When to Turn the Steering Wheel Half a Circle While Reversing into a Parking Space?
3 Answers
You need to turn the steering wheel half a circle when you see the corner of the parking space you are entering. When the wheel is about to reach the extension line of the corner, turn the steering wheel to the extreme. Here are some related materials about reversing into a parking space: 1. Introduction: Reversing into a parking space has been a mandatory test item for obtaining a small car driver's license since 2013. It assesses the driver's ability to operate the vehicle in a confined space. Reversing into a parking space is one of the assessment points in the driver's test, which involves correctly reversing the vehicle into the garage from both sides while in motion. 2. Methods: There are three most common types of reversing into a parking space. The first is the "non"-shaped reversing into a parking space, commonly seen in various large shopping malls. The second is the roadside "one"-shaped reversing into a parking space, also known as parallel parking. The third is the less common diagonal reversing into a parking space. 70% of driving school students find parallel parking more challenging.
I've been driving for over a decade, and the key to the half-turn reverse parking technique lies in judging the car's position. Generally, when the rear starts turning into the parking space and you spot the rear wheel about to touch the bay line in the mirror, that's when you should begin turning the steering wheel back half a turn. Doing it too early makes the car veer outward, while being late might cause you to cross the line or hit the wall. My veteran driver habit is to reverse slowly, maintaining steady speed while constantly checking angle changes in the mirror. Many people focus solely on the front and neglect the rear, which often leads to mistakes. Find an open space to practice repeatedly until you develop that instinct – returning the wheel when the car tilts to about 45 degrees is usually right. Remember, different parking lot elevations affect this too, and you should move more steadily in poor lighting conditions.
When teaching driving, I often tell students the perfect timing for turning the steering wheel halfway back when reversing into a parking space: while moving backward, keep an eye on the relative position between the parking spot corner and the wheel in the mirror. Once the corner line is almost parallel to the edge of the rear wheel, immediately turn the wheel halfway back. Don’t rush this step; the car needs to move slowly for precise adjustments. If you turn back too impulsively, the tire might scrape against roadside stones; if too late, the car may twist inside the line. During practice, I have students first find the reference point in an open area, combining observations from both side mirrors to judge the car’s tilt. In bad weather, like rain, operations require even more caution. Mastering this timing helps avoid minor scrapes, improves parking efficiency, and reduces reliance on others for help.
