What are the key reference points throughout Subject 2 of the driving test?
3 Answers
Here is an explanation of the key reference points throughout Subject 2: Engine hood reference points: Left vertex of the hood, left 1/3 point of the hood, midpoint of the hood, right 1/3 point of the hood, and right vertex of the hood. Lower edge of rearview mirrors: Primarily used to determine parking positions. For example, during reverse parking, when the yellow line in front of the parking space aligns with the lower edge of the rearview mirror, you should brake to stop - continuing further would risk crossing the line. Left and right rear wheels: These help determine proper alignment during reverse parking. Taking right-side reverse parking as an example, when the right rear wheel appears 30cm away from the parking space corner in the right mirror, the position is ideal. A greater distance indicates risk of the left wheel crossing the line, while a shorter distance means the right wheel might cross - both situations require immediate correction. Parking control lines: For hill parking, exiting reverse parking, and parallel parking, examinees must stop precisely at designated lines. For hill parking, when the wiper aligns with the parking pole, the front of the vehicle will be correctly positioned on the control line.
When I was taking my driver's license test, I had the reference points for Subject 2 down pat. For reverse parking, you mainly watch for the lower edge of the rearview mirror to cover the yellow line before turning the steering wheel all the way; for parallel parking, you straighten the wheels when the left corner of the parking space appears in the right rearview mirror; for hill starts, you align the raised part of the windshield wiper with the side line; for right-angle turns, remember to turn the wheel sharply when the hood covers the curb; and for curve driving, keeping one-third of the hood aligned with the outer edge line is the most stable. The instructor always said it's better to drive slower and find the right position—the key lies in that split-second judgment.
While practicing driving, I drew a map to memorize all the reference points: when reversing into the garage, turn the steering wheel fully left as soon as the left mirror passes the white line, then straighten the wheel once the rear of the car enters the garage; on the slope, align the gap of the engine hood with the edge line; for the right-angle turn, wait until your shoulder passes the corner point before sharply turning the steering wheel; for the S-curve, keep the left front corner close to the right edge line and let the right front corner follow the left edge line. I stayed up late memorizing these points before the test, but now I realize some should be slightly adjusted based on my height—don’t be too rigid.
