Will points be deducted if the distances on both sides are uneven during the reverse parking in Subject 2?
3 Answers
No points will be deducted as long as the car body does not touch the lines. Learning reverse parking in C1 Subject 2 is one of the biggest challenges for many driving test candidates. If the left rear of the car touches the line after reversing into the parking space, one possible reason is that the car was not straightened before entering the space, and the steering wheel was turned back too late. Another reason could be that the reference point was observed too late, causing the car to be off-center when parking. There are two types of reverse parking: left-side parking and right-side parking. When reversing into the space, observe the rearview mirror to compare the distance between the rear of the car and the corner of the parking space at the entrance control line. Generally, a foot-length distance is just right to turn the steering wheel back. Adjust the distance between the car body and the side line by moving forward or backward while ensuring a slow and steady speed without stopping midway. If the distances on both sides are uneven during practice or the test, pay attention to the following corrections: If the steering wheel is turned too late when starting to reverse to the right, the reference point or control line might be observed too late. For example, many instructors teach aligning the lower edge of the rearview mirror with the control line. If the left side is consistently narrower after reversing to the right, it means the alignment with the control line was too late. Next time, start turning the steering wheel slightly earlier, such as when the rearview mirror is about to touch the control line. If there is no issue with the reference point but the car speed is too fast when reversing to the right, the car may deviate from the center of the parking space when straightening. If you struggle with clutch control and cannot manage the speed well, start turning the steering wheel earlier. Conversely, if the speed is too slow, turning the steering wheel faster can help correct the issue. If there is no issue with the reference point but the seat position is too far forward or backward, or if the driver is too tall or short, it may affect the parking. Adjust the seat position consistently. For example, after adjusting the seat, stretch your arms to check the space—the wrist should rest on the dashboard. Taller or shorter learners can refer to the first tip about observing the control line to adjust the timing of steering. In summary, the timing and position of the starting control line affect the car’s center line when parking. Remember these two rules: If entering from the left, turn the steering wheel to the left earlier. If the left side is narrow, delay turning left. If entering from the right, delay turning right. If the left side is narrow, turn right earlier.
Having been a driving instructor for so many years, I often remind my students that the distance on both sides must be even when reversing into the parking space, as the Subject 2 test is very strict. If the left and right gaps are too uneven, it's easy to lose points. The standard is that the car body must be centered within the space and must not touch any boundary lines, otherwise it will be directly considered a fail. In reality, if one side of the wheel is too close to the yellow line or a few centimeters too far, the examiner will judge that the car body is out of bounds and deduct 100 points. This is not just a test requirement; practicing even parking can help avoid accidents like scratches when driving in the future. I suggest using the rearview mirror more often to observe the distance while learning to drive, finding a fixed reference point to align with, and slowly adjusting the steering to fine-tune the position. Practice a few more times to develop the habit of parking steadily in the center, and the test will become much easier.
I failed the second driving test once because the right side was much narrower than the left when reversing into the parking space, causing the wheel to press the line and resulting in a full-point deduction and failure. Looking back, I deeply regret not paying attention to centering adjustments during practice, often misaligning the steering, which led to the car body tilting to one side. Uneven distances definitely affect test scoring, as parking must be perfectly straight with symmetrical spacing on both sides for safety. Later, I intensified my practice, using the steering wheel to control angles and aligning reference points with the yellow lines in the mirrors to correct my movements. Now, parking comes naturally, and I realize maintaining a calm mindset is crucial—during the test, it's essential to operate step by step without rushing.
