Which Way to Turn the Steering Wheel for Left Reverse Parking?
2 Answers
Turn the steering wheel to the left when reversing to the left. There's only one key point to remember when reversing: turn the steering wheel in the direction you want the rear of the car to go. In other words, turning the steering wheel to the left will make the car move left, and turning it to the right will make the car move right. Left Reverse Parking: After aligning the car body, shift into first gear and drive forward. When the left yellow line aligns with your shoulder, quickly turn the steering wheel fully to the left to exit the parking spot. Continue driving forward until the lower edge of the left rearview mirror aligns with the front yellow line, then stop. Shift into reverse gear and reverse at a steady speed. When you see through the left rearview mirror that the car body is parallel to the left yellow line of the parking spot, quickly straighten the steering wheel and continue reversing until the lower edge of the left rearview mirror is parallel to the parking line, then stop. Right Reverse Parking: When the inner corner of the lower right side of the left rearview mirror aligns with the yellow line, turn the steering wheel fully to the right. Turn your head to look at the right rearview mirror and maintain a distance of about 30 cm between the right rear wheel and the corner of the parking spot. When you see through the left rearview mirror that the car body is parallel to the side lines of the parking spot on both sides, quickly straighten the steering wheel. Stop when the lower edge of the left rearview mirror aligns with the yellow line.
When reversing into a left parking space, turn the steering wheel to the left. Remember this basic principle: in reverse, the car's rear will move in the direction you turn the steering wheel. During my lessons, I instruct students to first observe the rearview mirror. When the rear of the car needs to enter the space to the left, decisively turn the steering wheel left, usually 90 to 180 degrees is sufficient. At the same time, maintain a slow speed and keep your foot ready on the brake pedal to allow time for adjustments. When the car body forms a 30-degree angle with the corner of the parking space, prepare to straighten the steering wheel. Once the rear wheels are inside the space, use the rearview mirror for minor adjustments. It's better to turn the steering wheel too little than too much—beginners often make the mistake of turning too sharply, causing the car body to cross the line. I recommend practicing in open areas to develop a better sense of distance.
