How to use a car’s self-parking feature

Many cars today have a self-parking feature. Is this easy to use or are there rules to follow to effectively activate this function?

Autonomous parking systems vary in detail depending on the make and model of the car, but the basic premise is to provide the driver with the convenience and ease of parking in a properly marked carpark lot.

It is undeniably a boon to drivers who struggle with parking the vehicle neatly in a designated space. Nonetheless, even though the latest systems can perform with almost no human intervention, the driver is held responsible if a mishap occurs.

If your car comes with self-parking capability, the first thing you must do is read and be familiar with the exact procedure outlined in the owner’s manual.

The following is a relatively typical process, although there are cars that do things a bit differently.

When the feature is activated, the multitude of sensors will be able to detect an empty parking space. It could be parallel to the road, perpendicular to the kerb or even angled side by side.

Usually, the driver has to select the left or right side of the lane by using the indicator. A graphic display on the dashboard will indicate when a suitable space is found. The driver will then be instructed to stop and select reverse.

Once the driver releases the brake pedal, the car takes over control of steering and braking. The car will be manoeuvred into the lot. The sensors are sensitive and precise, so the car is never at an angle or unevenly spaced on either side of the lot.

During the auto-parking process, the driver is still expected to maintain vigilance in case of an unexpected movement of another vehicle or, more commonly, a pedestrian walking across the chosen lot. The car will typically stop the process immediately, but ultimately, the driver is still responsible.

Many systems also come with an exit mode, which will drive the car out of the parking space.

Some can perform the parking manoeuvre without the driver in the car, either using a key or a smartphone app. This is especially useful for large cars to be slotted into tight spaces, but it takes place at very low speeds.