How to Judge Distance When Turning a Car?
3 Answers
First, check the distance behind you and adjust the rearview mirror. When the car behind fills the entire rearview mirror, the distance between the two cars is approximately 3 meters. When the car behind fills the left rearview mirror, the actual distance is about 1 meter. When the car behind fills the right rearview mirror, the distance between the two cars is very close. These situations are not safe distances, and changing lanes would be dangerous.
When I first started driving, I was always afraid of scraping the curb while turning. Later, I found that focusing on the lower left corner of the windshield works best. When that spot is about to touch the road edge, it's time to turn the steering wheel. Remember to turn earlier in an SUV—longer vehicles have rear wheels that sweep a wider arc, a principle called 'inner wheel difference.' Also, check the rearview mirrors frequently, especially when turning right to watch for pedestrians who might suddenly appear. Keep the speed under 10 mph—slower speeds help you see reference points clearly. Roadside utility poles and crosswalks make good markers; align them with the center point of the steering wheel to gauge distance. Now, every turn feels like a precision parking game, and with enough practice, muscle memory naturally develops.
After driving a taxi for eight years, I rely entirely on the raised wipers on the hood to position my turns. For left turns, I align the raised edge along the left curb, and for right turns, I aim for the right lane line. Forget about that 'car sense' nonsense—street trash cans and tree shadows are your real allies. Once during rain with no reference points, I nearly scraped a wall and immediately recalled the 'dumb method' from driving school: slow to a crawl and stick your head out to check the front wheel position. Now, when picking up passengers in narrow alleys, I keep the rear wheels three fingers' width from the wall gap in the rearview mirror—absolute safety guaranteed.
