test - reversing round the corner

Washout

Hi,

Are you allowed to take off your seatbelt for the reverse around the corner.

Can you have one hand on the steering wheel?

Do you need to use your handbrake and go to neutral if for example there is a car approaching and you have to wait for it to pass to perform the manovere?

This is the manovere I dread the most.

also is the emergency stop part of the test?

got my test date today for August the 8th and booked 10 pre lessons to give me a better chance of passing. but kept them all really close to the date.

The only way i can practice this is with an instructor as I dont really have anyone over the 2 year full driving licence rule.

Alanstrainor

Are you allowed to take off your seatbelt for the reverse around the corner

Yes you are, however i would not recommend doing it as if you forget to put it back on after the completing the Manoeuvre it'll be a straight fail.

Can you have one hand on the steering wheel?

I'm pretty sure you can, but i'm not 100%, i would ask your instructor for advise on that one.

Do you need to use your handbrake and go to neutral if for example there is a car approaching and you have to wait for it to pass to perform the manovere?

I wouldn't as the car passing you would do so quickly, putting the handbrake on and putting the car into neutral would be unecessary.

also is the emergency stop part of the test?

No.

TwoShedsJackson

Keep both hands on the wheel if you can, if you do take one, presumably the left, off the wheel, where are you going to put it that will make the manoeuvre easier or improve control of the car?

Steve_o

I don't think you can take your seat belt off tbh, why would you want to anyway?? Make sure to look all around you before you engage in the manoever and stop half way around the bend to look all around again before completing the manoever.

Washout

Steve_o wrote: »

I don't think you can take your seat belt off tbh, why would you want to anyway?? Make sure to look all around you before you engage in the manoever and stop half way around the bend to look all around again before completing the manoever.

i was reading one of these UK based driving books and it menioned you amy remove one hand and seat belt to make it easier for you.

why i find it difficult with two hands ont he steering wheel is because it is difficult to twist head so your looking directly out the window as i think your supposed to do. my head turns as far as looking at the left hand roof support of my hatchback.

SheroN

1. dip your left hand mirror down a bit so you can see the kerb in it.
2. look over your shoulder and check your mirrors.
3. Begin slowly to reverse constantly checking your mirrors. (but not too slow)
4. before turning the corner (stop and observe all round you).
5. take the corner pretty wide (it's a lot easier to steer the car back in and you don't want to hit the kerb)
6. bring the car closer to the kerb and straighten it up.
7. make sure you don't stop too close to the corner.
8. Keep both hands on the steering wheel and use your left hand mirror the whole way around to guide you.

Cabaal

SheroN wrote: »

1. dip your left hand mirror down a bit so you can see the kerb in it.

ah won't you fail for doing this during the test?
as you should have your mirrors correct before you start driving and not all cars have the ability to adjust using remote control

SheroN

Cabaal wrote: »

ah won't you fail for doing this during the test?
as you should have your mirrors correct before you start driving and not all cars have the ability to adjust using remote control

Yea I meant to have this done before the test :-)

Snakeblood

Cabaal wrote: »

ah won't you fail for doing this during the test?
as you should have your mirrors correct before you start driving and not all cars have the ability to adjust using remote control

I was talking to an instructor about that during a pretest, and he said that you were allowed to do it, but for preference, you shouldn't, because you might forget to adjust them back up after completing the manouevre.

Washout

Snakeblood wrote: »

I was talking to an instructor about that during a pretest, and he said that you were allowed to do it, but for preference, you shouldn't, because you might forget to adjust them back up after completing the manouevre.

plus if you have to slide across to manually adjust as i would it would look real bad.

Hanley

I'll just throw in, don't forget you're allowed to go up to 18 inches wide of the corner. I did all my practicing my reverse around corners trying to stay within 6 inches. Did a lesson today and my instructor basically asked WTF I was doing....

I was so happy to hear you could take it wide. Makes it so much easier!!!

Alanstrainor

Steve_o wrote: »

I don't think you can take your seat belt off tbh, why would you want to anyway?? Make sure to look all around you before you engage in the manoever and stop half way around the bend to look all around again before completing the manoever.

You are allowed to, i believe it's because, if you are shorter you may find it difficult to see out the back window without turning your body. But if you can do it without taking off your belt, you should.

sonicthebadger*

Move a couple of those lessons to sooner rather than later too, no harm in knowing what you should be practicing for a month before the test instead of two weeks. It'll give you longer to make good driving a habit instead of trying to focus on all the new things you recently learned when your date arrives.

I got lessons from day one on the motorbike and my instructor actually cut short the 2 hour pre test I had booked because he said I didn't need it. Only charged me for the time I had actually used too. Sound guy. Because I got lessons from the get go I had time to drill in to myself the good behaviour and then didn't need to think about it during the actual test.

snowy2008

my test is on saturday, hope the tester doesnt pull a sickie again! does anyone know if the sgs centre- im doing mine in tallaght have a higher pass rate? this is my third time doing it so hope its third time lucky!

Alanstrainor

teresa2008 wrote: »

my test is on saturday, hope the tester doesnt pull a sickie again! does anyone know if the sgs centre- im doing mine in tallaght have a higher pass rate? this is my third time doing it so hope its third time lucky!

A bit off topic, but, you shouldn't be thinking, "oh if this centre has a higher pass rate then i'll be fine", when it comes down to it, it all depends on how you drive on the day, not how "nice" the tester is. Just have confidence in your own ability and go for it, forget about all this luck of the draw business and just try your best, Good luck now!

seamus

Snakeblood wrote: »

I was talking to an instructor about that during a pretest, and he said that you were allowed to do it, but for preference, you shouldn't, because you might forget to adjust them back up after completing the manouevre.

It should be possible to adjust your mirror in such a way that you can see the top of the kerb relative to the rear of your vehicle while still maintaining a sufficient view rearwards.

So many people use their side mirrors incorrectly - there's no point in having the mirrors pointing at your car or at the sky - what are you looking for? If the side of your vehicle occupies more than one-fifth of the view in a wing mirror, your mirror is badly adjusted. Likewise if you can see more sky than road, your mirror is wrong.

It's not recommended to remove your belt or your hands from the wheel when reversing in the test. Mainly because it increases the chances of you screwing up by not looking around properly and forgetting to put your belt back on. Get out of the habit of turning around and leaning on the passenger seat - I still reverse with both hands on the wheel.

snowy2008

thanks its gas, i went to a psychic over the weekend and he said the test is imminent and you'll pass it, but just practise the reversing, fingers crossed, i just hate reversing anywhere anytime

Snakeblood

seamus wrote: »

It should be possible to adjust your mirror in such a way that you can see the top of the kerb relative to the rear of your vehicle while still maintaining a sufficient view rearwards.

So many people use their side mirrors incorrectly - there's no point in having the mirrors pointing at your car or at the sky - what are you looking for? If the side of your vehicle occupies more than one-fifth of the view in a wing mirror, your mirror is badly adjusted. Likewise if you can see more sky than road, your mirror is wrong.

I hadn't really considered that about the mirrors, but yeah, that sounds dead right. I'll have a go tonight at adjusting them correctly.

Hanley

seamus wrote: »

It should be possible to adjust your mirror in such a way that you can see the top of the kerb relative to the rear of your vehicle while still maintaining a sufficient view rearwards.

Is that not how everyone sets them up??

I assumed that was the correct way to have them since it made the most sense!! No point having your side mirrors set high so you can see 2 miles back up the road. Sure isn't that what the centre mirror's for?

Snakeblood

Hanley wrote: »

Is that not how everyone sets them up??

I assumed that was the correct way to have them since it made the most sense!! No point having your side mirrors set high so you can see 2 miles back up the road. Sure isn't that what the centre mirror's for?

Well, it's obvious *now*. :-) I hadn't done any reversing of note previously, so it had never raised itself as an issue.

sonicthebadger*

Hanley wrote: »

Is that not how everyone sets them up??

I assumed that was the correct way to have them since it made the most sense!! No point having your side mirrors set high so you can see 2 miles back up the road. Sure isn't that what the centre mirror's for?

Your side mirrors are also for seeing what is passing close to you if you need to change direction, usually (but not always) motor vehicles on the right and cyclists on the left. Having them adjusted for rear view is essential if you plan on driving in an urban environment or overtaking safely. Your centre mirror leaves you with gigantic blind spots over each shoulder, hence use both mirrors before a change of direction.

Mr. Presentable

OP. Seatbelt on. Both hands on the wheel. You can turn down the left mirror a little so as to see the top of the kerb. Good luck.

Washout

found a video on the topic from a uk website.

http://www.2pass.co.uk/reverseleft.htm

when a car is approaching from the right as he is turning round the corner he secures the car using th handbrake until the car has passed.

would this be a requirement for the test? or is it just something differant they do in the UK

seamus

Washout wrote: »

when a car is approaching from the right as he is turning round the corner he secures the car using th handbrake until the car has passed.

The logic here I guess is that if a car came from behind you and ran into the back of you, the handbrake would prevent you being pushed into the path of the car coming from the right.

I never used my handbrake in the reverse, so it's definitely not required. Personal choice I guess.

Steve_o

SheroN wrote: »

5. take the corner pretty wide (it's a lot easier to steer the car back in and you don't want to hit the kerb)

This is not correct, you must maintain roughly the same distance from the kerb from start to finish the whole way around, taking the corner wide is dangerous anyhow.

adrian522

seamus wrote: »

The logic here I guess is that if a car came from behind you and ran into the back of you, the handbrake would prevent you being pushed into the path of the car coming from the right.

I never used my handbrake in the reverse, so it's definitely not required. Personal choice I guess.

I guess if you were on a slight hill you would use the handbrake when you stop to check up and down the road as you are turning into the corner.....no need if you are on a flat road.

snickerpuss

Cabaal wrote: »

ah won't you fail for doing this during the test?
as you should have your mirrors correct before you start driving and not all cars have the ability to adjust using remote control

I adjusted my mirrors during the test, it's perfectly normal. He moved it for me and that it was it. (No remote controls in my car!)
I put it back after the manoeuvre and it was grand. Why would it be a fail?

Snakeblood

snickerpuss wrote: »

I adjusted my mirrors during the test, it's perfectly normal. He moved it for me and that it was it. (No remote controls in my car!)
I put it back after the manoeuvre and it was grand. Why would it be a fail?

If anything, it shows confidence and adaptibility to changing circumstances.

As long as you put 'em back.;)

snowy2008

I did a pretest lesson yesterday, she wouldnt let me use the side mirror! i was supposed to steer with my eyes, had to cut the lesson short before i literally flipped, needless to say i wont be going with her again, nut job

Steve_o

teresa2008 wrote: »

I did a pretest lesson yesterday, she wouldnt let me use the side mirror! i was supposed to steer with my eyes, had to cut the lesson short before i literally flipped, needless to say i wont be going with her again, nut job

She wouldn't let you use the mirror?? Oh dear... was she certified by the RSA or some cowgirl looking for easy cash??

seamus

teresa2008 wrote: »

I did a pretest lesson yesterday, she wouldnt let me use the side mirror! i was supposed to steer with my eyes, had to cut the lesson short before i literally flipped, needless to say i wont be going with her again, nut job

Some people have good intentions but don't explain them correctly.

It can be a good experience to drive around as if you had no side mirrors. You then are forced to rely on looking around you and over your shoulders.

But if she doesn't tell you why you're not allowed use the side mirrors, then it's a pointless exercise.

snowy2008

she was from a driving school i used to go with , it was a two hour lesson but i cut it short, like seriously, my eyes are not cameras, i dunno what she was playing at, ive got tony on saturday for two hours before my test so hopefully he'll get me going, i'll never go with that school again

xIsabelx

Cabaal wrote: »

ah won't you fail for doing this during the test?
as you should have your mirrors correct before you start driving and not all cars have the ability to adjust using remote control

I adjusted my left wing mirror down a bit and the pre-tester said that was absolutely fine. As long as it's not too low that you can't see the road behind you, you can leave it that way during the whole test.


I was also told not to use the mirrors too much. He didn't say that I couldn't use them at all, but you're supposed to be looking all around you the whole time. Especially when you're turning the corner, because the blind spots are really important at that point and you need to have good observation in case a car pulls up behind you or turns down the road you're doing it on.

darrenoneill33

In the reverse is it an automatic grade 3 fault and fail if you hit the kerb?

Steve_o

darrenoneill33 wrote: »

In the reverse is it an automatic grade 3 fault and fail if you hit the kerb?

As was said earlier there is a difference between hitting and mounting the kerb, but some testers will fail you for an incompetant reverse manoever if you hit the kerb, so my advice, don't hit it.

Alanstrainor

Hitting the Kerb is not and Automatic fail. Mounting the kerb on the otherhand is. Hitting the Kerb could incur a grade 1 or grade 2 fault depending on the severity.

Wishbone Ash

Washout wrote: »

also is the emergency stop part of the test?

Alanstrainor wrote: »

No.

Has it changed? It was part of the test (Category when I did it!

Steve_o wrote: »

I don't think you can take your seat belt off tbh, why would you want to anyway??

There is no legal requirement to wear a seatbelt in a reversing vehicle.


Re mirrors - it is perfectly acceptable to adjust the mirrors during a test. I can't understand why some people think it's unacceptable. Isn't it much safer than not adjusting them?

Re hitting the kerb - no one should really hit the kerb. If you have your mirrors adjusted correctly and are observing what you are doing and observing your progress, you should know if you are going to hit the kerb and can take corrective action. Hitting the kerb just sends out a signal to the examiner that you haven't a clue what's going on.

Hanley

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Has it changed? It was part of the test (Category when I did it! .

I'm screwed on Monday if it is because it's not seomthing I've EVER been told about during my pretests or lessons!!

I do think it's the sorta thing that should be tested tho. It's got more real world significance and applicability than something like a reverse around a corner!

Alanstrainor

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Has it changed? It was part of the test (Category when I did it!

It is not a requirement to do so in the current driving test. Unless of course something happens during the test that requires it!

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

Wishbone Ash

Alanstrainor wrote: »

It is not a requirement to do so in the current driving test. Unless of course something happens during the test that requires it!

donegalfella wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Fair enough - they must have changed it since I did it.

The examiner used to say something like "at some point on this road I will say 'stop now'. I want you to bring the vehicle to a complete stop as quickly and as safely as possible".

Methinks they may have abandoned it in this culture of litigation and bearing in mind that examiners were not legally required to wear seat belts!

It wasn't really an emergency stop anyway as such as you knew it was going to happen in the next few seconds and the examiners used to brace themselves just as they were about to order it.

jenizzle

I have another question about reversing around a corner.

When you start it, and a car is coming up behind you - what exactly do you do?! Stop, and indicate? Keep going with just reverse lights???

Alanstrainor

Stop, and wait for the other driver to move off/pass. No need to turn on the indicator, that could only serve to confuse the other driver.

ChRoMe

Excuse my ignorance but whats the story with having reversing around a corner as part of the test? Im only starting off to learn how to drive but testing on this seems insane, as it must be illegal to do while actually out driving on the road??

Wishbone Ash

ChRoMe wrote: »

testing on this seems insane

The ability to reverse your vehicle safely is an important skill. In a test, it demonstrates that the candidate is aware of everything that is going on around them and that they can maintain complete control of the vehicle using the mirrors, accelerator, clutch, footbrake, parking brake and steering wheel.

Why do you think it's 'insane'?

ChRoMe wrote:

it must be illegal to do while actually out driving on the road??

Why do you think it's illegal?

If it were illegal we would have to abolish all trucks and buses from our roads!

sweetbubbly

jenizzle wrote: »

I have another question about reversing around a corner.

When you start it, and a car is coming up behind you - what exactly do you do?! Stop, and indicate? Keep going with just reverse lights???

If a car comes in any direction as you are reversing around the corner, you should stop and wait for them to pass. If they come up behind you from the road you are reversing into and also going left, hopefully they will realise you are reversing around the corner on your test and will go around you, unfortunately not all drivers will realise this, and can come in behind you and block your way. If this happens, don't panic, calmly put your vehicle into 1st gear and move back around to where you started from but be sure and indicate left to signal to the driver behind you are pulling into the kerb.

Wishbone Ash

A reversing vehicle NEVER has right of way, hence the reason why you must not use indicator lights and must always stop if another vehicle approaches.

J_R

sweetbubbly wrote: »

If a car comes in any direction as you are reversing around the corner, you should stop and wait for them to pass. If they come up behind you from the road you are reversing into and also going left, hopefully they will realise you are reversing around the corner on your test and will go around you, unfortunately not all drivers will realise this, and can come in behind you and block your way. If this happens, don't panic, calmly put your vehicle into 1st gear and move back around to where you started from but be sure and indicate left to signal to the driver behind you are pulling into the kerb.

If a car comes up behind, you stop immediately, if they indicate and pass, fine. That is their lookout, taking a chance by being on the wrong side of the road on a corner. Carry on when they are clear.

If they stay left, which they should, you do your safety checks, indicate RIGHT,, move off, indicate left, go back around corner.

When stopped at side of road, indicating left has come to mean "I'm sitting here, pass me out" to vehicles approaching from rear.

Unless the approaching car driver is observant enough to take note of the reversing light you are in effect telling him "pass me out". Then you do the opposite - move out.