What is the reason for the left side being too wide when reversing into the left parking space?
3 Answers
Reversing into the left parking space, the left side is too wide while the right side is too narrow: The reason for the left side being too wide and the right side too narrow when reversing into the left parking space is that the steering wheel is turned too late at the starting point. Even if you don't adjust the direction and park in one go, the right side will still be too narrow. Due to the different turning radii of the car's left and right turns, when reversing into the parking space from the left, the point at which you turn the steering wheel at the starting point usually needs to be a bit earlier than when reversing from the right. This applies to all test vehicle models. It is essential to enhance the proficiency in controlling the vehicle speed and using the steering wheel, and to strengthen the practice of basic skills. When reversing from the left, as soon as you see the left bumper covering the right corner, turn the steering wheel fully. If the width between the car body and the left front corner is greater than two fingers, there is no need to adjust the steering wheel. If it is less, you should turn the steering wheel back half a turn, and then straighten the wheel when you see the left line parallel to the car body in the left rearview mirror.
When I first learned to reverse into a left-side parking space, I often had the issue of leaving too much space on the left, mainly because my turning movements weren't smooth enough. The starting position was too close to the right line, and I hesitated too much when steering, resulting in a large gap on the left after turning the car body. After a few attempts, I realized the starting point wasn't correct—I should have positioned the car at a slight angle to the parking space, then reversed slowly while gradually turning the steering wheel to the left. Nervousness was also a big factor; beginners tend to focus solely on the rearview mirror and neglect the overall angle. With more practice, I learned to relax and observe the surrounding terrain, which improved the situation. Additionally, if the car has a blind-spot monitoring system, try enabling it—it can help with spacing reminders, but don't rely entirely on technology.
Having driven for over a decade, I've found that encountering a wider left side during reverse parking usually stems from two factors: First, the initial positioning deviation is too significant. If the car starts too close to the right side of the parking space, turning left will inevitably leave extra space on the left. Second, the steering wheel operation is slightly delayed. Personally, I make sure to decisively turn the wheel left as soon as the car enters the parking angle while keeping the speed under control. During practice, I recommend testing different parking positioning methods in open areas, such as starting slightly to the right and adjusting the angle while reversing. Different vehicle types also play a role—smaller cars are more agile in turning and less prone to leaving extra space, whereas with larger SUVs, I pay extra attention to the right rearview mirror.
