When the side line is wide during parallel parking, should I turn the steering wheel early or late?
2 Answers
When the side line is wide during parallel parking, turn the steering wheel early. Here are the parallel parking tips: 1. Find the right position to pull over: When you hear the instruction to "pull over," first determine the parking position, then turn on the right turn signal and turn the steering wheel to the right at a 90-degree angle. When the middle of the car's front aligns with the curb, quickly turn the steering wheel to the left at an angle greater than 180 degrees. When the curb is between 1/3 and 1/2 of the front hood position (generally, instructors prefer the 1/3 position, which can be adjusted according to the vehicle size), straighten the steering wheel. If the car deviates, make slight adjustments. 2. Adjust the right-side distance until the front door handle covers the curb edge: Observe the distance between the right side of the car body and the curb or edge, and make adjustments until the right front door handle position covers the curb or is about to "touch" it, then quickly straighten the car body. 3. Observe the left rearview mirror to ensure the left front door handle does not protrude beyond the rear car body: Before getting out of the car, check the left rearview mirror again, ensuring the front door handle position does not extend beyond the rear car's body. If there is no reference car behind, you can check the distance between the car body edge and the parking line. The main goal is to confirm your parking position so that the car body does not obstruct other traffic participants and avoid scratches from other vehicles.
Having driven for over a decade, I've found that choosing to steer later is more appropriate when encountering wide side margins during parallel parking. I remember when I first started learning to drive, I tried steering early, which quickly brought the car close to the curb, almost scraping the wheels against it—a thought that still makes me nervous. A wider side margin means more space, and steering later allows you to reverse further, aligning both the front and rear of the car gradually without immediately crossing the line. The specific steps are: first, drive forward until your car is parallel to the target parking space, maintaining some distance, then start reversing slowly and steer the wheel a bit later. This way, the tire angle won't be too sharp, making it easier to adjust the car to a centered position. Don't underestimate this technique—practice it a few times in an empty parking lot, using the rearview mirror to gauge the distance, and it will soon become second nature, helping you avoid scrapes and ensuring a safe, stress-free experience.
