Reversal around corner: conflicting methods?

Hmm_Messiah

I got a few pretest lessons off another instuctor, to get use to driving with a stranger marking me etc - all good except one query

The thing is he does the reversal around a corner much different than my other instructor

his way is easier but I wondered if it was right (yea I know he has much more experience than me, just the advise opposite things and test is close)

my instructor: adjust mirror and maintain the same (close) distance to the kerb all the way around , steering to the left etc when you get to the corner using the back window , mirrors etc

new chap : reversing until you see the corner split the left back window, then steer, then straighten up as you see the kerb again coming to a position so the kerb splits the back window ( in my case where the rear wiper starts

thing is with his you go (or it seems to me) very far off the kerb, almost to the centre of the road you are turning into , and then correcting .

I have the observation down etc but maybe both ways are ok , but test in 3 days so dunno

essential one follows the curve the same distance all time, one loses the kerb a good bit at the turn and them moves back a good bit to the left, if I am describing it sufficiently ?

Hagar

Try picking a point on your back window say a sticker or something on the rear parcel shelf before you start to reverse. Note it's position relative to the edge of the kerb, then drive the point around the kerb keeping it's position relative to the kerb.

jordainius

Hmm_Messiah wrote: »

thing is with his you go (or it seems to me) very far off the kerb, almost to the centre of the road you are turning into , and then correcting .

My instructor told me that I had to stay an equal distance from the kerb at all times. He left me under the impression that straying too far away from the kerb would lead to me failing the maneuver. Also, going to the centre of the road almost sounds unsafe?

I'd imagine that you're supposed to reverse around the corner the same way you'd go forward around the corner. Ignore new chap!

draward

Hagar is right do this and you will be fine my wife,son and i done it and passed:o:o

brian076

Whichever method you use really depends on the type of car you have for the test. A lot of hatchbacks are easy to reverse in as you can clearly see the kerb out of the back window, but if you have a saloon it may not be as easy.

If your car is a hatchback the best method is to look out the rear window before you start your manoeuvre and see where the kerb comes to. This is the point where you want to bring the kerb back to when you get around the corner.

As you reverse back, the corner should begin to disappear from view and as soon as you can no longer see it, you should turn your wheel, generally a half turn. At this point it's essential that you stop briefly and look over your right shoulder to ensure that you are not going to get in anyones way.

As you start the manoeuvre again you'll probably need to turn the wheel some more, but this depends on the type of corner. You should try to get the kerb back into view in the corner of the back window, and as you get fully into the road bring the kerb back to the point where it was when you started. Keep looking behind you and take an occassional glance to the right.

If you're using a saloon or if your view out of the back window is restricted, you may have to use the left door mirror to assist you in keeping the car close to the kerb, but be careful that you don't keep looking in this mirror as you'll be marked for observation if you don't look behind and to the right.
It's not acceptable to be out in the middle of the road when doing this manoeuvre, the tester will say to you at the start that you should keep "reasonably close to the kerb", which is about 2ft the whole way around.

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

bk1991

i done my test last year pased first time at 17 years old :Di used the mirrors when reverseing around the corner i havd to do a 2 corner corner like one then another more of triangle than corner main thing is know the corners and prectise prastice stay at it till u get it theres no right way of doing it once u stay resonable near it at all times and when he/she stops u u should be roughly foot out from kerb

Hmm_Messiah

did it - no problem with it except he said he would tell me to stop but we were then maye half metre from a cark parked on same side so I told him I was stopping .

no marks

I used the mirrosr and a combo of the placing the kerb in the back and left side window. can't entirely depend on the place it in window method as som coprners on the routes are very gradual and you end up a good distance away at the corner itself before rightly up. some testers (am told) want it closer


oh and a woman stood int he centre of the road waitign for me to complete it so she could cross. I looked at her endlessly she would not move, was deciding should I return to start but just proceeded with now constant movement of eyes form the rear to this woman standing beside my car !

The road he picked for the turnabout i could almost do as a u-turn after all my practise .