Why is the left side too wide when doing the left reverse parking in Subject 2?
3 Answers
When performing left reverse parking, if the left side is too wide while the right side is too narrow, it's usually because the steering wheel was turned too late at the starting point. Even if you don't correct the direction and complete the parking in one move, the right side will still be too narrow. Due to the different turning radii of the car's left and right turns, for left reverse parking in Subject 2, the steering point at the starting position usually needs to be slightly earlier than for right reverse parking. Below is relevant information about Subject 2: Introduction: Subject 2 refers to the field driving skill test. For small vehicles (C1/C2), the test items include five compulsory components: reverse parking, parallel parking, stopping and starting on a slope, right-angle turns, and curve driving (commonly known as S-turns). Some regions may include a sixth item, such as highway toll card collection. Teaching objectives: The goal is to master basic driving operation essentials, acquire fundamental vehicle control abilities, proficiently understand basic methods for field and road driving, develop the capability to reasonably use vehicle control components and correctly manage the vehicle's spatial position, and accurately control the vehicle's position, speed, and route.
I remember when I was first learning to reverse into a parking space, I also often had the problem of the left side being too wide. This is usually because the steering was turned too late or the starting position wasn't aligned properly. In Subject 2 of the driving test, if the left side is too wide during left reverse parking, it might be because the starting point is too far from the corner of the parking space or the steering was turned a bit late while the speed was a bit too fast. The method I later used to correct this was to check the reference point for the corner of the parking space in advance, ensure the speed is slow—controlled at a steady first gear—and turn the steering wheel decisively to the left. Practice more on checking the rearview mirror, paying attention to the distance between the rear wheel and the left line, keeping it around 30 cm, which is just right. Have a coach or friend guide you from outside the car to adjust the starting position, making sure it's not too far away. If this point isn't practiced well, it's easy to fail the test, affecting both the overall score and confidence. So, simulating the test environment a few more times during practice makes a big difference.
As an experienced driver, let me share some insights on this common issue. A wide left side during reverse parking is mainly caused by improper starting position and incorrect steering timing. During the driving test (Subject 2), if the car starts too close to the parking space or at a wrong angle, steering too early will likely result in a wide gap. The solution is to first park parallel at the designated position, ensuring the rear aligns with the starting line, then reverse slowly while checking the mirrors. When turning left, observe the distance between the left rear wheel and the boundary line after the car body turns. If a wide gap is noticed, quickly correct by adjusting the steering wheel. Maintain a steady speed, as going too fast affects judgment. During practice, use reference points like the extended line of the parking space corner to repeatedly adjust your steering rhythm for improvement.
