When the rear of the car drifts to the left during reverse parking, which way should I turn the steering wheel?
2 Answers
When reversing, turning the steering wheel to the left will make the rear of the car move to the left, and turning it to the right will make the rear move to the right. It's important to clarify the concept of steering wheel operation. Here are the relevant explanations: 1. Opposite direction: When the rear of the car drifts to one side, the steering wheel should be turned in the opposite direction (the amount of turn should match the drift). This means that when the car body drifts to the left, you need to turn the steering wheel to the right to straighten it. 2. Aligned position: 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 between the two cars. Adjust the angle of the right rearview mirror, lowering it as much as possible until you can see the right wheel. Then, turn the steering wheel fully to the right and start reversing.
When I first learned to reverse, I often encountered this problem too. When backing into a parking space, the rear of the car would drift to the left, making the whole vehicle feel uncooperative. Actually, it's quite simple—just turn the steering wheel to the left. Why? Because the direction you turn the wheel is opposite to the way the wheels turn—turning left makes the wheels turn left, which pulls the rear of the car back to the right, helping you straighten up. Once, I got too nervous and instinctively turned the wheel to the right, resulting in the rear hitting a pillar and costing me 800 yuan at the repair shop. Later, my instructor taught me to reverse more slowly, observe the side and rearview mirrors more, and confirm that there’s no one or anything around. Now, I never panic. Remember, small and slow movements—don’t jerk the wheel, or you might lose control. If the garage space is tight, adjust the distance properly, don’t rush, and prioritize safety.
