy t1_j5wu5gx wrote

Pawtucket DMV?

1

Various_Butterscotch t1_j5yc4oi wrote

Cranston testing site I think. It was next to Rogers Williams Park.

3

MissChampy t1_j5zvgwj wrote

When I went in Pawtucket. They had me drive around the block and park along and empty curb. It was so weird.

2

bauer883 t1_j5zztxe wrote

Pawtucket. Took a right out of the parking lot. Next right. Another right. And then another right back into the lot. “You passed”. No shit.

2

ninetyschic t1_j60nxl4 wrote

Same. The hardest part (for me back in 2001) was not going up on the curb when taking the first right out of the parking lot.

2

Megs0226 t1_j5v51fe wrote

Now I’m having flashbacks to my road test in Wakefield in November 200whatever, and the proctor making me parallel park on a curb that wasn’t even visible because it was covered in leaves.

Don’t take it in Wakefield. It’s probably the same dude from almost 20 years ago who yelled at me after the test while we sat in my mom’s car behind Old Mountain Lanes.

7

BingBong022 t1_j5vqm6x wrote

Because most people don't live on a farm in the middle of nowhere their entire life and at some point drive into a city where they will have to parallel park.

7

possiblecoin OP t1_j5vrau2 wrote

When was the last time you parallel parked? I go into Providence fairly regularly and I don't think I have ever had to parallel park. Maybe on the East Sid on rare occasions, but not frequently.

At any rate, I'm not anti parallel parking, I just think it plays an outside role in getting your license when there are far more important skills.

−12

BingBong022 t1_j5vrm0l wrote

I literally parallel park 2-5 times a day every day..lol

10

BingBong022 t1_j5vri9z wrote

What are you talking about? I parallel park in downtown every day.

4

hurricanetruther t1_j5wvxot wrote

Not sure why you're being downvoted. I live in Providence, never parallel park. The city's such that if you don't want to parallel park then you can simply route plan better and park down a side street and walk an extra 30 seconds.

Sure, if you don't want to risk burning more calories than you have to, and so insist on parking directly in front of wherever you're going, yeah, you'll probably have to do it.

2

fluoridatedwater t1_j5ylw8q wrote

Depending on where you are in Providence. I live in Providence and there is only parallel parking near my apartment.

2

Rhody1964 t1_j5wm64r wrote

We just had our daughter go through this last week! I suggest going to the Cranston DMV and watch the cars taking the test. They do it right in plain view in the parking lot. Had I known I would have taken my daughter to watch so she'd know what she was in for. They also have a video on youtube you can watch. It is so weird to me that they don't test on any kind of road. It's all about parking, stopping, a little back up and a turn. But she passed!

5

possiblecoin OP t1_j5wm96m wrote

Good tip, thanks!

1

agrotourism_ t1_j5xlj5b wrote

I took my test in august and there is a video on YouTube that takes you through the RI road test course and I REALLY recommend watching that. After watching the video a few times I went to a school parking lot after hours that has a bunch of cones in it and just arranged all the cones the exact way it showed in the video and I was able to practice the exact course until I felt comfortable. Truly I think that was the main reason of why I did so good on my road test

5

agrotourism_ t1_j5xm3f0 wrote

I also just want to say that the parallel parking portion of the test was quite easy and it was for sure the part I was most worried about. Also I’m not sure if you scheduled the appointment for providence or for Cranston but I did mine at providence and the instructors stand in the parking lot right next to your car and they really help talk you through it all!

1

[deleted] t1_j5vd1qc wrote

I didn’t have to parallel park.. but that was back in 2013

4

Proof-Variation7005 t1_j5vo1jq wrote

I've always thought it was a good way to demonstrate a grasp the spatial awareness of the vehicle.

On the flip side, I had to back up like 100ft in a straight line during my driving test. I haven't come close to doing that since.

At the time, I figured it made sense. What if I'm trying to get away from a bad guy and I go down an alley, but then the bad guy is at the opposite end of the the alley because he anticipated my move? Now, I realize that I overestimated the likelihood I'd ever need to do that. Total waste of time.

3

SweatyCockroach8212 t1_j5vvnla wrote

I think some of the other important driving skills have been removed with the COVID restrictions. The DMV tester couldn't be in the car, so everything had to be done in a parking lot. That removes things like taking a left turn in traffic, and turns it into a skills show. I don't know if they've removed the part about the tester being in the car yet, but that was my understanding.

3

401_native t1_j5yiiee wrote

Took my driving test in Middletown in 2006, didn’t have to parallel park

3

Alindquizzle t1_j6098ea wrote

Probably because it’s such an unpracticed but valuable skill. That being said, I didn’t have to do one for my test, just a 3pt turn

3

Status_Silver_5114 t1_j5wovt9 wrote

This has always been a big part of the test in all kinds of states. I think it speaks to a) city driving and b) control of your car and spatial awareness. The driver is in control of a hunk of steel that can kill. They need to show they can manuver it.

2

Shanbear16 t1_j5yw3u9 wrote

I parallel park every day for work (Pawtucket). Besides that, I lived in another city for a while and had to frequently parallel park.

2

fuckyeahcaricci t1_j5yywy1 wrote

I moved here from NYC when I was in my 30's. I didn't drive and took the test in RI in 1996. There was no parallel parking on the test! My son took the test in 2016 and there was no parallel parking. He can parallel park though, but I sure can't.

1

klebentine t1_j5zixql wrote

So I took my driver's test in SC, and passed but did horribly with parallel parking. They still gave my license(this was years ago). I am 35 years old and still cannot parallel park well. I drive to Boston weekly and have to spend anywhere from 15-60$ for parking just for a few hours because I cannot parallel park. I have to research parking before going anywhere. I very much wish I had mastered parallel parking. It would make things much easier.

1

RhodyVan t1_j60rnv0 wrote

Backup cameras have really simplified parallel parking. So much easier now to know where you are - and how much more room you have. I learned how to parallel park in 73 Gran Torino Station Wagon with manual steering. It was not easy finding spots big enough for that land yacht.

1