How Can Beginners Tell If the Car Body Is Aligned Properly?
2 Answers
There are four methods for beginners to determine whether the car body is aligned properly. Here are the relevant details: 1. Maintain a standard driving posture, which is the foundation for keeping the car body aligned. After getting into the car, adjust the seat's position (forward/backward) and height. Hold the steering wheel at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions with both hands, place your left foot on the clutch pedal, and rest your right foot lightly on the accelerator pedal. Keep your upper body relaxed and natural, with smooth and flexible movements. 2. Develop a good sense of steering. Remember the principle of turning and returning the steering wheel: turn as much as you need to return, turn less and return less, turn slowly and return slowly, turn more and return more, turn quickly and return quickly. 3. Keep your vision focused far ahead and make adjustments as needed. When correcting the direction, avoid looking at the front of the car to make adjustments—instead, look far ahead. Otherwise, the car body cannot remain properly aligned. 4. Control the steering wheel with intention. Use a reference point on the front of the car to accurately sense the vehicle's current position, helping you determine the timing and extent of turning or returning the steering wheel.
When I first started learning to drive, it was really hard to tell if the car was straight or not. Practicing reverse parking in the parking lot, I would frequently check the rearview mirrors: the left side of the car should be parallel to the parking line, and the right side should match as well. If the car body appeared tilted or the distances were uneven in the mirror, it meant the car was crooked. I also got into the habit of looking forward to see if the road edge aligned straight with the top edge of the dashboard. Occasionally, I’d make mistakes, and the rear of the car would veer out of the line. Then, I’d make slight adjustments to the steering wheel to realign. Practicing a few more times and relying on accumulated experience and feel proved more effective. Beginners shouldn’t rush—find an open space and practice repeatedly with cones or markers. Remember, safety comes first; a crooked car is more likely to scrape edges, so take it slow. Practice makes perfect.
