Will points be deducted for pressing the left dotted line after parallel parking?
4 Answers
Points will be deducted for pressing the left dotted line after parallel parking. During parallel parking, it is permissible to press the left dotted line before the vehicle is properly parked, but not after the parking is completed. Below are some tips for the parallel parking test in Subject 2 of the driving exam: 1. Starting: After getting into the car, first adjust the seat and fasten the seatbelt, which is a must for every test. Adjust both side mirrors so that one-quarter of the car body is visible in the inner part of the mirrors. 2. Positioning the car: Start with the clutch partially engaged, and if confident, you can appropriately apply the accelerator. Follow the principle of 'press, shift, turn, honk, and look' when starting, and park the car parallel to the parking space at a distance of 30-50 cm, with the rear of the car passing the frontmost pole. 3. Reversing: Shift into reverse gear, start with the clutch partially engaged, and control the speed. Turn your body to the right and look at the lower rear corner of the right door window. When the first pole appears, quickly turn the steering wheel to the right all the way while moving slowly. Then look at the left rearview mirror. When the second pole (diagonal to the first pole) appears, stabilize the speed and quickly turn the wheel two turns to the left. While turning the wheel back, start looking at the right rearview mirror to check its position. When the base of the rearview mirror passes the first pole, quickly turn the steering wheel all the way to the left. (Note: After identifying each turning point and starting to turn, immediately look for the next one.) Look at the front of the car and stop when the car body is straight. If the front wheels need to be straightened, quickly straighten them when the car body is almost straight. 4. Exiting the parking space: Shift into first gear, turn on the left turn signal, honk, and start slowly with the clutch partially engaged. Quickly turn the steering wheel to the left when starting, and when the front right corner of the car passes the pole, quickly turn the wheel two turns to the right. After the third turn, adjust the steering based on the distance to the right pole and the speed of turning. Look straight ahead, and when the front of the car is almost straight, straighten the front wheels to drive straight.
After driving for so many years, I've seen many people ask this during their driving tests. Generally, touching the left dashed line during parallel parking doesn’t result in penalty points, as dashed lines are auxiliary or temporary dividing lines. The test mainly checks whether the wheels touch the solid curb line or if the vehicle exceeds the parking space boundaries. As long as the car is parked straight and at an appropriate distance from the curb, it’s usually fine. However, test rules may vary by region—differences between cities are minor, but it’s safest to familiarize yourself with the test site beforehand. During practice, use reference points to position the car accurately and avoid touching any lines to develop good habits.
When I first got my driver's license, I was particularly nervous about hitting the lines while learning parallel parking. The instructor told me that crossing dashed lines wouldn't result in point deductions, but the key was not to touch solid lines, especially the curb line, which is a strict standard. During the test, they check whether the entire vehicle is parked steadily within the designated area, so after parking, you need to ensure the car body is parallel to the curb. A common mistake beginners make is having the rear wheels cross the solid line. Regular practice with more attention to rearview mirrors and blind spots will help you master it quickly.
When instructing students during driving practice, I always emphasize that touching the left dashed line is not a penalty point. The exam rules focus on whether the wheels cross the solid roadside line or parking space boundary lines, while dashed lines are merely auxiliary. After parking, ensuring the vehicle does not exceed the boundaries meets the standard. For practice, I recommend repeatedly simulating the test environment, memorizing reference points and positions, as developing safety awareness is far more important than just focusing on the lines. Young learners should firmly remember these points to pass the test more easily.
