Can You Cross the Outer Dotted Line During Parallel Parking?
4 Answers
During the parallel parking test in Subject 2 of the driving exam, you must not cross the outer dotted line when reversing into the parking space. Drive the vehicle to a position parallel to the parking space in the forward direction, then reverse into the space without any pauses. As long as the vehicle is parked within the designated area without crossing the boundary lines, it is considered a pass. Below are the penalty standards for parallel parking: Vehicle body crossing the line: If the vehicle body crosses the line after stopping in the parking space, 100 points will be deducted. Wheel touching the lane boundary: If the wheels touch the lane boundary during movement, 10 points will be deducted. Not parked within the space: If the vehicle is not parked within the designated space, 100 points will be deducted. Left turn signal not activated: If the left turn signal is not activated when starting, 10 points will be deducted.
When I first learned to drive, I often struggled with whether it was okay to touch the outer dashed lines during parallel parking. I was so nervous back then. Later, I asked my driving instructor at the school, and he told me that according to regulations, it's best not to touch them because those dashed lines mark the edge of the road or no-go zones. Crossing them might affect other vehicles or even result in penalty points. In real driving, I realized that crossing the lines easily leads to scraping adjacent cars or causing traffic jams, especially on city streets. Now, I remind myself to practice reversing skills more, like slowly straightening the wheels after aligning the car parallel to the curb, which helps avoid touching the lines and makes parking much safer. Every time I park, I check the mirrors to ensure I don’t cross the boundary—fines are minor compared to safety, which comes first. After developing good habits, parking becomes much smoother, and there’s really no need to rush and risk crossing the lines for the sake of saving a few seconds.
Having driven for over a decade, I've seen plenty of cases where people park over the outer dashed lines during parallel parking, but honestly, I wouldn't recommend it. While dashed lines aren't as strictly prohibited as solid lines, they usually mark road boundaries, and crossing them can easily get you a ticket from traffic police or points deducted during exams. I remember once parking slightly over the line in my neighborhood, which led to a complaint from a neighbor about blocking the way—a lesson well learned. When parking, always straighten your car before reversing and keep about half a meter from the curb; this gives enough space without breaking rules. Especially in cities, crossing lines during peak hours could cause accidents. It's better to spend a few extra seconds adjusting your position—safe and hassle-free. After all, rules exist for good reasons, and following them saves a lot of trouble.
As someone who often assists at driving schools, I always emphasize to students not to touch the outer dashed lines during parallel parking. Crossing the line directly violates traffic regulations and may result in penalties for occupying restricted zones or disrupting traffic, ranging from failing the test to fines. The correct method is to first align the car with the parking space's front and rear positions, then turn the steering wheel fully and slowly reverse while adjusting the angle by checking the side mirrors. Once the car body is parallel, immediately straighten the wheels and stop. Dashed lines typically mark safety boundaries, and crossing them can lead to misunderstandings or scratches with other vehicles. I recommend that beginners practice such details more often. Developing good habits will improve both parking efficiency and safety, which is the key point.
