Does touching the line with the car body count as a failure in Subject 2?
4 Answers
Touching the line with the car body means the car body crosses the line. In the Subject 2 driving test, crossing the line with the car body results in a deduction of 100 points, making the test unsuccessful. In addition to crossing the line with the car body, other actions that deduct 100 points include failing to park properly in reverse, stopping midway, not following the prescribed route or sequence, and exceeding the allotted time. The full score for Subject 2 is 100 points, with evaluation criteria set for failure, deductions of 20 points, 10 points, and 5 points. The test is considered passed under the following conditions: ① For applicants of large passenger vehicles, trailers, city buses, medium-sized passenger vehicles, and large trucks, a score of 90 or above is required; ② For other vehicle types, a score of 80 or above is required. If a candidate fails the Subject 2 test, they are allowed one retake on the spot. If they choose not to retake or fail the retake, the test is terminated, and the applicant must reschedule the test after ten days. Within the validity period of the driving skill test permit, the number of rescheduling attempts for Subject 2 and Subject 3 road driving skill tests must not exceed five. If the fifth attempt is still unsuccessful, the results of any previously passed subjects will be invalidated.
I've taught thousands of students, and the issue of the car body touching the lines in Subject 2 depends on the specific test item. It's strictest in reverse parking and parallel parking - touching the boundary line means an immediate fail. For other items like curve driving, minor line contact may only deduct 10 points, but prolonged contact or touching critical areas will also result in failure. The key is to develop the habit of checking mirrors during practice, especially leaving a 5cm safety margin when adjusting direction and speed. The test car's seating position must match your practice setup, otherwise reference point deviations may cause line contact. I recommend doing mock tests at the exam venue beforehand to familiarize yourself with the lighting and marking positions for better security.
Last week, I just took students for the Subject 2 test and witnessed cases where touching the line led to failure. During reverse parking, if the rearview mirror touches the corner line of the parking space, it directly results in zero points because the system judges the car body as out of bounds. However, during a right-angle turn, if the tires don't press the line but only the front of the car touches it, the examiner said it counts as a minor mistake and only deducts points. It's recommended to have the instructor record videos during practice to repeatedly review the positional relationship between the car body and the lines. Use the convex points of the wipers or the edges of the engine hood as reference points, and control the speed to be as slow as almost stopping, which allows time for fine-tuning the steering wheel to avoid touching the lines.
Having invigilated driving tests for three years, I'm well-versed in the line-crossing penalty standards. In reverse parking and parallel parking, touching any line with any part of the vehicle results in failure. For curve and right-angle tests, minor line contact by the front bumper isn't penalized, but contact by the vehicle's midsection means disqualification. During actual tests, infrared sensors are highly sensitive - alarms trigger when the bumper is within 10cm of lines. The most unfair fails involve mirror contact, a detail many trainees overlook. During practice sessions, always use the exact test vehicle model as mirror positions vary significantly between car types.
