Should You Look at the Left or Right Rearview Mirror When Reversing into a Parking Space on the Left?
2 Answers
When reversing into a parking space on the left, you should check both the left and right rearview mirrors. At the beginning of the reversing process, you need to observe the position relationship between the left rearview mirror and the parking line. When adjusting the distance, you should look at the right rearview mirror. The key techniques for reversing into a parking space on the left are as follows: Mirror Alignment and Full Right Turn: At the start of reversing, observe the position relationship between the left rearview mirror and the parking line. First, turn the steering wheel half a turn to the right and then begin moving. When the left rearview mirror covers the parking line, turn the steering wheel fully to the right. Observe the Corner and Adjust Distance: While reversing with the steering wheel fully turned to the right, look at the right rearview mirror. Monitor the distance between the car body and the right front corner of the parking space, keeping it at approximately 30 centimeters. If the distance is too narrow, adjust the steering wheel accordingly. The standard width of the parking line is 15 centimeters, so in the rearview mirror, it should appear roughly twice the width of the parking line. Straighten When Parallel: Once half of the car body is inside the parking space, observe the relationship between the car body and the boundary lines through both rearview mirrors. When the car body is parallel to the boundary lines, straighten the steering wheel. If the distances on the left and right sides are uneven at this point, you can turn the steering wheel half a turn to adjust, following the rule of observing which side the car tail is leaning toward in the rearview mirror. Mirror Alignment and Stop: After adjusting the car body position, observe the relationship between the left rearview mirror and the boundary line. When the left rearview mirror covers the boundary line, immediately press the clutch to stop.
I'm used to checking the left rearview mirror when reversing into the left parking space, as it gives a clear view of the distance between the left rear wheel and the parking line. When I first started practicing, the instructor emphasized that if the gap on the left is too wide after the car enters the space, I should steer slightly to the left; if it's too narrow, a slight adjustment to the right is needed. The right rearview mirror is mainly used to check if the right rear of the car might scrape against the adjacent vehicle, but the car's alignment still relies on the left mirror. Remember to adjust the rearview mirror angle in advance so you can just see the rear wheel and the ground markings. The key to successful parking is to go slow, allowing ample time for adjustments.
