Reverse around a corner-any tips?

SMM

Hi,

I have my driving test scheduled for the 22nd of January. I've been driving about a year and a half so I'm pretty confident with almost everything, however the technique of the reverse around the corner is causing a bit of trouble. I can't seem to get the timing of the steering right-does anyone have any tips to make it a little easier? Any advice would be great. thanks

Alanstrainor

SMM wrote: »

Hi,

I have my driving test scheduled for the 22nd of January. I've been driving about a year and a half so I'm pretty confident with almost everything, however the technique of the reverse around the corner is causing a bit of trouble. I can't seem to get the timing of the steering right-does anyone have any tips to make it a little easier? Any advice would be great. thanks

I'm not too sure what you mean about the timing, but the best advice i got for this maneuver was to try to only have two movements of the steering wheel, one smooth turn to make it around the corner and one smooth turn of the wheel to straighten up. If you're wondering when to start turning the wheel i would, once starting to reverse be looking out the back window and checking the left wing mirror, and when you see the curb coming up begin turning.
Alan.

WUSBDesign

Assuming you are referring to a reverse-round-a-corner-on-the-left, do you not look at the kerb via the left wing mirror during the reversing? Halfords sells those 2" blindspot (convex round) mirrors which you can attach to the wing mirrors to get a better view of the kerb...

paulksnn

The only way to figure out reversing around a corner is practice.

You need to learn where a normal footpath disappears from your back window.
Different footpaths have different heights and will appear in different places on the back window, but you should be able to work out an everage.

After that, is is just practice that you need. Corners aren't all perfect and you'll just have to learn to change how much steering you do depending on where the car is in the back window, and, as the others say, where the footpath is in the mirror.

A word of warning though. Not all cars have electric mirrors(most do, I know) but if there's no electrics, you main reference will be out the back window.

A-Trak

Is it ok to move the wing mirror down to get a better view of the kerb and then move it back to "regular," position after the maneuver?

j1979p

Can you do this particular maneouvre as slow as you would like (being reasonable) or is there a speed you should complete it with? Should you be doing it in one complete fluid movement?

Hagar

The trick I was taught was to look at the back windscreen and pick a spot on it, say a mark or corner of a sticker etc, that intersects your view of the kerb. Then just drive that spot along the kerb following it around the corner, the rest of the car follows all on it's own.

RAFC

SMM wrote: »

Hi,

I have my driving test scheduled for the 22nd of January. I've been driving about a year and a half so I'm pretty confident with almost everything, however the technique of the reverse around the corner is causing a bit of trouble. I can't seem to get the timing of the steering right-does anyone have any tips to make it a little easier? Any advice would be great. thanks

Good luck with the test, I did mine in November and passed. Best advice I was given was to go out with a retired tester - the advice (and confidence) he gave me was fantastic Best of luck

WUSBDesign

Safety is TOP concern, so handling this manoeuvre slowly is fine, pausing where required. My ADI constantly reminds me to look all over for any road-user - especially rear and right since there is a tendency for other drivers to pass over, in which case I *must* stop the car and pause. Otherwise, it gets marked as a serious fault.

Feelgood

I got savage tips on this from my instructor and this method works on every corner imaginable, you probably know the majority of this already but anyhow!.

1. Drive about 1.5 times your cars length pass the corner you wish to turn, stopping the car about the car doors width, parallel from the kerb.

2. Ensure your steering wheel is returned to the straight position. On the majority of cars your steering wheel will have a bit sticking down towards your lap. Think of it as a clock, the bit sticking down is pointing to 6 O'Clock.

3. Check mirrors, look over shoulders and start your reverse slowly. Now this is the trick, you need to look through the small triangular fly window on the back door of your car. The minute you see the curve in the fly window this is when you start to turn...

4. Move the arm on the steering wheel thats pointing to 6 O'Clock the whole way around to 3 O'Clock and the car will turn the corner perfect each time. When you are on the curve always check to your left / right for oncoming traffic etc and mirrors mirrors mirrors!!.

5. Once you are safely around the corner start turning the steering wheel back to the 6 O'clock position slowly and just reverse back straight and your done!. You should be around a doors width from the kerb...

Obviously depending on the corner you are taking you might have to turn the steering wheel to 9 O'clock etc. You can obviously make small adjustments on the turn depending on how the car goes...but remember using the triangular fly window as an indication on when to turn....

Hope this helps.:)

How Strange

Best advice I can give is to do some reverse parallel parking. I know its different because reverse parking you can use your wing mirror and reversing around the corner you have to use your back window (although I think you can use your wing mirror as well as back window) but it gets you used to controlling the car in reverse.

There is nothing like reversing into a tight space with cars behind you to focus the mind.

When reversing into a space if done properly it only takes one full turn of the wheel left until the back wheel is at an angle with the kerb and then lock the steering wheel to the right to straighten up. Always take it slowly. If you can parallel park then you will find the reverse around the corner alot easier as you will know to reverse very slowly and maintain control of your steering.

MySelf56

It might help you...
http://www.2pass.co.uk/reverse.htm

SMM

Thanks so much for the great advice. I'll give it a go this evening. Thanks a mill

Saint_Mel

And in case it hasn't been mentioned enough already ...
Observation, observation and more observation.

The way I was thought was to reverse slowly until the kerb disappears from
your wing mirror and then begin the turn, manoeuvring as slow as needed.
Keep checking your mirrors and over your shoulder.

Even if you dont get it perfect, the tester wants you to show that you are
performing the reverse as safely as possible.

I was also told in my lessons if a car is coming behind you or looks to be
making a turn in, you should pause the manoeuvre until they have passed.

Other than that, all I can say is keep practicing. If there is an estate nearby
that will be quiet during the afternoon, take 30mins off work, or a late lunch
and head out there to practice.

Red Alert

As far as I'm aware it is a grade 3 if you are marked down for hitting the kerb as it's seen as an obstruction that mightn't necessairly be the kerb!

gazzer

I have my test on Tuesday (second time). I am pretty confidant on all aspects of the test but the reverse around corner is my achilles heel. Im just going to practice, practice, practice today and tomorrow and use some tips that I got from here.

I got a grade 2 for it last time.

ZorbaTehZ

Hagar wrote: »

The trick I was taught was to look at the back windscreen and pick a spot on it, say a mark or corner of a sticker etc, that intersects your view of the kerb. Then just drive that spot along the kerb following it around the corner, the rest of the car follows all on it's own.

Ye, my instructor gave me this advice as well, really very useful.

Red Alert wrote: »

As far as I'm aware it is a grade 3 if you are marked down for hitting the kerb as it's seen as an obstruction that mightn't necessairly be the kerb!

It's a grade 2.

ztoical

Red Alert wrote: »

As far as I'm aware it is a grade 3 if you are marked down for hitting the kerb as it's seen as an obstruction that mightn't necessairly be the kerb!

Its a grade 2 if you hit the kerb and a grade 3 if you go up on it.

I was really worried about the reverse around the corner during my test as even thou i'd driving for nearly 10 months its not something you do on a daily basis. I just went out the week of the test and drove around as many corner as I could. Your driving instructor should know what ones they usually use for the test so try and go round those if you can.

You should try and do it in one smooth motion but depending what road they pick you could have alot of traffic coming at you and you have to stop if there is. I got a very busy spot for mine

and there was loads of cars but I made sure to wait even thou we were sitting there for over 10mins and when I did start moving a car came so I stopped and then when I finally got around the corner there was a car coming towards me so I stopped again. I thought the car would go around me but they didn't so I had to pull out go back around and went to start the reverse again but the tester said I had demonstarted everything he needed to see - I got no X's for it.

tolosenc

It strikes me as a particularly dangerous manoeuvre, actually.

I'm probably just saying that because it's, should I fail, the most likely place where I'll pick up 'X's.

It'll always be to the left, and around a convex bend, won't it?

Wishbone Ash

obl wrote: »

It'll always be to the left, and around a convex bend, won't it?

Always on the nearside in category B (but may be either or both sides for some other categories).

It's also on a bend rather than a corner.

Glenman

Reversing into a side road......During my test the tester asked me to pull in just before the side-road and explained that he wanted me to stop after the side-road and reverse into it. This was new to me but thankfully I remembered to follow the right procedure when pulling out again and for pulling in past the side-road.
I didn't read the other posts but here is what I did.
I set the left wing mirror so that I could see the kerb. I put the car into reverse and gave a good look over both shoulders and into the rear view mirror before taking off. I didn't use any accelerator and the clutch was at the biting point while doing the maneuver. Therefore I was reversing at snails pace while keeping close to the kerb checking my left wing mirror and also looking behind me. Half way round the bend I almost came to a complete stop and checked my blind-spot. The car was a little too far away from the kerb when I finished the bend but I slowly took her back in and continued reversing until he told me to stop. Remember to STOP if there is a car coming from behind. I then followed the usual procedure while pulling off. I got full marks for this

tolosenc

If your indicator clicks off during the manoeuvre, do you restart it, or just leave it?

Alanstrainor

obl wrote: »

If your indicator clicks off during the manoeuvre, do you restart it, or just leave it?

I'm not 100% sure about this, but i was told not to indicate around corners, when reversing, as it was confusing for other drivers. I didn't indicate during my test and i didn't get any marks against me on that maneuver. Maybe someone who knows for sure can clarify?

Congoose

Glenman wrote: »

During my test the tester asked me to pull in just before the side-road and explained that he wanted me to stop after the side-road and reverse into it.

This is how it was in my test as well. I was told first to pull in before the side road. Then move out, drive past the side road and pull in again to begin the reversing.

A good tip I got is that when you're passing the side road, take a quick look down it to see if there's any traffic coming or any parked cars or other obstructions that might be in your way when you reverse.

Jrad

A-Trak wrote: »

Is it ok to move the wing mirror down to get a better view of the kerb and then move it back to "regular," position after the maneuver?

Of course not!!! Is it ok to get out of the car and start running along side the passenger side making faces at the tester during the test????

Glenman

Alanstrainor wrote: »

I'm not 100% sure about this, but i was told not to indicate around corners, when reversing, as it was confusing for other drivers. I didn't indicate during my test and i didn't get any marks against me on that maneuver. Maybe someone who knows for sure can clarify?

My driving instructor told me not to indicate when doing the reverse and as I said I got full marks for it in my test

tolosenc

SMM wrote: »

I have my driving test scheduled for the 22nd of January.

How'd it go?

tolosenc

Jrad wrote: »

Of course not!!!

My instructor said it was fine to do that.
Practice without doing it, do it on the day, AND BE SURE TO CHANGE IT BACK!!!

Gusc

j1979p wrote: »

Can you do this particular maneouvre as slow as you would like (being reasonable) or is there a speed you should complete it with? Should you be doing it in one complete fluid movement?

There is no time frame with this manouvre.If you go to fast you will make mistakes.Do it at a slow speed. Should be done with fluid movement stopping briefly in a position where you can clearly see if there are any oncoming traffic

ADIDriving

Gusc wrote: »

There is no time frame with this manouvre.If you go to fast you will make mistakes.Do it at a slow speed. Should be done with fluid movement stopping briefly in a position where you can clearly see if there are any oncoming traffic

Gusc. The dark blue bar at the top of that post shows when it was made. This being almost three years ago, I hope they have figured that out by now. That said, they probably would have appreciated the good advice at the time.

Alanstrainor

As said. This thread is almost 3 years old at this stage. Please don't drag up old threads.
Thanks,

Closed.