When the car tail swings to the right while reversing, which way should the steering wheel be turned?
2 Answers
When reversing, turning the steering wheel to the left will make the tail swing to the left, and turning it to the right will make the tail swing to the right. The principle for correcting direction is: follow the tail's movement—if you want the tail to move right, turn the steering wheel right; if you want it to move left, turn the steering wheel left, and then straighten it by turning in the opposite direction. Additional tip: When the tail swings to one side during correction, the steering wheel should be turned in the opposite direction (the amount of turn should match the deviation). In other words, if the car body leans left, you need to turn the steering wheel right to straighten it. Drive the car forward until it is roughly aligned with the car in front of the parking space, with a lateral distance of about one meter. Adjust the right rearview mirror angle downward as much as possible until you can see the right wheel. Then, turn the steering wheel fully to the right and start reversing.
I remember when I was learning to reverse, the car's rear tended to drift to the right, and I instinctively turned the steering wheel to the right, only to make the car twist like a pretzel—even worse. Later, I realized it's the opposite: if the rear drifts right, you should steer left. That's because when reversing, steering input works inversely to the front movement—turning left makes the front wheels pull the car's nose to the left, shifting it rightward, which gradually brings the rear back to the left to straighten out. Having driven a small truck for ten years delivering goods, I now emphasize this to my son when teaching him to reverse: start by practicing the feel in an open space, control the speed to avoid going too fast, and frequently check the mirrors to confirm positioning. It might feel awkward at first, but don’t worry—after a few tries, muscle memory kicks in. In daily life, whether parking in a garage or by the roadside, stay steady. It’s best to spend half an hour practicing in an empty lot on weekends, and it’ll become second nature. Mastering this can save on insurance costs and prevent scratches.
