Is the Right Side Too Narrow During Parallel Parking Due to Late Steering?
3 Answers
Parallel parking with the right side too narrow is not caused by late steering, but rather by steering too early. The reason for the left side being too wide during parallel parking is the opposite of the right side being too wide. When observing the left rear wheel and the parking line in the left rearview mirror, if the left rear wheel has already touched the parking line and is about to enter the parking space before turning the steering wheel fully to the left, this will result in the right side being too narrow after parking. Here is additional information: 1. Large distance between the left rear wheel and the parking line: The significant gap between the left rear wheel and the parking line is due to steering to the left too early. If the car is found to be too far to the left during a test, it is usually impossible to adjust, but in real-life situations, you can drive out and try again. Under normal operation, you should turn the steering wheel fully to the left as soon as you see the left rear wheel touching the parking line in the left rearview mirror. If the car is too far to the left, you should turn the steering wheel back half a turn or more, depending on the situation, to allow the car to reverse further and increase the distance between the left side of the car and the parking line. 2. Right side narrow and left side wide: It is correct for the right side to be narrow and the left side to be wide because when parking on the right side, the left side of the car is prone to touching the line. Therefore, to ensure the car does not go out of bounds and fail, during reverse parking, as long as the right-side tires do not touch the line, the left side of the car generally will not touch the line. However, even if the left-side tires do not touch the line, the left side of the car body might still touch the line.
When I first started driving, I often had trouble with parallel parking on the right side because I turned the steering wheel too late. This happened to me a lot. Turning late would make the car veer too close to the curb, mainly because I didn’t position the starting point correctly. For example, when pulling up next to another car, I didn’t turn the wheel at the right spot, causing the rear end to swing inadequately and leaving the right side too tight. Over the years, I’ve gotten better at parking and figured out a trick using the side mirror as a reference: when the front of the car behind me appears at the one-quarter mark in the mirror, I start turning the wheel to ensure the car slides in smoothly. With more practice, it gets easier—find an empty lot and try a few times, not aiming to park perfectly on the first try but adjusting the wheel gradually to learn the angles. Starting with a smaller angle makes it easier to control, whether the car is big or small. Nobody wants scratches or dents, so turning the wheel early can save a lot of trouble.
When I was learning to drive, my instructor always said my parallel parking was too close to the right side, usually because I turned the steering wheel too late. The reason for turning late was being overly cautious – a moment of hesitation delayed the turn, making the car too close to the curb. Now, when I park myself, I prepare in advance. For example, I approach at an angle from the left, aligning the front of my car with the rear of the car in front before turning the wheel, rather than waiting until I've passed it. Beginners often make this mistake, either starting from the wrong position or failing to control their speed properly, leading to misalignment. I recommend using roadside markings as reference points, practicing slowly, and prioritizing safety. Tight spaces increase the risk of door scratches, so after parking, step out and check before making adjustments.
