Why Can't I Align the Car Straight in Subject 2 Driving Test?
3 Answers
If you can't align the car straight in Subject 2 driving test, it's likely because you haven't mastered the proper use of rearview mirrors. During reverse parking, observe whether the distance between the car body and both sides of the parking space is roughly equal. When you see the car body parallel to the parking line in the rearview mirror, the car is properly aligned at this point. If the distance between the car body and the parking line is too wide on one side, steer towards that side. The steering correction should not be too large, and you should straighten the wheels immediately when the car is nearly parallel. Master steering wheel control: First, learn the correct way to hold the steering wheel—left hand at the 9 o'clock position and right hand at the 3 o'clock position. Be mindful of how many turns you make, how many turns you need to return, and when to straighten the wheels. Control the speed: Before reverse parking, learn to control the speed. Drive at a slow but steady pace to avoid stalling, giving yourself enough time to adjust the angle during reverse parking.
I've been teaching driving for many years and noticed many people struggle with keeping the car straight during the second subject test, mainly due to poor visual judgment and inaccurate steering control. Many tend to focus only on one side mirror or the rearview mirror without checking the overall car position, leading to large correction angles. Another issue is driving too fast, causing excessive car movement and leaving no time for fine adjustments. Impatience is also a problem – always wanting to get it right in one go, resulting in over-steering and then hastily correcting the misalignment. I recommend practicing slow-speed car control more often. Find an open space to repeatedly practice reverse parking, using the curb as a reference line until your body, eyes, and hands develop muscle memory. Develop a habit of taking deep breaths before starting, don't let exam pressure interfere with your operation, and remember – steady wins the race.
When I was taking my driving test, I always had trouble keeping the car straight during the second subject, especially in the reverse parking section. I almost failed several times. Upon reflection, I realized two main issues: first, I focused too much on the mirrors and neglected the actual sense of distance. I kept staring at the lines in the rearview mirror, trying to align them, but forgot to check the overall posture of the car. Second, I hesitated when turning the steering wheel, delaying the turn when I should have turned left and missing the optimal timing. Later, I changed my approach—I drove at a slower speed to give myself more time to think, and I asked a friend to stand outside and record videos to analyze where I went wrong. After a few days of practice, my success rate improved. Looking back now, adjusting my rhythm was better than forcing it, and simulating test scenarios more often helped reduce my nervousness.
