What Causes the Left Side to Be Narrow When Reversing into the Right Parking Space?
2 Answers
The reason for the left side being narrow when reversing into the right parking space is due to turning the steering wheel too late during the reversing process. If the rear of the car is not yet within about 30 centimeters of the parking corner, but the right front door handle has already reached or passed the extension line of the right boundary of the parking space, turning the steering wheel at this point is already too late, making it easy to hit the left corner or boundary of the parking space. If most of the car has entered the parking space and the rearview mirror shows that the left side is narrow while the right side is wide, you can turn the steering wheel to the right by a quarter turn. Once the car body straightens, return the steering wheel to the neutral position. During the reversing test, failing to follow the designated route or sequence results in disqualification. Having the car body touch the lines or failing to fully reverse into the space also leads to disqualification. Exceeding the 210-second time limit for completing the reversing task results in disqualification. Each instance of stopping midway deducts 5 points. When reversing into the parking space, it is important to control the speed—avoid going too slow or too fast. Once you find the reference point, complete the task smoothly.
I've driven quite a few cars, and the issue of having less space on the left side during right reverse parking is very common, usually caused by turning the steering wheel too late or not controlling the angle properly. Specifically, when you're reversing to the right, if you turn the steering wheel too quickly, the rear of the car hasn't had time to straighten out before it starts leaning to the left, compressing the space on the left. Additionally, driving too fast can easily lead to loss of control, making it hard to correct the position in time. I recommend practicing at a slower speed first, frequently using the rearview mirror to observe the distance between the car body and the parking lines. If you feel the left side is getting too narrow, slightly adjust the steering wheel in the opposite direction. Beginners often overlook adjusting the rearview mirrors—make sure they are positioned to clearly see objects on both sides. It's best to find an open space to practice repeatedly, getting familiar with the car's turning radius. This way, daily parking will become much smoother, avoiding scratches on walls or other cars.
