Reversing around the Corner
The reason you need to perform a left reverse is so that you can turn the car around, if a three point turn is not possible. Using a side road, you will need to:
- reverse up to the start of the side road, your point of turn.
- check for traffic, and stop if you are going to intefere with that traffic.
- steer into the side road.
- straighten the wheels.
- carry on reversing into the side road for 4 or 5 car lengths, so that you are out of the way.
Step 1. Point of Turn.
To find the best place to begin steering, get your nearside rear wheel next to the start of the first curved kerbstone. You could use your rear passenger window, or your nearside mirror.
Step 2. Safety Checks.
Check all around for traffic, pedestrians, cyclists. If you see a car, consider whether they would want you to continue, or wait for a moment longer, until they have passed.
Step 3. Steer into the road.
How much should you steer?
Well, to answer this, consider how much you steer when you drive forwards around a corner. You probably don't know, or have only a vague idea. So how do you know how much to steer when you drive around a corner? If you're like me, then you probably just aim at something, i.e. the 'car sized' space on the left side of the road.
Keep it slow (the same speed at an old lady, with a limp, and a zimmer frame) and you should have time to make the corrections you need.
Step 4. Straightening the wheels.
How do you know when to straighten the wheels?
How do you know when to straighten the wheels when you drive forwards? If you know the answer to this question, then just do the same thing when reversing backwards. My answer is to aim at the 'car sized' space just around the corner.
Try looking 20 metres down the road, just after the corner. The kerb will return to the middle of the back window, and that's when you should straighten the wheels.
Watch a left reverse here
Step 5. Reverse further.
To prove to the examiner that you can also reverse in a straight line, you will need to reverse further still, about 4 or 5 cars lengths, into the new road. Keep it slow at this point, and stay in control.
Bye for now...
How to sit when you reverse
This is an important point, not to be overlooked.
Your ability to be able to judge the left reverse depends on where you are looking. Make sure that you are sitting in a position so that you can look through the back window easily.
Don't be lazy. If it makes your neck hurt, sit round in your seat some more, and consider moving your left shoulder into the chair. Reversing isn't supposed to be comfortable, that's why we don't do it for longer than necessary.
It's a simple point, but an important one:
Look EXACTLY where you are going!
If you want some more driving test info, check my website at:charltondriving.com
If you need to email me about anything driving related then please do. Please do not cancel lessons via email though, as I may not receive the notification in time. neil@charltondriving.com
For further information still, this is a great website: smartdriving.co.uk