Reverse around a corner?

Max Power1

A quick question about the above, following on from a lesson I had today. How close does the car need to be to the kerb before during and at completion of the reversal? In the test proper do you reverse left or right?

As and aside, Such a futile part of the test IMO as when does one ever reverse around a corner when driving anyway? Its an illegal manouvre most times anyway!

irish_goat

I think this is the standard. It's the only way I've been doing it in lessons anywho.


I kept close to the kerb and ended up parking tight to the kerb on completion (to give plenty of room for another car to pass) .

I assume you're expected to know how to do it in case of emergency or if you get stuck in dangerous traffic i.e if you have to reverse back up a oneway street because of an accident or something.

Permabear

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mooman

My instructor told me to stay within a foot of the kerb. I agree its not a normal thing to be doing but I suppose it shows you have control over the car

Max Power1

Thanks for the replies, that puts my mind a bit at ease. I was led to believe the car should be positioned a few cm from the kerb like when paralel parking! Great news - I had been a bit anxious when I couldnt get any closer than a foot from the kerb.

mooman

Max Power1 wrote: »

Thanks for the replies, that puts my mind a bit at ease. I was led to believe the car should be positioned a few cm from the kerb like when paralel parking! Great news - I had been a bit anxious when I couldnt get any closer than a foot from the kerb.

You have about a foot for parallel parking too............according to my instructor, and he was good

Max Power1

Great! It just gets easier and easier, seems my instructor is being too strict on me!

Another query - how do I get to the test centre in finglas? The map is not very clear - and I amnt very familiar with the area.

RobertM

From the DCU go onto Glasnevin Avenue and then take the 7th right turn, then you will see the test centre on your left somewhere.

If you're going on the N2, take the Finglas Village exit, go onto Seamus Ennis Road and then take a left on Jamestown Road.

Mimikyu

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seamus

Max Power1 wrote: »

As and aside, Such a futile part of the test IMO as when does one ever reverse around a corner when driving anyway? Its an illegal manouvre most times anyway!

The manouver is designed to test these basic elements:

1. Yielding/observation of other traffic.
2. Anticipation/compensation for traffic and road conditions
3. Control over the vehicle

It's one of those things that seems pointless in the test, but when you think about it, consider how often you use the basic elements of the manouver;

1. Reversing into/out of a parking space
2. Reversing into/out of a driveway (the latter being technically illegal).
3. Performing a turnabout

The last item being otherwise tested too, but it's the same basic elements being tested.

The actual "reverse around the corner on a public road" manouver is a little bit of an anachronism. There was a time when you'd be driving down the road and realise that you missed your turn or otherwise need to turnaround. Since the roads are generally narrow and lined with high bushes, you're not going to be insane enough to do a turnabout in the middle of the road and you can't use the next left turn to spin around because it's not wide enough. So you stop just past the next left turn, and reverse into it, then take a right to back the opposite way.

Now most of us spend very little time driving along bush-lined boreens and the need to perform this exact manouver on the main road rarely presents itself.

Midnight_EG

Honestly, I never thought I'd have to reverse around a corner ever again since my test.....well on Wednesday I had to do it, and wow was I delighted I had to do it :P

DrivingTestTips: Brian

Hi Max

There is a full list of reference video tutorials on the www.DrivingTestTips.ie website.

Hope they help you

cosmic

DrivingTestTips (Brian) wrote: »

There is a full list of reference video tutorials on the www.DrivingTestTips.ie website.

Hi Brian,

My ADI recommended the tutorials on this site to me and I've been finding them very helpful.

Thanks!