How to accurately locate the first reference point for right reverse parking?
3 Answers
Maintain proper vehicle speed and observe the left rearview mirror. When the right starting sensor line appears in the left mirror position, turn the steering wheel fully to the right. Continue reversing without stopping, while monitoring the right rearview mirror. Keep a 30cm distance between the vehicle body and the corner when the rightmost boundary line becomes visible. When the parking space boundary line aligns parallel with the vehicle body in the right mirror, straighten the steering wheel to adjust the vehicle position and complete the reverse parking.
I remember when I was first learning to drive, I always had trouble finding the exact reference point for the right reverse parking. My instructor told me to turn the steering wheel when the car body aligned with the corner of the parking space in the right rearview mirror, but I often turned too early or too late. Later, I realized the key lies in body posture and detailed observation: every time I got in the car, I had to adjust the seat and rearview mirror positions, ensuring my head stayed fixed and my eyes moved only slightly; the speed had to be as slow as a turtle crawling, and I practiced over 10 times repeatedly in an empty parking space until I could accurately spot the moment the corner appeared at the edge of the mirror before making my move. Additionally, lighting conditions make a big difference—strong sunlight can cause glare on the mirror, blurring the reference point, so I often wore a sun hat or cleaned the mirror surface; if there was no corner in the parking space, I used a roadside tree or pole as a reference. Through this kind of practice, my accuracy improved, and now reverse parking is much easier. Beginners must be patient and avoid rushing for quick results.
Having driven for many years, I've found that accurately locating the first reference point for right-side reverse parking relies heavily on habit and accumulated experience. Typically, the point is when the car body is about half a meter away from the corner of the parking space, and you see a perpendicular angle in the right rearview mirror—that's when you turn the steering wheel. However, this can easily deviate due to variations in head-turning range. I've discovered that maintaining a fixed sitting posture is crucial—keep your back against the seat and turn your head at a consistent 45-degree angle; maintain a slow and steady speed, as going too fast will cause the car to drift. If the reference point is inaccurate, the main reasons are usually improperly adjusted mirrors or an unsuitable seat height. For daily practice, I use chalk to draw lines in an open area to simulate parking spaces and compare the effectiveness of reference points. Different cars have different rearview mirror angles, so when driving a new car, test parking first to get a new feel. In poor lighting conditions, the reference point becomes even more ambiguous, requiring additional lighting for better observation. With persistence, instinctive judgment will develop—safety first, don’t panic.
