On a level street after finishing parallel parking between two cars, what should you do?

• A. Straighten your front wheels and leave room between the two cars
• B. Back up to align with the curb
• C. Turn the wheels toward the curb
• D. Drive away without adjusting

Answer: (A)

The essential step is to finish parallel parking with your wheels straight and the car positioned so there is space between you and the other vehicle. Straightening the front wheels keeps you aligned with the curb and makes it easy to pull out smoothly without clipping the adjacent cars. Leaving a gap between your car and the neighboring vehicles also allows the doors to open freely and reduces the risk of contact when you merge back into traffic. Turning the wheels toward the curb or backing up to the curb would push your front end into a less favorable angle, and driving away without adjusting can leave you too close or misaligned, creating a hazard for both you and the surrounding cars.