What are the three points for reversing into a parking space?
2 Answers
Not three points, but two points. Whether it's right-side or left-side reversing into the parking space, there are two most important reference points: First point: This is the point where you fully turn the steering wheel to the left/right when reversing into the space. The characteristic is that the lower edge of the left rearview mirror aligns with the starting line (dashed line). Second point: When the vehicle body has completely entered the parking space, is straight, and centered in the space, this indicates that right-side parking is about to be completed. The stopping point at this moment is referred to as the second point. Below is a detailed introduction to the method of reversing into a parking space: Identify the starting point: Taking right-side reversing as an example, the car should be positioned 1.2-1.8 meters away from the left line at the starting point. The steering wheel should be straight, and the car body should be parallel to the left line. When reversing, use the lower edge of the left rearview mirror as a reference. When the two align, turn the steering wheel fully to the right and continue reversing. Control the corner point: Look at the right rearview mirror. When you spot the corner point of the parking space, pay attention to the changing distance between the corner point and the car body. When the distance is less than 30 centimeters, turn the steering wheel back halfway and continue reversing. Once the car body enters the parking space and is parallel to the parking lines, turn the steering wheel back one full turn. If the distance is not less than 30 centimeters, do not turn the steering wheel back. Continue reversing until the car body is parallel to the parking lines, then turn the steering wheel back one and a half full turns at once.
I remember when I first started learning how to reverse into a parking space, my friend taught me three key points: The first point is to align the rear of the car with the starting position of the parking corner, ensuring the car body is parallel to the side line of the parking space before starting to reverse. The second point is to immediately turn the steering wheel fully when the rear wheels in the rearview mirror touch the parking line, positioning the wheels correctly. The third point is to quickly straighten the steering wheel when the car body is almost parallel, making slight adjustments before coming to a complete stop. In actual practice, I found that the size of the parking space affects these three points. For example, in narrow spaces, you need to turn the wheel earlier, while in wider spaces, you can do it slightly later. I recommend practicing multiple times to adapt to different situations, especially during nighttime when poor lighting makes it easier to make mistakes. Don’t just focus on the reference points—always observe the surrounding environment, as safety should always come first. Now, after years of driving, these points have become second nature to me. Beginners might want to practice in an empty parking lot first to get a feel for it, avoiding the urge to rush for quick results.
