What Causes the Right Side to Be Wider When Reversing into a Parking Spot?
2 Answers
Reasons for the right side appearing wider when reversing into a parking spot include steering too late and the vehicle being offset to the left. Steering too late: If the right side appears wider when reversing into a parking spot, it is usually due to steering too late. If the rear of the car is still far from the corner of the parking space (not yet within about 30 cm) but the right front door handle has already reached or crossed the extended line of the right boundary of the parking space, it means the steering was too late, making it easy to hit the left corner or boundary of the parking space. Vehicle offset to the left: If the vehicle is parallel to the parking space but offset to the left, not adjusting may cause the left front corner of the parking space to be hit when exiting. To correct this, first turn the steering wheel to the right by 1/4 turn, ensuring the front wheels do not cross the line. When the right side distance is appropriate, turn the steering wheel to the left by 1/4 turn. Once the vehicle is parallel to the parking space again, straighten the steering wheel.
I've been driving for over a decade and I'm very familiar with the situation where the right side is too wide when reversing into a parking spot. The main issue lies in steering wheel operation. For example, if you turn the steering wheel a bit late when starting to reverse, the car will veer too much to the right, resulting in excessive space on that side. I remember when I was learning, the instructor always emphasized aligning the starting position properly and keeping the car parallel to the parking space before reversing. But I often rushed to turn the steering wheel without properly positioning the car first. My advice is to check the mirrors in advance, find a fixed reference point like the edge of a pillar, and continuously monitor the right-side distance while reversing. Don't worry too much – with a few more practices, you'll master the technique. Driving also requires patience and rhythm.
