The perfect way to parallel park?

I just passed my driving written test and now have a permit to learn how to drive. Yes, that’s right, I’m a 26 year-old metropolitan boy who’s still afraid of asphalt. Fortunately, Fearless Driver, a local San Francisco driving school, promises to ease this fear. They even have a nice little tutorial for everyone’s dreaded driving woe: parallel parking.

1. Use your indicator to signal a right turn*. Stop to the side of the front car (the car you are parking behind), so that the cars are about even and about an arm’s length apart (20-26â€?).

2. While looking over your right shoulder, start backing slowly, then start turning the wheel to the right. Aim toward the right rear corner of the space.

3. When your front seat is in line with the rear bumper of the front car, stop and turn the steering wheel one revolution to the left to straighten the tires. Continue backing at this angle until your right front fender just clears the left rear fender of the front car. (At this point, your left rear bumper will be in line with the left front bumper of the back car.)

4. Quickly turn the steering wheel to the left and finish reversing into the parking spot. Looking over your left shoulder during this part of the maneuver may help you align with the rear car — or use your rear view mirror.

5. To straighten out, turn the steering wheel one revolution to the right before pulling forward.

Easy enough, right? It’s just simple geometry and angles. Since I haven’t had my first driving lesson yet, I can’t test this. Has anyone tried this method? Could it be that easy, or should I expect agony?

Update: July 2, 2007 I just passed my driving test today, and now have a license to drive! Yay!