Where to look at the inner door handle during a right-angle turn?
5 Answers
Look at the window decal above the inner door handle. Below are relevant instructions for making a right-angle turn: 1. Key technique: Before turning, try to drive as close to the outer side as possible. When the front of the car is about to reach the opposite sideline (approximately 50-70 cm), start turning inward (be careful not to turn too sharply). While looking ahead, also observe the rearview mirror. When you feel the middle of the car is about to pass the vertex of the right angle, slowly straighten the steering wheel and gradually correct the car's direction. 2. Tips: Adjust the position of the right rearview mirror, lowering it as much as possible to get a side view of the right rear tire. Slow down as much as possible when the car is about to enter the right-angle turn. Keep the left wiper pivot aligned with the left line of the right-angle turn. This point may vary depending on each person's seating position and body size, mainly to ensure the left tire is 15-20 cm away from the left line of the right-angle turn and to keep the car body straight.
When making a right-angle turn, I'm used to focusing on the rear end of the inner door handle to steer. Specifically, when your car's front just covers the boundary line ahead, quickly shift your gaze to the right door handle, paying special attention to the area where the handle connects with the window frame. The metal seam at this spot precisely corresponds to the rear wheel's track point. The moment it's about to align parallel with the outer yellow line of the corner, swiftly turn the steering wheel all the way to the right. This ensures the tires graze the corner's edge perfectly, keeping the car body about a fist's distance from the boundary line. Remember, turning the wheel too late risks hitting the corner, while turning too early may scrape the outer line. Practice a few times to master that precise timing.
When I was practicing driving, the instructor always emphasized looking at the corner position of the inner door handle, and I found it really helpful. When making a right turn, don't let your eyes wander—focus specifically on the right-angled edge of the door handle toward the rear of the car. Once the hood covers the curb, your peripheral vision should catch the handle's corner aligning about two-thirds with the outer right-angle line, and that's when you need to follow through with your hand movements. At this point, the right rear wheel is exactly at the critical turning point, and turning the steering wheel all the way is the safest. If you wait until the handle position completely covers the line before turning, the tire will definitely run over the corner of the garage. This method works for most sedans, but slight adjustments to the observation point are needed for different car models.
For a right-angle turn, focus on the middle to rear section of the door handle. Simply put, when the front of the car blocks the roadside line, concentrate on the raised part at the back of the door handle. Once you see it align with the outer right-angle line, immediately turn the steering wheel all the way to the right. At this point, the rear wheels will just clear the corner of the parking space. The key is to decisively steer when the end of the handle aligns with the extended line of the parking corner—hesitation may cause you to cross the line. Practice a few times to build muscle memory, and you'll master it.
When teaching beginners, I always have them locate the door handle hinge position. During a right turn, the optimal steering moment is when the metal pivot connecting the right door handle to the car body aligns with the extended line of the outer corner of the parking space. Turning the wheel sharply at this point will make the wheel trajectory closely follow the outer arc of the corner. If you turn after the hinge passes the right-angle line, it's too late; turning too early may cause the front of the car to go out of bounds. Different car models have varying handle designs, with SUVs typically having higher positions. It's best to statically observe the reference point position before practicing.
