What are all the situations that may occur when reversing into a parking space too early or too late?
4 Answers
When reversing into a parking space too early or too late, the following situations may occur: turning the wheel too early will cause the left edge of the car to press against the left boundary line of the parking space, and if it's too early, the car won't be able to enter the garage. Turning the wheel too late will cause the right edge of the car to press against the right boundary line of the parking space, and if it's too late, the car won't be able to enter the garage. Adjusting the wheel too early or too late will both result in the rear of the car pressing against the boundary line. Below is an introduction to reversing into a parking space: 1. Introduction: Reversing into a parking space has been a mandatory test item for obtaining a small car driver's license since 2013. 2. Content: It tests the driver's ability to operate the car in a specific area. Reversing into a parking space is an assessment point in the driver's test, which involves correctly reversing the car into the garage from both sides while in motion. 3. Standard methods: There are three most common types of reversing into a parking space. The first is the "non"-shaped reversing, commonly seen in large shopping malls. The second is the roadside "one"-shaped reversing, commonly known as parallel parking. The third is the less common diagonal reversing. 70% of driving school students find parallel parking more difficult.
When I first got my driver's license, I often had trouble with reverse parking. Turning the steering wheel too early or too quickly would cause the car to veer toward the target spot prematurely, making the rear end prone to scraping against the inner pillar or corner, while the front end would swing outward and hit outer obstacles. Turning the steering wheel too late or too slowly would result in insufficient turning, leaving the rear unable to park properly outside the space, sometimes even risking a collision with the wall or car behind. These situations not only wasted time but also required multiple adjustments, occasionally leaving the tires stuck on the parking line, forcing me to pull out and start over. The worst part was scratching the paint, which was heartbreaking. Now I’ve learned my lesson—I check the rearview mirror and rear camera more often, operate slowly, and only turn the wheel at the right moment. Every time I practice, I try an empty parking spot a few times, and with experience, it’s gotten much better.
Over the years of teaching driving, I've found that students commonly make early or late steering adjustments when reversing into parking spaces. Steering too early means turning the wheel prematurely, causing the car to turn ahead of time. This results in the rear being too close to the inner corner, increasing the risk of scraping inner obstacles, while the front end may shift early and occupy adjacent parking spaces. Steering too late refers to delayed wheel turning, leading to insufficient steering angle. This makes it difficult to properly position the rear, often leaving the car behind the parking spot or exceeding the rear boundary line, with a high risk of hitting vehicles or walls behind. These mistakes increase the likelihood of scraping accidents and prolong reversing time, affecting overall parking efficiency. I recommend beginners use reversing cameras for initial judgment assistance. During practice, find an open area to set reference points and master the timing of steering. After several practices, muscle memory will develop, helping to avoid common mistakes.
When reversing into a parking space, turning the steering wheel too early or too late can both cause issues. Turning too early makes the steering too sharp, causing the car to turn prematurely and increasing the risk of the inner side of the rear hitting obstacles. Turning too late results in insufficient steering, leaving the rear of the car improperly positioned—either in the middle of the road or too far back. This can lead to misaligned vehicle positioning and require multiple adjustments. Mastering the right steering point is crucial.
