Why does the car scrape the line when reversing to the right?
4 Answers
One situation is that the car body is not straightened before entering the garage, and the steering wheel is corrected too late; another situation is that the reference point is observed too late when entering the garage, causing the car to be off-center when parking. Precautions for reversing include: 1. Preventing collisions: When shifting and reversing, pay attention to the width of the target position and assess the safety distance from obstacles behind and on both sides of the car to the rear wheels. To avoid accidents such as collisions, scrapes, or falling into ditches, it may be necessary to have someone guide the car from behind. 2. Preventing garage scrapes: When reversing into a garage, if visibility is good, you can directly observe and judge through the rear window. If visibility is poor and you cannot see clearly behind, open the car door and judge the car's position in the garage from one side while also observing the other side through the rearview mirror to avoid scraping the garage or other vehicles. 3. Preventing scrapes: When reversing around a corner, pay attention to the situation on the inside of the turn and behind the car, and observe both sides of the car through the rearview mirror. Be mindful of the timing to turn the steering wheel back to prevent rear-end collisions or side scrapes. 4. Preventing falling into ditches: When reversing to turn around, if the road is wide enough, you can judge the position of the rear or wheels directly through the rearview mirror. If multiple forward and reverse movements are needed, get out of the car to check the safe distance between the wheels and the edge to avoid falling into a ditch.
I've encountered the issue of scraping the line while reversing into the right parking space many times over my ten years of driving. The main reason is turning the steering wheel to the right too early or too abruptly, causing the rear of the car to swing outward sharply, which can easily lead to crossing the adjacent marking line. I remember when I was a beginner, I would often misjudge the angle in the rearview mirror and, in a panic, over-steer, resulting in the car body scraping the line. You need to reverse more slowly, allowing the car to move gradually, and avoid turning the steering wheel all the way in one go. Also, before reversing into the parking space, adjust the rearview mirrors and seat properly, and find reference points, such as aligning the lower edge of the left rearview mirror with the corner of the garage before turning the wheel. When practicing, find an open space and repeat the maneuver until you develop good habits, and you won't make the same mistakes again. Every time I encounter a narrow parking lot on business trips, I plan my path in advance to avoid obstacles, which is both safer and more convenient. Reversing into a parking space may seem simple, but the details determine success or failure—it's not something to be careless about.
As a new driver who just got my license, I often wondered why I kept brushing the lines during right reverse parking. When I first started learning, the instructor always said my reference points were inaccurate—after turning the wheel right, the rear end would veer outside the lines. Later, I realized it was due to incorrect sitting posture: craning my neck too low made it hard to see the rearview mirror clearly, and I'd panic and jerk the steering wheel as soon as the car moved. The best approach is to slow down, make tiny adjustments to the steering, and avoid rushing the turns. Practice more during free time—use tape to simulate parking lines on the ground and get a feel for the right rear wheel's position. Reverse parking is really about patience; with practice, you'll get the hang of it. I used to worry about scraping my neighbor's car when brushing the lines, but now that I've mastered the rhythm, I can park steadily every time, and my confidence has grown. Poor distance control can easily cause issues, so don’t rush for speed.
From a physical perspective, the reason for sweeping the line during right reverse parking is due to the trajectory deviation caused by the rotation of the wheels. When you turn the steering wheel to the right, the front wheels turn at a smaller angle, while the rear wheels swing out in a larger arc, causing the rear of the car to sweep outside the line. This is why excessive steering wheel movement makes the rear of the car prone to deviate from the intended path. When driving, pay attention to the timing and extent of steering, control the speed to avoid rushing too fast, and allow the car body to shift smoothly to prevent such loss of control. Understanding this principle makes reverse parking easier.
