What does it mean to not follow the prescribed route during parallel parking?
4 Answers
Not following the prescribed route means that the individual did not drive along the line instructed by the coach or drove beyond it. In other words, the front wheels of the vehicle crossed the line, but the driver did not reach the designated position accurately, either exceeding the range or not reaching the spot before shifting into reverse gear. The following are the operational techniques for parallel parking in Subject 2: 1. Adjust the rearview mirrors in advance before entering the test area (marked by a pole with the project name on the right side of the road; once the vehicle passes the pole, "parallel parking" will be announced, and timing begins). Parking is allowed for adjustments before entering the area. 2. Start moving forward with the left turn signal on. For semi-automatic driving, align the 12 o'clock direction of the steering wheel with the right-turn white arrow in front of the parking line, proceed slowly and parallel, making gradual adjustments. 3. Turn on the right turn signal, shift into reverse gear, release the foot brake, and slowly engage the clutch to reverse.
Failure to follow the prescribed route during parallel parking means not adhering to the marked lines or required path in the driving test area during reverse parking operations. When I was learning to drive and taking the test, I also made this mistake—for instance, I was supposed to maintain proper distance within the yellow lines, but I turned the steering wheel too early, causing the car to straddle or cross the line, which immediately resulted in point deductions from the examiner. During practice, it might seem fine to be a bit casual, but such violations during the test can affect the overall score, and in severe cases, lead to an outright failure. The root cause may be nervousness causing beginners to neglect checking mirrors or unfamiliarity with the vehicle's steering ratio. The key is to practice the simulated route repeatedly, familiarizing oneself with the steering angles at each point, which helps develop good habits and ensures safer parking in real-life situations without scratching others' cars.
Not following the designated path during parallel parking essentially means improper maneuvering. Based on my years of driving experience, this often stems from rushed operations and miscalculating front/rear distances, causing the vehicle to deviate from the standard position. Driving schools strictly test this to evaluate spatial awareness - even slightly crossing lines may count as violation. Maintain steady speed; don't hastily turn the wheel like some drivers trying to park in one move. This easily causes scraping accidents, so I always emphasize stopping completely before adjustments during training. Practicing with traffic cones to simulate routes is most effective - master it and you'll park swiftly and precisely.
Parking sideways without following the designated route means exceeding the specified range during the reversing process. I know this violation is quite common when driving, such as when you're supposed to move into the parking space along the dotted line but take too wide a turn, causing the front of the car to stick out. During the driving test, even a slight mistake can lead to points deduction, often due to blind spots or improperly adjusted rearview mirrors. Don't overlook this when parking in daily life—be careful to avoid scraping roadside barriers or neighboring cars. A few more practice runs should do the trick, so don't stress too much; just take it slow step by step.
