Will points be deducted for the car body sweeping the line in an S-curve?
5 Answers
Sweeping the line with the car body in an S-curve does not result in point deduction. Below are the precautions and techniques for entering a curve when driving: Precautions for turning a car: Do not make sharp turns when the engine is near the turning point. When the bumper aligns with the protrusion, quickly turn the steering wheel to the left or right to the limit position. Do not press the accelerator pedal. Observe whether you can pass ahead. If you are unsure or uncertain about the angle at the corner, you can stop and check in advance. Always pay attention to the movement of the body and changes in the steering wheel position. Techniques for entering an S-curve: When the vehicle approaches the entrance of the curve, it should be placed in the middle of the road. When entering the curve, the vehicle should stay as close as possible to the straight line on the right side. When the gap on the left side of the car's hood aligns with the right yellow line, steer to the left. When making the first right turn in the curve, steer to the right. Before entering the S-curve, do not look at the arrows on the ground. Position the entire car body in the middle of the S-curve, then proceed straight in.
Back when I was taking the driving test, the S-curve was my biggest fear. The instructor kept nagging that the car body must never touch the line. During the test, if you even graze the edge line, you’ll instantly lose 100 points and fail. The key to mastering the S-curve lies in controlling the rearview mirrors and the position of the car’s front end, keeping the body as close to the outer side of the curve as possible. Many trainees touch the line because they turn the steering wheel too abruptly or fail to maintain a steady speed. During my test, I passed by keeping the speed extremely slow throughout. Remember to steer in advance: when the left front of the car is about to touch the right line, turn left; when the right front feels like it’s grazing the left line, turn right. With these small adjustments back and forth, you’ll stay steady.
During my driving test preparation, the instructor emphasized training us on the S-curve technique, as brushing the line with the car body would result in an immediate failure. At the test site, I saw many trainees fail due to their car's rear brushing the line, especially when exiting the curve where it's easiest to let one's guard down. Actually, keeping the front one-third of the car pressed against the edge line and maintaining about half a meter between the car tires and the edge line in the rearview mirror ensures safety. It's crucial to adjust the seating position in the test car properly; otherwise, it can affect your judgment of the car's position. Last time, while accompanying a friend during practice, I noticed she kept brushing the line—it turned out the rearview mirror angle wasn't adjusted correctly, leading to a large blind spot.
Over the years as a driving instructor, failing the S-curve due to touching the line has been one of the top three reasons students fail the test. If any part of the vehicle touches the edge line, it's an automatic 100-point deduction—no exceptions. The challenge lies in simultaneously monitoring both the front of the car and the side mirrors. For beginners, I recommend slightly leaning out to observe the changing gap between the car body and the edge line. Avoid turning the steering wheel all the way; instead, make small, half-turn adjustments for better control. Most importantly, maintain a steady speed by properly managing the clutch. Many students lose control of their speed and end up oversteering, which leads to touching the line.
Examiner's Perspective: The most common issue observed during daily invigilation is the rear of the car sweeping the line in the S-curve, which is uniformly treated as pressing the line and results in a full score deduction. Interestingly, front wheel pressing the line or the front of the car sweeping the line rarely leads to point deductions, but any contact with the line by the car body at the rearview mirror position guarantees a fail. It is recommended to focus on the rear wheel trajectory when turning, and to steer the wheel early rather than late. During the actual test, if you feel the wheels are too close to the line, it's better to sacrifice some time to stop and adjust the direction slightly rather than take the risk. Remember that the front corners of the test car are longer than those of the practice car, so you need to readjust your alignment position.
