Reverse around a corner. Please help me!

another question

I did my first driving test 2 and half weeks ago but failed due to the reverse around a corner. I was miles out.

I absolutely hate this part of the test and the estate where the corners are is a very busy estate and every time I go down there to practice, I just lose my patience and go again after 1 or 2 reverses because I am in everyone's way.

9 times out of 10 I will either hit the kerb or be miles out, my instructor is very good and I am not going to blame him, he has been excellent and has a very high pass rate but even he cannot understand why I cannot seem to get a handle on this technique.

His method is as follows :

Signal on the junction and look into it and pull in 12-18 inches from the kerb in a straight line, cancel indicator.

Observation and mirror setting etc.

Put car in reverse and go back in a straight line until the kerb begins to disappear.

When the kerb begins to disappear, start turning the wheel to the left in slow but continuous 1/4 turns.

When the kerb starts to reappear begin to turn the wheel in the opposite direction until the car has straightened up and then reverse back in a straight line until you are told to stop.

This is just a disaster for me, I have my second test this Friday and I still haven't mastered it. Anyone got any tips or links to videos that might help me? I have watched a few ISM and RSA ones on youtube but none that have sparked any lightbulbs moments in me.

No Pants

Find a quieter corner, or practice early in the morning.

If I remember correctly, I had one hand at the six o'clock position and I turned it anticlockwise to the nine o'clock position when the kerb started to disappear. Small adjustments can be easily made. I used the left side door handles to judge my parallel position to the kerb.

One thing I was told was to come to a stop half way through the manoeuvre and check all around. If clear, continue.

shamrock55

Hi, tbo i think the only thing that can help you is practice, find somewhere quiet to practice it doesnt have to be the estate where you do your test, maybe a business park on a sunday or in the evenings all you need is a corner with curbs and somewhere quiet im sure you can think of a place

The_Nipper_One

As you are reversing around the bend, have some glances into your left mirror to see where you are in relation to the curve.

Before the test angle your left mirror down a bit so you can see the lower back end of your car. You should be able to do this and still comfortably be able to use the mirror in normal driving for observation.

As you reverse around the corner and are having a few glances, draw a line back from the side of the car in your mirror. If you can't see the curb at all in the mirror, it's very likely you are drifting out. If you can see it but the line you imagine intersects it, then you are on course to hit it. You want to be able to see just the edge of the curb in your mirror as you go around the corner, and keep it there.

**During the entire maneuver your main observation should always be over your shoulder however, use the wing mirror as a reference for position only 3 or 4 times, and when you do check it, just have a glance**

I assume you're also doing a check all around before you start turning the wheel? This is important because when you turn the wheel your front end will swing out.

No Pants

The_Nipper_One wrote: »

I assume you're also doing a check all around before you start turning the wheel? This is important because when you turn the wheel your front end will swing out.

This. And I think the testers look out for you checking for this.

Motor-Ed

another question wrote: »

I did my first driving test 2 and half weeks ago but failed due to the reverse around a corner. I was miles out.

I absolutely hate this part of the test and the estate where the corners are is a very busy estate and every time I go down there to practice, I just lose my patience and go again after 1 or 2 reverses because I am in everyone's way.

9 times out of 10 I will either hit the kerb or be miles out, my instructor is very good and I am not going to blame him, he has been excellent and has a very high pass rate but even he cannot understand why I cannot seem to get a handle on this technique.

His method is as follows :

Signal on the junction and look into it and pull in 12-18 inches from the kerb in a straight line, cancel indicator.

Observation and mirror setting etc.

Put car in reverse and go back in a straight line until the kerb begins to disappear.

When the kerb begins to disappear, start turning the wheel to the left in slow but continuous 1/4 turns.

When the kerb starts to reappear begin to turn the wheel in the opposite direction until the car has straightened up and then reverse back in a straight line until you are told to stop.

This is just a disaster for me, I have my second test this Friday and I still haven't mastered it. Anyone got any tips or links to videos that might help me? I have watched a few ISM and RSA ones on youtube but none that have sparked any lightbulbs moments in me.

As I suggested in the other thread, find somewhere to do the reverse that's a lot quieter. You need to have a good technique before you deal with busier corners.
Also adjust the mirror and Dont let the kerb disappear
Feed the wheel into the turn until the gap between your back door handle and the kerb is constant. This wheel position will change depending on angle of corner, so 1/2 a turn on corner A might be between 1/4 and 1/2 on corner B.
When you get around, get straight first, even if its a little wide, then Gently let it drift a little tighter as you reverse back.

another question

Thanks for the answers everybody, I guess I'm just going to have to practice non-stop before Friday. I have a pre-test on Thursday and I'll need to be better before my instructor sees me again.

I think my observation is pretty good. I look over my right shoulder, out my back window and out my left back window basically a 360 with my head as I saw in an ISM reverse video. I stop at the point where the kerb begins to disappear or the point where my front wheel/front of the car begins to stick out and look in all directions again and then I continue with the reverse taking alternating glances between the back window and the mirror.

Why do you think the kerb is disappearing on me or how would you suggest not letting the kerb disappear from view?

Witcher

Turn the mirror well down on the kerb and never let it disappear, when the kerb begins to turn start turning the wheel. As you see the kerb straighten out in the mirror straighten out the wheel.

RoryMurphyJnr

+1 for the mirror
My instructor told me to angle it to see the kerb before I did my test so you're not messing about with it, then leave it.
best of luck

laois hibby

Does your car have a garage sticker on the back window?
When i did my test 20 odd years ago I had a mazda sticker on the back and the "D" lined up perfectly with the kerb. It was ideal to use as a gauge once you've made the turn.

legrand

Try this
Align car along kerb
Place a something (a pack of cigs or cards for example) on back window sill at the point where (when you view from driver position) the packet is aligned the kerb. Start reversing and keep the packet aligned to the kerb as you reverse around the corner.

markad1

laois hibby wrote: »

Does your car have a garage sticker on the back window?
When i did my test 20 odd years ago I had a mazda sticker on the back and the "D" lined up perfectly with the kerb. It was ideal to use as a gauge once you've made the turn.

+1 on this one.
That's how I managed it