Does shifting gears during reverse parking count as stopping midway?
2 Answers
Vehicle stopping for more than 2 seconds counts as stopping midway. Below are relevant explanations: 1. Tips for reverse parking: To avoid stopping midway or stalling during reverse parking, the most crucial aspect is clutch control. Especially when shifting gears, you must control the clutch properly and ensure it's fully depressed. If the clutch isn't fully depressed, stalling is likely to occur. Additionally, maintain slow speed - as long as the wheels are rolling, it's considered acceptable. 2. Midway stopping: As the name suggests, midway stopping refers to the vehicle speed dropping directly to 0 during the test. Overly sharp steering during the exam increases wheel resistance, which may also cause brief stops. The detection system in test vehicles is highly sensitive and will immediately record any stopping. During the test, if the vehicle remains stationary for over two seconds, it's considered midway stopping and results in a 5-point deduction.
I specifically asked my instructor about this when I took the driving test for Subject 2. As long as the wheels are still moving during gear shifting, it doesn't count as stopping, but the shift must be completed quickly. Especially when steering to the limit during reverse parking, the resistance increases, and if the gear shift is slightly slow, the wheels may stop, which the sensor will then judge as stopping midway. It's recommended to shift gears before turning the steering wheel, maintain a constant speed throughout the reverse parking process, and avoid shifting gears at the limit steering position—this can increase the pass rate by 30%. Experienced old instructors all teach this way.
