Why is one side larger than the other when reversing into a parking space?
2 Answers
The main reason for one side being larger than the other when reversing into a parking space is the incorrect timing of steering wheel operation. Here are the relevant explanations: 1. Steering too early: When the steering wheel is turned too early during right-side reverse parking, the wheels will be closer to the corner of the parking space, resulting in a left-wide and right-narrow situation after parking. 2. Steering too late: When the steering wheel is turned too late, it will cause a left-narrow and right-wide situation after parking. 3. Reverse parking: Also known as reverse pole or pole test, it is an assessment point in driver's tests where the examinee must correctly reverse the vehicle into a garage from both sides while moving, mainly evaluating the driver's ability to operate the vehicle in confined spaces and their spatial awareness during vehicle movement.
I often end up with uneven space on both sides when reversing into a parking spot, mainly due to inaccurate steering and misaligned car body. When I first started learning to drive, I was always in a hurry to turn the steering wheel—either too early or too late—which often caused the car to enter at an angle. Remember to practice controlling the timing of your turns more. When reversing slowly, frequently check the distance on both sides through the rearview mirrors to ensure the car body is parallel to the parking lines. If you're driving a large vehicle or SUV, spatial awareness is crucial. I recommend practicing several times in an empty lot to avoid relying solely on intuition. Another tip is to adjust your seat and mirrors before parking to ensure an upright posture and a clearer view. Once you develop these habits, it becomes much harder to misalign, and reversing into a parking spot becomes much easier.
