What Does It Mean to Sweep the Line in Reverse Parking?
3 Answers
In the subject two reverse parking test, 'sweeping the line' with the car body means that the wheels have crossed the line or the car body has gone out of bounds. Sweeping the line during the reverse parking test in subject two will result in point deductions. During the test, the car must not sweep the line at any time, let alone cross it. It's also important to note that during the reverse parking test, it's not just about the wheels not crossing the line; the car body must also stay within the boundaries. If the car body goes out of bounds, 100 points will be deducted. Other violations that result in a 100-point deduction include the car body crossing the line, not entering the parking space, stopping midway, not following the prescribed route, not following the sequence, or exceeding the time limit. The full score for subject two is 100 points, with evaluation criteria set for failing, deducting 20 points, deducting 10 points, and deducting 5 points. The rules for the subject two driving test state that any of the following will result in failure: stopping or rolling back during the test, not following the voice instructions, wheels crossing the line, or the car body crossing the line. Many learners encounter the issue of crossing the line during subject two training, and the most common mistake leading to failure is 'crossing the line.' The main reason for crossing the line is that learners fail to steer at the correct time. Besides missing the right moment to steer, another reason could be that the steering speed doesn't match the car's speed. Reasons for the car body going out of bounds during reverse parking include: Before the test, failing to adjust the rearview mirrors properly, leading to inadequate visibility, causing the wheels to cross the line or the corner, or even being unable to judge the parking space position, resulting in failure. Some learners struggle with controlling the clutch when switching to a different car, leading to panic. In reality, all manual transmission cars have different clutch characteristics—some are high or low, light or heavy. Some learners report that the car stops when they press the clutch and moves too fast when they release it. The key is to release the clutch slowly, stopping when the car starts moving, as this is the optimal engagement point. If the car is too slow, gently release the clutch further; if it's too fast, gently press it. When reversing into the first parking space, learners often forget to check the left and right rearview mirrors to adjust the car's position, causing the car body to go out of bounds. If the car doesn't go out of bounds, it might not be aligned properly, leading to premature braking and leaving too much distance, making it impossible to complete the parking. Solution: When the car body goes out of bounds during reverse parking, make minor adjustments by steering toward the wider side. For example, when parking to the right, if you steer too early, the right rearview mirror will show that the right corner of the parking space is too narrow, making it impossible to enter if you continue reversing. In this case, steer left first, then fully steer right, and finally straighten the wheels to align the car properly into the parking space. Subject two point deduction standards: Not wearing a seatbelt: deduct 100 points. Starting the engine without the gear in neutral: deduct 100 points. Not using turn signals (including when starting, changing lanes, overtaking, turning, or parking); using turn signals for less than three seconds (this is easily overlooked!); forgetting to turn off the turn signal or using it incorrectly: deduct 10 points. Stalling once: deduct 10 points. Reverse parking: Not following the prescribed route sequence: deduct 100 points. Car body out of bounds: deduct 100 points. Failing to enter the parking space: deduct 100 points. Not having both front wheels cross the control line before reversing: deduct 100 points. Exceeding the 210-second time limit: deduct 100 points. Stopping for more than 2 seconds: deduct 5 points each time. Slope parking and starting: After stopping, if the front bumper is not aligned with the pole line and exceeds 50 cm forward or backward: deduct 100 points. If the front bumper is not aligned with the pole line but does not exceed 50 cm: deduct 10 points. If the starting time exceeds 30 seconds after stopping: deduct 100 points. Wheels crossing the road edge line while driving: deduct 100 points. Rolling back more than 30 cm when starting: deduct 100 points. After stopping, if the car body is more than 50 cm from the road edge line: deduct 100 points. Not tightening the parking brake after stopping: deduct 10 points each time. After stopping, if the car body is between 30 cm and 50 cm from the road edge line: deduct 10 points each time. Rolling back between 10 cm and 30 cm when starting: deduct 5 points each time. Parallel parking: Car body out of bounds after parking: deduct 100 points. Not using or incorrectly using turn signals when entering the parking space: deduct 10 points. Exceeding the 90-second time limit: deduct 100 points. Car body touching the parking space boundary while driving: deduct 10 points each time. Wheels touching the lane boundary while driving: deduct 10 points each time. Stopping for more than 2 seconds: deduct 5 points each time. 90-degree turn: Wheels crossing the road edge line: deduct 100 points. Not using or incorrectly using turn signals during the turn, or not turning them off afterward: deduct 10 points. Stopping for more than 2 seconds: deduct 5 points each time. Curve driving: Wheels crossing the road edge line: deduct 100 points. Stopping for more than 2 seconds: deduct 100 points. Not driving in second gear or higher: deduct 5 points.
When I was learning Subject 2 of my driver's license, the instructor kept nagging about 'sweeping the line' during reverse parking, which means the wheels ran over the parking space markings on the ground during reversing. This is critical in the exam—sweeping the line once can lead to point deductions or outright failure. During one practice session, I was so nervous and moved a bit too fast. As soon as the rear tire touched the line, the instructor’s horn blared, saying I had completely lost my direction. Later, I practiced hard and learned to align the car body using the side mirrors and control the clutch for slow movement to avoid this. Beginners must remember: slow speed is key, and simulating the process multiple times helps build familiarity. Reverse parking isn’t just a test of skill for the exam—in daily life, running over lines in a residential area might lead to scraping against flower beds or neighbors’ cars. Solid practice builds confidence.
I've been driving for almost twenty years, and 'sweeping the line' during reverse parking means the wheels touch the boundary line while backing up. It sounds simple, but there's actually a lot to it. When I was taking my driver's license test, the rules at the test site were extremely strict—even the slightest wheel over the line was unacceptable. In daily parking, I've encountered similar issues; sweeping the line can easily cause the car body to deviate, leading to scraping against the curb or affecting others' parking. So, I make it a habit to check the mirrors before reversing, ensuring the car body is parallel before slowly backing up. As I get older, driving steadily becomes more important—what seems like a minor issue with sweeping the line could lead to a major accident. I advise new drivers not to rush; steady and careful operation brings peace of mind.
