When to Straighten the Steering Wheel After a Right-Angle Turn?
3 Answers
When making a right-angle turn, straighten the steering wheel when you feel the car body is about to align, or observe the rearview mirror—when the rear wheels pass the corner, appropriately straighten the steering wheel to keep the car body parallel to the lane edge line and exit the right-angle curve. Below are the key moments to fully turn the steering wheel: 1. When the front of the car is about to reach the opposite edge line: Immediately turn the steering wheel fully in the turning direction; 2. When the driver's position or the rearview mirror position is almost level with the corner: Immediately turn the steering wheel fully in the turning direction.
Taking a 90-degree turn is quite similar to practicing yoga—you need to feel the car's feedback. I've figured out that the golden moment to straighten the wheel is when the front edge of the hood is about to touch the extended line of the corner. The right-hand movement should be decisive but not jerky. After straightening, glance at the rearview mirror to check if the rear end scrapes the wall. Forget about steering wheel turn counts—different cars have different steering ratios. During practice, I set up cones in an empty lot and found that controlling the car is easiest when the speed drops below 10 km/h. You can straighten the wheel when the tires are almost aligned with the centerline of the straight lane—doing it too early risks the rear wheels hitting the curb.
Experience gained from driving box trucks through narrow alleys: The most effective technique for right-angle turns is to focus on the inner rear wheel. When the tire in the right rearview mirror just passes the inner corner line by 15 centimeters, quickly turn the steering wheel 180 degrees to the left with your left hand. At this point, don't rush to look at the road ahead—the most practical way is to sense the vehicle's alignment with your body. When the logo on the steering wheel is level and the back pressure from the seat disappears, it means the vehicle has stabilized. The rear wheels of large vehicles follow a slower trajectory than the front wheels, so you need to start adjusting the direction half a second earlier.
