What causes the right side to be too wide when reversing into the garage on the right side?
4 Answers
When reversing into the garage on the right side, the right side being too wide is caused by turning the steering wheel too late during the reversing process. Below are the detailed explanations: 1. Introduction: Reversing into the garage has been a mandatory test item for obtaining a small car driver's license since 2013. It assesses the driver's ability to maneuver the vehicle in a confined space. Reversing into the garage is a key assessment point in the driver's test, which involves correctly reversing the vehicle into the garage from both sides while in motion. 2. Test Content: Reverse from the starting point A into garage B and park correctly; move forward to the turnaround area C and stop; reverse from the turnaround area into garage B and stop; return from garage B to A to complete the test. 3. Evaluation Criteria: Failing to follow the prescribed route and sequence results in disqualification; having the vehicle body cross the line or failing to reverse into the garage results in disqualification; taking more than 210 seconds to complete the reversing into the garage results in disqualification; stopping midway deducts 5 points each time.
As a driving instructor with ten years of experience, I have observed three common situations where beginners leave too much space on the right side while reversing. Turning the steering wheel too early causes the rear of the car to swing to the left, naturally leaving more space on the right; if the front of the car is not aligned properly when entering the parking space, the left front wheel being too close to the corner of the parking space will also cause the right rear wheel to stay far from the side line; also, pay attention to the speed—going too fast may leave students no time to correct their direction. Here’s a practical tip: when the right corner of the parking space disappears from the rearview mirror, immediately straighten the steering wheel, and once the car body is aligned, quickly check the distance on the right side. Always maintain a fixed sitting posture and seat height during practice, as this is crucial for accurate judgment. It is recommended to adjust the rearview mirror to an angle where the car body occupies 1/4 and the ground occupies 3/4 for optimal visibility.
Yesterday, the parking lot attendant mentioned this during a chat: When the right wheel presses on the induction line before turning the steering wheel, it creates a large-angle entry into the parking space. The key point is the timing judged by the rearview mirror—when the right rear door handle is parallel to the corner of the parking space, the steering wheel should already be straightened. Many people hesitate when turning the steering wheel, causing the rear of the car to lean to the left and leaving a large gap on the right side. Fine adjustments after the car enters the space are crucial; the steering wheel should be corrected slowly in half-turns, with the angle controlled within 45 degrees. Our parking lot has many pillars, so experienced drivers are accustomed to finding fixed reference points on the left window, such as observing the moment when the corner of the parking space aligns with the lower edge of the rearview mirror.
Last time I chatted with a ride-hailing driver: Steering too sharply is common among beginners. When backing into a right parking space, some turn the wheel fully as soon as half of the parking bay corner becomes visible, causing the car to enter diagonally and resulting in misalignment. The correct approach is to start turning when the corner is about to disappear from the edge of the right rearview mirror. After entering the space, pay attention to the gap between the car body and the boundary lines in both side mirrors - it shouldn't be too large. When the white line appears narrower in the right mirror, compensate by steering slightly right. Different seat heights can cause visual errors, so it's best to adjust to the same position every time you get in the car. One useful tip: when the top of the door handle touches the parking line in the right rearview mirror, the car is basically properly positioned.
