Parallel Parking Back On Oklahoma State Driving Test

Beginning July 1, prospective drivers will have to prove they can parallel park before they can get their license in Oklahoma.

Friday, June 17th 2011, 10:27 pm

By: News 9


Dana Hertneky, News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma -- Beginning July 1, prospective drivers will have to prove they can parallel park before they can get their license in Oklahoma.

The Oklahoma Department of Public Safety says they are bringing back the skill because they feel it is a good test to assess the ability of drivers.

"The parallel park maneuver helps to evaluate multiple sensory, cognitive and motor skills, which are routinely used in operating a motor vehicle," wrote Karen Gentry, the Director of the State Driver License Examining Division, in a letter to driving schools.

The instructors at Brown's driving school, however, think the move is a little off course

"Are we seeing a big spike in deaths due to parallel parking?" asked one instructor

Duane Brown, the owner of the school, said with parallel parking back on the test they will have to spend more time teaching it and that means less time teaching actually driving.

"We want to get to those things that save lives and parallel parking doesn't save lives," said Brown.

In addition Brown said the already long lines at DPS will get even longer because each individual test will take longer.

"If more people fail, which is what is going to happen with parallel park, then more tests will be given the following day and it's a snowball effect," he said.

Still, the state says young drivers face many new challenges and responsibilities and they just want to make sure they're up to speed.

 Drivers will still need a 75 percent to pass the drivers test.

The last time parallel parking was on the test teens only needed a 70 percent.

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