Can You Adjust Forward While Reversing into a Parking Space?
4 Answers
Reversing into a parking space does not allow for forward adjustment. Reversing into a parking space is a mandatory test item for obtaining a small car driver's license after 2013. It assesses the driver's ability to maneuver the vehicle in a confined space. Reversing into a parking space is one of the assessment points in the driver's test, which involves correctly reversing the vehicle into a parking space from both sides while in motion. Below are relevant details about Subject 2: 1. Introduction: Subject 2, also known as the small road test, is part of the motor vehicle driver's license assessment and refers to the field driving skills test. 2. Test Content: The test items for small cars C1 and C2 include five mandatory items: reversing into a parking space, parallel parking, stopping and starting on a slope, right-angle turns, and curve driving (commonly known as S-turns). Some regions also include a sixth item: high-speed toll card collection.
During the driving test, the instructor repeatedly emphasized that it is allowed to adjust forward when reversing into the parking space, which is a standard operating procedure. For example, if you find the rear wheel is about to cross the line after reversing in, decisively shift into forward gear and move half a meter forward while turning the steering wheel in the opposite direction to swing the front of the car outward. At this point, the front wheel steering angle will help align the car more squarely. However, be careful not to adjust too many times, as the examiner may deduct points. I have personally seen students fail because they were afraid to adjust forward and stubbornly continued reversing, resulting in crossing the line. As long as you don’t hit the poles or cross the lines, minor forward adjustments are completely fine. The key is to accurately judge the angle between the car body and the side lines through the rearview mirrors.
Based on my eight years of driving experience, forward adjustment is an essential parking skill. Last time in a tight mall parking space, after the first reverse, the side mirror was too close to the pillar. I moved forward 30 centimeters, turned the steering wheel fully to the left, and reversed again—this time the spacing on both sides was perfect. The key is to steer boldly when moving forward, as the front of the car swings much more than the rear. But be careful not to let the front extend beyond the parking space, or you might scratch the neighboring car. I recommend beginners practice the continuous motion of 'reverse—forward—reverse' in an open area to get a feel for the car's movement rhythm. This way, even multi-level parking won’t be intimidating later.
From a physical perspective, the rear wheels act as the pivot point when reversing, while the front wheels control the direction and trajectory. If you notice the reversing path deviating, it's difficult to correct by simply continuing to reverse because the rear wheel path is fixed. Moving forward half a meter essentially resets the steering starting point, which is the most effective geometric correction method. Those students repeatedly moving forward and backward in driving school practice areas are actually utilizing the vehicle's steering characteristics. This is especially noticeable in front-wheel-drive cars, where the front wheels respond more quickly to steering inputs when moving forward. However, avoid overcorrection—it's recommended to move forward no more than half a wheel rotation distance each time, as three minor adjustments are usually sufficient to park properly.
