Is the left side narrow when reversing into the left parking space due to turning too early or too late?
3 Answers
Left side being wide when reversing into the left parking space is caused by turning the steering wheel too early. If you turn the steering wheel too early, i.e., turning it fully to the left before the lower edge of the rearview mirror aligns with the stop line, it can easily cause the left rear wheel to press against the left corner of the parking space. When you start reversing with the steering wheel turned fully to the left, you need to observe the distance between the rear wheel and the corner of the parking space in the left rearview mirror. If this distance is less than 30cm, you need to adjust the steering wheel slightly to increase the distance. If you keep the steering wheel turned fully to the left, you will press against the corner line of the parking space. Additional information: 1. The evaluation criteria for reversing into a parking space are: failing to follow the prescribed route or sequence, resulting in disqualification. The vehicle body pressing against the line or failing to reverse into the space, resulting in disqualification. 2. Failing to complete reversing into the parking space within 210 seconds, resulting in disqualification. Stopping midway deducts 5 points each time.
I've been driving for many years, and parallel parking is as routine as eating. When the left side is too narrow during left reverse parking, 99% of the time it's because you turned the steering wheel too early. That means you start turning the wheel before the front of your car has fully entered the parking space, causing the car to veer sharply to the left, bringing the left rear wheel too close to the wall or obstacle, leaving little space. I remember when I was learning to drive, I also made this mistake and scraped the wall. Now, I've corrected this habit—I take it slow when reversing, checking the mirrors to judge the position—only turning the wheel when the right mirror shows a safe distance. Keep the speed slow, no more than 5 km/h, and make slight, gradual adjustments to the steering wheel. With a few more practices, you'll find that golden moment—not too early, not too late. Safety always comes first—before reversing, always scan your surroundings to avoid missing pedestrians or small cars while focusing on parking. Develop good habits, treating every parking attempt as a new opportunity to practice, ensuring you never hit a wall and park perfectly every time.
I just got my driver's license and I'm still learning how to reverse into a parking space. My instructor said that if the left side is too narrow when reversing left, it's usually because I turned the steering wheel too early. That means if you turn the steering wheel too soon, the rear of the car will swing to the left too quickly, leaving no space. Last time I was practicing in the parking lot, I got nervous and turned the steering wheel too early, almost hitting a pillar with the left rear mirror. The instructor taught me a trick: drive straight a little first, wait until the rear of the car aligns with the parking space, and then slowly turn the steering wheel. Reverse at a snail's pace and turn the steering wheel gently. Now, I'm learning to turn the steering wheel a bit later to leave room for correction—for example, turning a second later allows the car to move a bit more before turning left, leaving more space on the left. After a few more tries, it'll become easier. Don't rush; making mistakes a few times is okay. Learning from experience is progress. Also, using the reversing camera can help you judge distances more accurately.
