What are the correct steps and methods for reversing a car?
4 Answers
Adjust the seat backrest and properly set the left and right rearview mirrors to their lowest position, ensuring visibility of the rear wheels. After turning the steering wheel fully to the right, look at the left rearview mirror. When the corner of the parking space appears in the left mirror, straighten the steering wheel. After straightening the steering wheel, reverse until the left front door handle aligns with the left parking line, then turn the steering wheel fully to the right again. Continue reversing until the car body is vertically parallel and aligned with the parking space. Once the car body is aligned, check the left rearview mirror. Stop the car when the lower edge of the left mirror housing aligns with the front boundary line of the parking space.
Before reversing every time, I first walk around the car to ensure there are no obstacles or children behind. After returning to the driver's seat, I adjust the seat and rearview mirror positions to eliminate blind spots. When shifting into reverse gear, keep your foot firmly on the brake pedal, and release it very slowly to allow the vehicle to move backward at walking speed. During this process, scan all three rearview mirrors like radar—use the side mirrors to check distances on both sides of the rear, and the center mirror to observe directly behind. If equipped with a rearview camera system, you can also refer to the guiding lines on the screen. Remember this steering tip: turn the steering wheel in the direction you want the rear of the car to go, but do it gently without sudden movements. Keep your right foot hovering over the brake pedal throughout the process, ready to stop immediately if pedestrians or unexpected situations arise. In tight spaces, it's okay to make multiple adjustments—don't force a perfect position in one go. After parking, straighten the wheels, engage the parking brake, and shift into P mode to complete the process. I always make it a habit to step out and double-check if the wheels are aligned properly—this practice helps avoid many minor collisions.
My habit when reversing is to first adjust the seating position to ensure clear visibility, with the rearview mirror angled to clearly see the ground markings. When releasing the brake, control the speed to be slower than walking pace—too fast and you might not react in time. My eyes mainly switch between the left and right rearview mirrors and the rear environment, using peripheral vision to glance at the reverse camera display as a reference. Turning the steering wheel should be as steady as moving clock hands—turn clockwise to move the rear to the right, and counterclockwise to move it to the left. Keep your foot ready on the brake during the entire reversing process, stopping immediately if something feels off. If someone suddenly crosses behind you, it's better to stop and wait rather than force the reverse. After reversing into position, don’t forget to straighten the steering wheel and engage the handbrake—this step is crucial, otherwise, the wheels will be misaligned when starting next time. Before getting out, take a final glance at the tire position to confirm it’s within the parking lines. Following these standardized steps ensures safety and avoids scraping adjacent vehicles.
Personal experience: First fasten the seatbelt, then adjust the rearview mirrors to ensure a clear view of the ground. When releasing the brake in reverse gear, do it as gently as placing a raw egg, keeping the speed under half a meter per second. Observe comprehensively—use the side mirrors to check the rear wheel positions, the center mirror for distant reference points, and the reversing camera to assist in judging distance. A simple steering principle: turn the steering wheel in the direction you want the rear of the car to go. Keep your toes lightly on the brake throughout the reversing process, reassessing the surroundings every time the wheels roll for more than three seconds. For obstacles like poles or low stakes that are hard for parking sensors to detect, it’s better to roll down the window and look. After parking, straighten the steering wheel and firmly engage the handbrake to prevent deviation at the next start. Remember, slower speeds mean greater safety—never check your phone while reversing.
