Reversing around the corner

SPM1959

I don't know if this is a possible but would someone be able to provide a step by step guide on how to complete a reverse around the corner correctly?

It is always the maneuver that causes me issues and to fail driving test(s).

Any help greatly appreciated as I need to try something different.

Tokarev

SPM1959 wrote: »

I don't know if this is a possible but would someone be able to provide a step by step guide on how to complete a reverse around the corner correctly?

It is always the maneuver that causes me issues and to fail driving test(s).

Any help greatly appreciated as I need to try something different.

https://www.google.ie/?gws_rd=cr&ei=0_SkU_n_JJDB7Ab_n4CgDg#q=Reversing+around+the+corner&safe=off

And good luck, We all had problems at the start.

biko

One piece of advice I can give is to practice not just the corner but start further away and finish further away. The problem is mainly, I think, that people are not used to reversing properly in general.

Find a small green area in an estate and go around the whole thing in reverse a few times (make sure you can see all around for cars, kids, dogs, etc).
Even reversing in a straight line along the kerb will help you learn reversing control.

As part of my own driving training we did a ton of various reversing so reversing around a corner was not a bother.

thesimpsons

another thing is to reverse anytime you are parking the car - reverse into parking spots, into driveway, shop spaces, etc. Its the one sure way of being a good reverser. don't just see it as part of a lesson

irish_goat

Go at a snail's pace, if you're going slow it allows you time to assess how the manoeuvre is going and make adjustments if need be.

Beffs

Make sure that your side mirrors are angled properly to provide optimum views of the side of your car. Don't let your view of the curb drift out of your mirror as you are reversing. If it does, you are drifting too far from it and you run the risk of having to over correct.

I can't tell you why

No!
It's not as easy as following steps. Otherwise you would be able to do it already. You need to be able to make sense of what you see in the wing mirror and back window, then react properly to it.
Get a good driving instructor to help you. They should make you pause every metre or so to make sense of what you see and react properly to it, until you can do it with a better flow.

Mark.Smith90

Always ensure that as you reach the bend that you stop the car to take a further 360 view of blind spots etc to adjust for the fact that your rear-view mirror is now no longer facing the previous direction. Otherwise it is an automatic mark against you.

my3cents

To add something slightly different try reversing into a parking space. Pick a car park with plenty of space and no other cars to hit and just go for it. There's no worry about hitting a curb and you can practice till you can pull up at the right spot and then reverse straight into the parking space right between the lines in one go.

Now I know reversing around a corner is slightly different but the point of doing a lot of practicing reversing into a parking space is that it gets you a feel for the car when you are reversing.

joeguevara

My driving instructor (about 15 years ago now) placed a piece of blutack on the back window which was in line with the kerb. When reversing around the corner, if the blutack was in line with the kerb, you were perfect. Never had any problem after that. Just make sure that on the day of the test, the blutack is still there and has not fallen off.

I can't tell you why

Mark.Smith90 wrote: »

Always ensure that as you reach the bend that you stop the car to take a further 360 view of blind spots etc to adjust for the fact that your rear-view mirror is now no longer facing the previous direction. Otherwise it is an automatic mark against you.

You do not need to stop. But you can if you want. Observation is the most important part.

ProudDUB

Mark.Smith90 wrote: »

Always ensure that as you reach the bend that you stop the car to take a further 360 view of blind spots etc to adjust for the fact that your rear-view mirror is now no longer facing the previous direction. Otherwise it is an automatic mark against you.

That's not true. You can do the reverse around the corner in one non stop manouver, as long as it is safe to do, you are observing properly & you are reacting properly to other road users and possible hazards.

You will get marked down if something happens during the manouver that you do not appear see, or pay attention to, or react in time to, such as another car or a pedestrian coming up behind you. But if the coast is clear, you do not have to stop.

fuzzydunlop85

Just a tip for this I found really helpful, if you keep the keep door handle of the car against the kerb when looking in the rear view mirror it will help you to avoid hitting the kerb/keep you right distance from the kerb. And I'm doing lessons at the min , have had 3 different instructors and all have told me to stop and look around when I'm half way round the corner.

beya2009

I've had 7 lessons now and reversing around the kerb is by far the most difficult for me personally. I drove to wexford town early this morning to practice more and its soo hard. I find reversing down the kerb straight dead easy...my problem starts when im coming to the bend as most of the time I drift away from the kerb that after I stop the car im too far from the kerb. I did it a few times correctly but each time it was pure fluke. I can't do it on demand. I try to stay as close to the kerb as possible especially when coming around the bend but then I end up hitting the kerb as im too close. I can't see much of the kerb from my left mirror...its soo blind.

Craftylee

Here's a tip you might find useful - lower your passengers side door mirror a bit so you can see the kerb more. I did this and it helped massively - just don't lower it too much.

Just keep the gap nice and equal and slow with the car, as soon as the back door handle hits the kerb start turning in. You shouldn't be making any big changes to the steering as well, nice smooth corrections.

ProudDUB

beya2009 wrote: »

I've had 7 lessons now and reversing around the kerb is by far the most difficult for me personally. I drove to wexford town early this morning to practice more and its soo hard. I find reversing down the kerb straight dead easy...my problem starts when im coming to the bend as most of the time I drift away from the kerb that after I stop the car im too far from the kerb. I did it a few times correctly but each time it was pure fluke. I can't do it on demand. I try to stay as close to the kerb as possible especially when coming around the bend but then I end up hitting the kerb as im too close. I can't see much of the kerb from my left mirror...its soo blind.

Take the car to a large car park where there are loads of empty spaces & you have time and space to manouver without bothering other drivers. (A supermarket car park when the supermarket is closed, can be a good place to go.) Practice reversing into those spaces. Get used to how your car feels and handles, when you are reversing, when you are turning & when you are driving very, very slowly in general.

Don't just focus on one specific driving manouver, even thought it is the one that is checked when you do your test. Go somewhere where you can do all that peace & at your own pace. Am not sure if a busy town on a Sat morning is the best place for you to relax and be able to absorb how the car feels and handles. Once you are able to do that, you should be able to complete the manouver much better and on cue on the day of your test.

beya2009

ProudDUB wrote: »

Take the car to a large car park where there are loads of empty spaces & you have time and space to manouver without bothering other drivers. (A supermarket car park when the supermarket is closed, can be a good place to go.) Practice reversing into those spaces. Get used to how your car feels and handles, when you are reversing, when you are turning & when you are driving very, very slowly in general.

Don't just focus on one specific driving manouver, even thought it is the one that is checked when you do your test. Go somewhere where you can do all that peace & at your own pace. Am not sure if a busy town on a Sat morning is the best place for you to relax and be able to absorb how the car feels and handles. Once you are able to do that, you should be able to complete the manouver much better and on cue on the day of your test.

Thanks that was really helpful. I go to the Dunnes car park early in the mornings and that has really helped with my reversing:)

ScummyMan

Craftylee wrote: »

Here's a tip you might find useful - lower your passengers side door mirror a bit so you can see the kerb more. I did this and it helped massively - just don't lower it too much.

Just keep the gap nice and equal and slow with the car, as soon as the back door handle hits the kerb start turning in. You shouldn't be making any big changes to the steering as well, nice smooth corrections.

Why?

OP if your having big trouble with it then do what I did, point the mirror down to the ground, then just follow the curb with your steering!

Just don't forget to move it back up afterwards :P

kav407

If your car has electric mirrors lower your left wing mirror so you can see the curb, take your time reversing and be looking out the back window to see where you are going, just slightly before your tire comes level with corner start locking the wheel and glance to your left mirror to see when your tire becomes close to the kerb and start straighting the wheel accordingly, again be sure not to be concentrate too much on the left mirror as 90% of your observations should be where you are going(out back window), roll down your drivers side window before the reverse you will hear cars approaching long before they are close to you. When you are finished be sure to re-adjust your left mirrior. I am by no means an expert and i am sure there are loads of experienced drivers on boards that could give better advise, but i passed my test yesterday with this method and had no errors for my reverse, best of luck as i know this is a stressfull experience

beya2009

Yeah I will be booking my test soon enough. I have 8 lessons done so far under edt so just need 4 more and lots more practice. My insurance is setting me back €140 per month so passing this test is vital for me. Im guessing reversing around the kerb is the hardest part of the test. I'm confident doing 3 point turns and hill starts. But I need to work on small details too like taking off from a stationary position I keep forgetting to look over my right shoulder after I have indicated right and checked both my rear view and right mirrors.

ProudDUB

beya2009 wrote: »

Yeah I will be booking my test soon enough. I have 8 lessons done so far under edt so just need 4 more and lots more practice. My insurance is setting me back €140 per month so passing this test is vital for me. Im guessing reversing around the kerb is the hardest part of the test. I'm confident doing 3 point turns and hill starts. But I need to work on small details too like taking off from a stationary position I keep forgetting to look over my right shoulder after I have indicated right and checked both my rear view and right mirrors.

I hate to break it to you, but your insurance won't drop by a huge amount, even if you pass your test. It will drop by a bit, but it won't be slashed in half, or anything like that. Your age and how long you have been driving are two thing that insurance companies rate as just as important (sometimes more so) than whether or not you have a full license or learner permit. Neither of those things are going to change after you pass your test.

Craftylee

ScummyMan wrote: »

Why?

OP if your having big trouble with it then do what I did, point the mirror down to the ground, then just follow the curb with your steering!

Just don't forget to move it back up afterwards :P

Yeah I only said not too much as (especially during the test) you can forget to put it back. However if you remember to put it back after the turn then you can lower it as much as you want