How to Determine the Distance Between the Front of the Car and an Obstacle?
2 Answers
Methods to determine the distance between the front of the car and an obstacle: When judging the position of the front of the car, find a reference point, such as the rearview mirror. For most private cars, unless the body is too short or too long, the lower edge of the rearview mirror should align with the edge of a short wall or the line in front of a parking space. If the obstacle is another car, focus on the bumper of the vehicle in front. The rear end of a sedan is generally about 42 cm from the ground. When you see the lower edge of the front car's tire, the distance between the front car and yours is approximately 4.6 meters. If you see the lower edge of the front car's bumper, the distance is about 2.5 meters. When you see the upper edge of the front car's bumper, the distance is around 0.8 to 1 meter.
When judging the distance from the car's front to an obstacle while driving, I mainly rely on observing details of the hood to estimate. For example, when approaching an obstacle on a flat road, focus on the contact point between the front edge of the hood and the base of the obstacle; stop when it's just about to disappear from view, indicating a distance of roughly half a meter. Beginners can practice in a safe open area with cones, slowly approaching from far to near—doing this a few times helps develop a sense of distance. Note that the vehicle type has a huge impact: SUVs with higher hoods are prone to overestimating distance, while sedans are relatively easier. Additionally, slopes or wet road reflections can distort vision, so reducing speed to a minimum or asking for assistance is safer. Observing how others park in daily life can also accumulate handy tips—don’t wait until a scratch happens to regret it.
