Do I need to reverse into the parking space from both left and right sides?

[CoraLynn]

For the reverse parking test in Subject 2, you need to perform two reverse maneuvers: left reverse parking and right reverse parking. Here are the relevant instructions: Right reverse parking: After getting into the car, the driver should first adjust the seat and rearview mirrors, fasten the seat belt, and then shift the car into reverse gear. When the black edge of the right rear window aligns with the right boundary line of the parking space, turn the steering wheel steadily to the right until it reaches the limit position. Left reverse parking: Shift the car into reverse gear, keep the steering wheel turned to the left limit position, and continue reversing. The driver should observe the left rearview mirror and adjust the direction to guide the rear of the car into the parking space. Then, shift focus to the left rearview mirror, and stop immediately when the left door handle is level with the bottom line of the parking space.

[VonSpencer]

When I was backing into a parking space, I realized that it's not always necessary to adjust left and right—it all depends on positioning. As a beginner, I often felt like I couldn't steer the wheel accurately. After backing to the left and finding the car crooked, I'd have to adjust to the right, sometimes repeating this two or three times. Later, with practice, I learned to check the mirrors early and anticipate the angle, usually managing to align the car perfectly in one smooth motion. However, for very tight spaces, minor left-right adjustments are still necessary, like when parking near a pillar, requiring repeated corrections. My advice for beginners is to practice steering control more—developing a feel for it is more important than rigidly following steps.

[AmeliaRose]

Last time when I was teaching my wife how to reverse park, I realized that the number of left and right adjustments depends on the situation. She always wants to get it right in one go, but ends up being either too far left or too far right. Later, I told her that if she's really stuck, she should make small steering corrections. For example, if the left rearview mirror is too close to the neighboring car, straighten the steering wheel, move forward half a meter, then turn the wheel fully to the right and try reversing again. Having a reversing camera makes it easier, but in tight parking spots in old residential areas, you still need to be flexible. Actually, the most practical method is to roll down the window and look at the ground markings—it's more accurate than relying on the camera. If you can get it right with one left or right adjustment, don't overcomplicate it.

[LeviLee]

Parallel parking isn't as rigid as people think. Once when I drove a friend's car with extremely light power steering, I parked perfectly in one go. But with my old Passat that has heavy steering, I often need minor adjustments. The key point is: if the car's nose is aligned and wheels are straight, single-attempt parking is totally feasible; entering at an angle will damage tires even if parked successfully. When the space is 1.5 meters wider than the car length, adjustment is rarely needed - for narrower spaces, 2-3 adjustments are completely normal.

[DiWeston]

My habit when reversing is to first straighten the car body before maneuvering. The standard procedure is to use the corner of the garage as a reference point, turn the steering wheel fully, and then reverse. When the rear of the car is about to approach, I straighten the wheels. However, seven out of ten times, I either straighten the steering wheel too early or too late, which requires adjusting by moving forward and backward again. For example, if the rear of the car leans to the left after reversing to the right, I shift back into drive, move a bit to the right, and then reverse again. For beginners, it's advisable to place some cans as reference markers at the garage corners—practicing a few times will help develop a sense of distance. Also, be cautious in rainy weather as rearview mirrors can get blurry; it's better to reverse a few more times than to scrape the wall.

[RileyDella]

Last month while test driving a new car at the 4S dealership, the sales consultant mentioned that most current models come with reversing trajectory lines, eliminating the need for multiple back-and-forth adjustments. In practice, this feature proves incredibly convenient - the virtual trajectory on the screen synchronizes with steering wheel movements, allowing successful parking in one attempt. However, older vehicles without this system inevitably require left-right adjustments. This becomes particularly necessary when parallel parking beside improperly parked cars that reduce available space - a single repositioning maneuver can create more operating room. For those driving older cars, I recommend rolling down windows during reverse parking to better hear the changing pitch of parking sensors, which proves more effective than relying solely on side mirrors for distance judgment.