When the car tail deviates to the right while reversing, which way should the steering wheel be turned?
3 Answers
When the car tail deviates to the right while reversing, turn the steering wheel to the right. Here are the detailed instructions: Principle of direction correction: Take the car tail as the reference. If the tail tends to lean right, turn the steering wheel right; if the tail leans left, turn it left, then straighten in the opposite direction. Reference points for reversing into a parking space: Lines drawn on the ground can be seen through the rearview mirror; the side of another car or a wall makes it easy to spot deviation—look for a properly parked car as a reference; the wall at the rear of the car is a bit more challenging—look back directly (not through the rearview mirror) and adjust the direction at any time to ensure the car is perpendicular to the wall. Mastering basic techniques: Before reversing, observe the surroundings carefully and decide whether the tail should go left or right. Turn the steering wheel left to make the tail go left, and turn it right to make the tail go right.
As a car enthusiast who often attends car meets with friends, I always encounter this situation where the rear of the car drifts to the right when reversing, due to the inertia issue with the rear wheels. The solution is simple: turn the steering wheel to the left, so the front wheels guide the car to turn left and correct the rear drift. When I first started driving, I often made the mistake of turning the steering wheel to the right, which only made the drift worse. Later, I spent time practicing my reversing skills and found that the key is to turn the steering wheel slowly and not jerk it, while also checking the rearview mirror to confirm the position. With more practice, the feel for it comes naturally. Now, I can reverse into parking spaces smoothly in one go.
Having worked in auto repair for over a decade, I've seen countless cases of cars veering to one side while reversing. If the rear of the car drifts to the right during reversing, you should slightly adjust the steering wheel to the left. The principle behind this is that turning the front wheels left pulls the rear of the car to the right. Many people tend to overcorrect by steering too forcefully—I recommend making gentle adjustments rather than jerking the wheel abruptly. In practice, it's also important to check if the tire pressures are balanced, as uneven pressure can exacerbate the veering. Regular maintenance of the vehicle's suspension system can help prevent such issues and ensure safer driving.
