How to Steer the Wheel When Reversing into a Parking Space?
2 Answers
Steps for steering the wheel when reversing into a parking space are: 1. If entering from the left, turn the steering wheel to the left in advance; if the left side is narrow, delay turning the wheel to the left. 2. If entering from the right, delay turning the steering wheel to the right; if the left side is narrow, turn the wheel to the right in advance. 3. Park the car next to the parking line and align the left rearview mirror with the left line of the parking space. 4. Turn the steering wheel fully to the right, and stop the car when the body forms a suitable angle with the parking space. 5. Straighten the wheels and reverse slowly. Reversing into a parking space is a key assessment point in the driver's test, primarily evaluating the driver's ability to maneuver the vehicle in a confined space.
When I first learned how to parallel park, I was all flustered and kept turning the steering wheel the wrong way. Looking back, my instructor taught me to do it in steps: first drive close to the parking spot, stop, shift into reverse, and keep a close eye on the rearview mirror or backup camera. If parking on the left side, turn the steering wheel all the way to the right to make the rear of the car move left; if parking on the right side, turn it all the way to the left to make the rear swing right. Once the car is aligned with the parking space, straighten the wheel and slowly reverse in. But at first, I kept turning the wheel the wrong way, making the car wobble crookedly, which scared me into a sweat. After practicing a few times, I got the hang of it—small angle adjustments are crucial. If the rear is veering left, gently turn right; if it's veering right, gently turn left, and keep the speed as slow as crawling. Practice in an open area using bottles as markers, and once you're familiar with the reference points, try a real garage. Don’t rush to become an expert in a day. Take it slow, and steering will become second nature—safety first, after all.
