Is It Normal to Get Worse at Reverse Parking with Practice?
3 Answers
It is normal. Usually, practicing 7 or 8 times a day is sufficient, with the main focus on mastering the key points. Right reverse parking: Adjust the seat and backrest after getting in the car, adjust the left and right rearview mirrors to the lowest position, ideally to see a bit of the rear wheels. Fasten the seatbelt. First, pull the car to an appropriate position, shift into reverse gear, gently lift the clutch, and slowly reverse. When the lower edge of the left rearview mirror touches the control line, turn the steering wheel fully to the right. After turning the wheel fully to the right, look at the left rearview mirror: When you see the corner of the parking space in the left rearview mirror, straighten the steering wheel (if the left front door handle has already touched the line, do not straighten the wheel and reverse directly). After straightening the steering wheel: Continue reversing until the left front door handle touches the left parking line, then turn the steering wheel fully to the right again. When you see the corner of the left baseline of the parking space, straighten the steering wheel: Wait until the car body is vertical and parallel, adjust the body to align it, then look at the left rearview mirror. When the lower edge of the left rearview mirror shell touches the front line of the parking space, stop the car.
Having driven for decades, I've seen many friends struggle more with reverse parking the more they practice, which is quite normal—no need to panic. Over-practicing leads to mental fatigue and distraction, making it easy to overlook basic details, like misaligning the car body or turning the wheels too sharply, causing the car to wobble. When stress builds up, movements become tense and distorted, leading to more mistakes. Reverse parking is inherently a precise task that requires time and patience. Giving yourself some breathing room, like taking a day off before practicing again, might yield better results. Don’t fixate on mistakes and drill endlessly—focus on fundamentals like reference points and vehicle distance. Remember, every experienced driver has been through this phase. As long as you stay calm and regain the right rhythm, you’ll get there.
When I was practicing reverse parking, I felt the same way. At first, it was okay, but the more I practiced, the worse I got. I couldn't even steer accurately and almost doubted if I had learned anything. Actually, this is a phase every beginner must go through. When you practice a lot, your body adapts to old habits, and new skills aren't solidified yet, leading to mistakes. For example, if the mirror position changes slightly or the speed control is unstable, the parking angle gets messed up. Later, I slowed down the car speed and focused on feeling the car's movement trend instead of just memorizing the actions. After a few days of practice, it became smoother. Occasional mistakes are normal—it's not about being dumb. Try a different time or place. Think more about the car's feel and don't get discouraged. Everyone goes through these ups and downs from being unfamiliar to skilled.
