What is the reason for pressing the left line at the second curve during serpentine driving?
3 Answers
Pressing the left line at the second curve during serpentine driving is due to improper speed control, failure to identify the correct reference point, or turning the steering wheel too quickly and abruptly. S-curve entrance: When entering from the left, keep the vehicle as close to the right line as possible before turning the steering wheel to the left; when entering from the right, keep the vehicle as close to the left line as possible before turning the steering wheel to the right. During the movement, the front of the vehicle should follow the edge line. When turning left, the front of the vehicle should follow the right line; when turning right, the front of the vehicle should follow the left line. S-curve exit: When exiting to the left, turn the steering wheel half a turn to the right as the front wheels just leave to avoid the rear wheels pressing the line; when exiting to the right, turn the steering wheel half a turn to the left as the front wheels just leave to avoid the rear wheels pressing the line. Whether turning left or right, always observe through the large circular mirror to maintain a distance of about 30 centimeters between the vehicle body and the edge line.
Last time when I was practicing curve driving during my driving lessons, the instructor specifically pointed out that I kept crossing the left line on the second curve, mainly because I turned the steering wheel back too early and too abruptly. After coming out of the first curve, I felt the car was straight and immediately straightened the steering wheel, but the car body hadn't fully aligned yet, causing it to veer directly to the left. Another issue was that I didn't control the speed well—I pressed the accelerator a bit too much when exiting the curve, and as the speed increased, I couldn't adjust the direction in time. Later, the instructor advised me to take an extra glance at the right-side mirror when exiting the first curve, waiting until the car body was about 30 centimeters away from the right line before gradually turning the steering wheel back. At the same time, I should rest my left foot on the clutch to slightly reduce the speed. This way, the second curve could be navigated smoothly without crossing the line.
When practicing the curve project in Subject 2, I noticed that students commonly have issues with the left wheel pressing against the left line during the second turn. The root cause is insufficient visual guidance, as they tend to focus solely on the front of the car. Before entering the second turn, they should actually look at the right corner of the car's front—when it meets the right line, they should steer right. However, students often worry about steering too early and pressing against the right line, so they deliberately delay turning. As a result, once they turn the wheel, the left front wheel immediately presses against the left line. I recommend focusing on feeling the steering wheel's rotation range during practice. After completing the first turn, keep a quarter turn of the wheel instead of fully straightening it, and reduce the speed to a crawling pace to allow ample reaction time for steering.
