{"organism":"Page","children":[{"organism":"Container.Raw","children":[{"organism":"Metadata","model":{"title":"How to overcome parking anxiety and reverse parallel park with confidence","text":"Struggle with parallel parking? This guide offers tips from driving instructors and psychologists to help reduce anxiety and build driving confidence.","links":[{"name":"How to overcome parking anxiety and reverse parallel park with confidence","value":"https://www.shell.com.au/shell-fuels/go-well-content-hub/how-to-overcome-parking-anxiety-and-reverse-parallel-park-with-confidence.html"}],"image":{"src":"https://www.shell.com.au/shell-fuels/go-well-content-hub/how-to-overcome-parking-anxiety-and-reverse-parallel-park-with-confidence/_jcr_content/root/metadata.shellimg.jpeg/1757649362425/psychology-of-parking-anxiety-promo.jpeg","alt":"How to overcome parallel parking anxiety","width":3840,"height":2160},"date":"2025-09-15T12:30:00.000Z","tags":[{"name":"Vehicles","value":"vehicles:"},{"name":"Drive Well","value":"shell:business/business-customers/drive-well"}]},"id":"/content/shell/countries/australia/en_au/shell-fuels/go-well-content-hub/how-to-overcome-parking-anxiety-and-reverse-parallel-park-with-confidence/jcr_content/root/metadata"},{"organism":"ContentOwner","model":{},"id":"/content/shell/countries/australia/en_au/shell-fuels/go-well-content-hub/how-to-overcome-parking-anxiety-and-reverse-parallel-park-with-confidence/jcr_content/root/contentowner"},{"organism":"Container.Header","children":[{"organism":"Container.Raw","ref":"https://www.shell.com.au/_jcr_content/root/header/inherited.model.json","id":"/content/shell/countries/australia/en_au/shell-fuels/go-well-content-hub/how-to-overcome-parking-anxiety-and-reverse-parallel-park-with-confidence/jcr_content/root/header/inherited","model":{}},{"organism":"Breadcrumb","model":{"links":[{"name":"Home","value":"https://www.shell.com.au/"},{"name":"Shell fuels","value":"https://www.shell.com.au/shell-fuels.html"},{"name":"Go Well Content Hub","value":"https://www.shell.com.au/shell-fuels/go-well-content-hub.html"},{"name":"How to overcome parking anxiety and reverse parallel park with confidence","value":"https://www.shell.com.au/shell-fuels/go-well-content-hub/how-to-overcome-parking-anxiety-and-reverse-parallel-park-with-confidence.html"}]},"id":"/content/shell/countries/australia/en_au/shell-fuels/go-well-content-hub/how-to-overcome-parking-anxiety-and-reverse-parallel-park-with-confidence/jcr_content/root/header/breadcrumb"}],"id":"/content/shell/countries/australia/en_au/shell-fuels/go-well-content-hub/how-to-overcome-parking-anxiety-and-reverse-parallel-park-with-confidence/jcr_content/root/header","model":{}},{"organism":"Container.Main","children":[{"organism":"Container.Section","children":[{"organism":"PageHeader","color":"inherited","model":{"title":"How to overcome parallel parking anxiety","text":"\u003Cp\u003EReverse parallel parking makes over half of Aussie drivers anxious, but it’s a skill anyone can learn. From managing the nerves to following simple step-by-step techniques, this article helps build confidence and make parking less stressful, one calm manoeuvre at a time.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n","image":{"src":"https://www.shell.com.au/shell-fuels/go-well-content-hub/how-to-overcome-parking-anxiety-and-reverse-parallel-park-with-confidence/_jcr_content/root/main/section/page_header.shellimg.jpeg/1757657915776/psychology-of-parking-anxiety-header.jpeg","alt":"How to overcome parallel parking anxiety","width":3849,"height":959},"date":"2025-09-15T12:30:00.000Z"},"id":"/content/shell/countries/australia/en_au/shell-fuels/go-well-content-hub/how-to-overcome-parking-anxiety-and-reverse-parallel-park-with-confidence/jcr_content/root/main/section/page_header"},{"organism":"Container","children":[{"organism":"Author.Info","color":"inherited","id":"/content/shell/countries/australia/en_au/shell-fuels/go-well-content-hub/how-to-overcome-parking-anxiety-and-reverse-parallel-park-with-confidence/jcr_content/root/main/section/simple_copy_copy_cop/author","model":{"links":[{"name":"By Shell on Sep 15, 2025"}],"image":{"src":"https://www.shell.com.au/shell-fuels/go-well-content-hub/how-to-overcome-parking-anxiety-and-reverse-parallel-park-with-confidence/_jcr_content/root/main/section/simple_copy_copy_cop/author.shellimg.png/1757493366204/shell-pecten.png","alt":"shell pecten","width":2500,"height":1405}}},{"organism":"PromoSimple.Text","color":"inherited","colspan":8,"id":"/content/shell/countries/australia/en_au/shell-fuels/go-well-content-hub/how-to-overcome-parking-anxiety-and-reverse-parallel-park-with-confidence/jcr_content/root/main/section/simple_copy_copy_cop/text","model":{"text":"\u003Ch3\u003EMore than 50 per cent of Australians have anxiety about doing a reverse parallel park. But it’s a fear that can be overcome.\u003C/h3\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EHow confident are you when it comes to parking? If it makes you nervous, you’re not alone. For many drivers, it’s a common source of stress.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EA majority of Australian drivers – 57 per cent – feel anxious about reverse parallel parking, according to a 2023 \u003Ca href=\"https://www.budgetdirect.com.au/car-insurance/research/parallel-parking-predicament.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Esurvey\u003C/a\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EYounger and female drivers have the least confidence in their parallel parking skills, and many drivers will actively avoid it: one in four say they have parked elsewhere and then walked or taken public transport to their destination rather than have to parallel park.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EA senior driving instructor with the Australian Driver Trainers Association (ADTA) reports that parallel parking anxiety isn’t limited to learners. Even experienced drivers can find themselves circling the block rather than attempting a parallel reverse park.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EMuch of the stress comes from drivers imagining all the things that could go wrong – such as clipping the car in front or behind, or holding up traffic – rather than the manoeuvre itself.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Ch3\u003EManaging anxiety\u003C/h3\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003ESimilar to \u003Ca href=\"https://www.shell.com.au/shell-fuels/go-well-content-hub/how-to-deal-with-on-road-anxiety.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eother forms of anxiety\u003C/a\u003E, a fear of parking can show up as \u003Ca href=\"https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/resources-support/anxiety/signs/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Esymptoms\u003C/a\u003E including feelings of panic and nervousness, catastrophic thinking, and physical symptoms such as sweating and a pounding heart.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EIt can be managed through a combination of gradual behaviour change and anxiety management techniques.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https://www.shell.com.au/shell-fuels/go-well-content-hub/overcoming-driving-anxiety-after-a-car-accident.html\"\u003EPsychologists\u003C/a\u003E recommend taking small steps and repeating them until you are comfortable with your new behaviour.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EIn the case of parallel parking, this might mean finding a large vacant parking spot (one that doesn’t have a car to the rear of the parking spot) in a quiet area, and practising your parallel parking in a stress-free environment. Once you’re comfortable with the manoeuvre, you can build up to more difficult parks.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EYou can also manage anxiety through breathing and relaxation techniques, challenging negative thoughts, practising mindfulness and living a healthy lifestyle.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EIf you feel you need help managing your anxiety, see your GP, book an appointment with a therapist, or consult some online resources, such as those offered by \u003Ca href=\"https://www.sane.org/information-and-resources/facts-and-guides/anxiety-disorder#factsheet\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESANE Australia\u003C/a\u003E, the \u003Ca href=\"https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/resources-support/anxiety/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBlack Dog Institute\u003C/a\u003E, or \u003Ca href=\"https://www.beyondblue.org.au/mental-health/anxiety/treatments-for-anxiety/anxiety-management-strategies\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBeyond Blue\u003C/a\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Ch3\u003EHow to reverse parallel park\u003C/h3\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EPractice makes perfect when it comes to the reverse parallel park.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EIf you’re a \u003Ca href=\"https://www.shell.com.au/shell-fuels/go-well-content-hub/five-tips-on-the-best-way-to-teach-a-learner-driver.html\"\u003Ebeginner driver\u003C/a\u003E or someone who has never mastered how to parallel park, it can be helpful to have some steps to follow. Many online driver training videos offer helpful advice for stress-free reverse parallel parking. Here is one \u003Ca href=\"https://youtu.be/AAkgEZ1S8RM?si=iC8kWUPBo-mvgNGE\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eapproach\u003C/a\u003E you can take:\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Col\u003E\r\n\u003Cli\u003EPull up parallel with the car in front of the parking spot, leaving about a metre between that car and your car.\u003C/li\u003E\r\n\u003Cli\u003ECheck mirrors and blind spot. Reverse straight until your head is level with the other car’s rear tyre.\u003C/li\u003E\r\n\u003Cli\u003ETurn your steering wheel to full left lock and reverse until you are at an angle of about 45 degrees.\u003C/li\u003E\r\n\u003Cli\u003EStraighten your wheels and reverse straight until your left rear tyre is about 50cm from the gutter.\u003C/li\u003E\r\n\u003Cli\u003ERight lock the steering wheel and reverse until the car is parallel to the kerb.\u003C/li\u003E\r\n\u003C/ol\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EOver time, the steps will become intuitive and many drivers will be able to judge the maneuver by eye.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EBuilding up your parking skills step by step doesn’t just ease anxiety, it helps you focus on what is happening around you and creates safer streets for everyone. \u003C/p\u003E\r\n"}},{"organism":"PageTags","model":{"tags":[{"name":"Vehicles","value":"https://www.shell.com.au/tag-search.html?tag=vehicles%3A"},{"name":"Drive Well","value":"https://www.shell.com.au/tag-search.html?tag=shell%3Abusiness%2Fbusiness-customers%2Fdrive-well"}]},"id":"/content/shell/countries/australia/en_au/shell-fuels/go-well-content-hub/how-to-overcome-parking-anxiety-and-reverse-parallel-park-with-confidence/jcr_content/root/main/section/simple_copy_copy_cop/page_tags_copy"},{"organism":"PromoSimple.Text","color":"inherited","id":"/content/shell/countries/australia/en_au/shell-fuels/go-well-content-hub/how-to-overcome-parking-anxiety-and-reverse-parallel-park-with-confidence/jcr_content/root/main/section/simple_copy_copy_cop/text_copy_copy_copy_","model":{"text":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Csub\u003EDisclaimer\u003C/sub\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\n\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 9.75px; vertical-align: sub;\"\u003E\u003Csup\u003EViva Energy Australia Pty Ltd (“Viva Energy”) has compiled the above article for your general information and to use as a general reference. Whilst all reasonable care has been taken by Viva Energy in compiling this article, Viva Energy does not warrant or represent that the information in the article is free from errors or omissions or is suitable for your intended use.\u003C/sup\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n"}}],"colspan":8,"id":"/content/shell/countries/australia/en_au/shell-fuels/go-well-content-hub/how-to-overcome-parking-anxiety-and-reverse-parallel-park-with-confidence/jcr_content/root/main/section/simple_copy_copy_cop","model":{}},{"organism":"Container","children":[{"organism":"PromoSimple.Text","color":"inherited","id":"/content/shell/countries/australia/en_au/shell-fuels/go-well-content-hub/how-to-overcome-parking-anxiety-and-reverse-parallel-park-with-confidence/jcr_content/root/main/section/simple_996584123_cop/text","model":{"title":"You may also be interested 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parallel park with confidence","text":"Struggle with parallel parking? This guide offers tips from driving instructors and psychologists to help reduce anxiety and build driving confidence.","date":"2025-09-15T12:30:00.000Z","links":[{"name":"canonical","value":"https://www.shell.com.au/shell-fuels/go-well-content-hub/how-to-overcome-parking-anxiety-and-reverse-parallel-park-with-confidence.html"},{"name":"errorUrl","value":"https://www.shell.com.au/error.html"},{"name":"hierarchy","value":"en_au/shell-fuels/go-well-content-hub/how-to-overcome-parking-anxiety-and-reverse-parallel-park-with-confidence"},{"name":"homeTitle","value":"Shell Australia"},{"name":"homeUrl","value":"https://www.shell.com.au/"},{"name":"locale","value":"en-AU"},{"name":"title","value":"How to overcome parking anxiety and reverse parallel park with confidence | Shell Australia"},{"name":"textDirection","value":"ltr"},{"name":"template","value":"base"},{"name":"contentPath","value":"/content/shell/countries/australia/en_au/shell-fuels/go-well-content-hub/how-to-overcome-parking-anxiety-and-reverse-parallel-park-with-confidence"},{"name":"externalDisclaimerText","value":"Shell plc Legal Disclaimer\r\nYou are now leaving the Shell website.\r\nThe link you have selected will direct you to a website that is not controlled by Shell plc or any member of the Shell Group. 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