Reversing around a corner

islandlady

Hello all!

I have my test tomorrow in Naas (pray for me!) and I have done well in excess of my 12 EDT lessons, including 5 hours of lessons in the past week. While I am confident about most aspects of my driving and certain that the test situation will make me even more vigilant, I still don't have reversing around a corner perfect. 8 times out of 10 I'll get it spot on but then I completely mess it up other times. I have no problem making the turn but as soon as I get back on the straight, I end up with the car at a crazy angle that I cannot correct.

If anybody has any tips at all I would be so grateful, I'd hate for this to be the one thing that lets me down tomorrow and possibly affect my nerves for the rest of the test.

Any help at all would be so appreciated!

Marcusm

Best advice is not to worry about it. Concentrate on relaxing and remembering that you get it right 4 times for everytime you have a problem. present a confident front and approach it calmly. Lots of people claim never to use the move; personally I find it odd if I don't do it every day, whether reversing the car or using a parking bay.

islandlady

Thank you! Did a few practice runs this evening and it didn't go atrociously wrong so fingers crossed the same tomorrow (and not like my pre-test, where I somehow managed to actually mount the curb!!!) Yes I think a big deep breath before I start and just take it slow, fingers crossed it will go okay!

Syphonax

How do you end up at a crazy angle after doing the hard part right?

islandlady

I know!! My instructor and sponsor have both said to me they cannot work out what is getting me so badly out of shape, I can get around the corner perfectly but then manage to mess up the straight! If it wasn't so frustrating I'd laugh!

MascotDec85

Sounds to me like you're straightening too early i.e. Before you've completed the turn and are ending up a distance from the keen and are struggling to get back in?

If so, be patient before you fully straighten the wheel. Think about you're starting position, relatively close to a parallel with the kerb. Have a look to see what that looks like in your mirror. Assuming you come round the corner in the correct position don't fully straighten the wheel until you can see that you're close to and parallel like you were at the start and then straighten the wheel relatively quickly without steering to the right, as in wheels dead straight

Galbin

How did test go today?

islandlady

Thanks for asking Galbin, I passed thank God!! 4 Grade 2's, 2 Grade 1! Reverse went perfectly except for the fact I cut out about a second into it Just took a deep breath and asked could I go again and managed it fine then! A driving school car with a student under instruction pulled up just before me at the path where my tester asked me to pull in to show me that he would be asking me to drive to the path ahead and reverse into the road. They stayed there throughout all of my reverse and even until I had it completed and drove past them again and I think that just got me a bit nervous as I kept thinking they were watching me and trying to anticipate that they may move as their car was still running which I would do for any car but you know yourself, knowing it was a student and instructor just had me a bit wound up! But other than that all went great!

Galbin

Congratulations. You must be so relieved! Was it your first test?

islandlady

Apologies for the delay Galbin! Yes it was my first test, I was very lucky as I didn't think I would pass on the first go and my test centre has quite a low pass rate. Thankfully things worked out and I had a lovely tester. I hope you are getting sorted too with your shared care predicament!

mansoff

Congratulations and first time too well done

Galbin

islandlady wrote: »

Apologies for the delay Galbin! Yes it was my first test, I was very lucky as I didn't think I would pass on the first go and my test centre has quite a low pass rate. Thankfully things worked out and I had a lovely tester. I hope you are getting sorted too with your shared care predicament!

We both went to the same centre. I unfortunately had a very harsh tester. My instructor was so sure I was going to pass, but the tester picked me up on every tiny little thing and gave me no time before he would suddenly tell me to "turn right" and such. Then he said I was failed for lack of being smooth. Hard to be smooth when you are zipping along in 4th gear at 50km and then he suddenly tells you to make a sharp turn!

My instructor wants me to take the test in one of the highest pass centre in Ireland, but ironically because I don't have a licence I am unemployed (you need a licence in my industry). So I can't afford to travel overnight to said place, pay local instructor for a day of route practice, and then stay another night to sit the test.

Dead nice of ya to ask about my car predicament. I rang a broker and they said that there is no problem sharing a car, but that the main driver has to have it four nights a week. Since we live so far from each other, this wouldn’t be possible. I should update the thread to let others know it *is* legal to share a car like this though.

Extrasupervery

Galbin wrote: »

We both went to the same centre. I unfortunately had a very harsh tester. My instructor was so sure I was going to pass, but the tester picked me up on every tiny little thing and gave me no time before he would suddenly tell me to "turn right" and such. Then he said I was failed for lack of being smooth. Hard to be smooth when you are zipping along in 4th gear at 50km and then he suddenly tells you to make a sharp turn!

My instructor wants me to take the test in one of the highest pass centre in Ireland, but ironically because I don't have a licence I am unemployed (you need a licence in my industry). So I can't afford to travel overnight to said place, pay local instructor for a day of route practice, and then stay another night to sit the test.

Dead nice of ya to ask about my car predicament. I rang a broker and they said that there is no problem sharing a car, but that the main driver has to have it four nights a week. Since we live so far from each other, this wouldn’t be possible. I should update the thread to let others know it *is* legal to share a car like this though.

I'm terrified of that, being told to change direction very last minute, I think I'd panic and just continue on the straight. Second test coming up, fingers crossed for a sound tester.

Galbin

Extrasupervery wrote: »

I'm terrified of that, being told to change direction very last minute, I think I'd panic and just continue on the straight. Second test coming up, fingers crossed for a sound tester.

My tester was not nice. He also did not obey the turning rule. According to my instructor, the tester is supposed to give the pupil enough time for MSM (mirror, signal, manoeuvre) plus 10 seconds. He did not give me that. So, the only way around it is not just to know the routes well, but to actually know them off by heart and like the back of your hand. Now, most testers won't be like him, but it's best to have a strategy. Also, according to my instructor, a lot depends on the test centre anyway. What is the pass rate in your centre?

Extrasupervery

Galbin wrote: »

My tester was not nice. He also did not obey the turning rule. According to my instructor, the tester is supposed to give the pupil enough time for MSM (mirror, signal, manoeuvre) plus 10 seconds. He did not give me that. So, the only way around it is not just to know the routes well, but to actually know them off by heart and like the back of your hand. Now, most testers won't be like him, but it's best to have a strategy. Also, according to my instructor, a lot depends on the test centre anyway. What is the pass rate in your centre?

It's Churchtown, 42% or thereabouts. The tester for my first test was lovely, I knew I'd failed by a long shot and he was very encouraging and helpful afterwards. Feel much better prepared now but am still going into it feeling pretty negative, the whole think seems so flukey. Is it worth your while reporting that tester? I know you'll have to sit the test again but that shouldn't be allowed.

Galbin

Extrasupervery wrote: »

It's Churchtown, 42% or thereabouts. The tester for my first test was lovely, I knew I'd failed by a long shot and he was very encouraging and helpful afterwards. Feel much better prepared now but am still going into it feeling pretty negative, the whole think seems so flukey. Is it worth your while reporting that tester? I know you'll have to sit the test again but that shouldn't be allowed.

What did he fail you on? Always curious on this.

I definitely think there is a lot of luck to it. Sadly, without cameras in the car it's my word against his, and it wouldn't be me who they believe! What we really need is for a rich person to sue the RSA on the grounds of their inconsistent and unclear testing standards. For example, I also live in Leinster and my instructor told me he had a pupil for one lesson who was not up to test standard. However, this guy was desperate for a licence and had the money for travel, so took a trip up the country to the consistently highest pass centre and passed. My instructor said he was shocked, as the guy was really not good and had refused to do more needed lessons.

Extrasupervery

It's your word against his, but put your word in writing with the tester's name, if they consistently get reports about this tester with the same complaint (giving instructions way too late, causing you to mess up and be marked) then they'll know it's not just disgruntled learners.

I failed on sloppy right hand turns (I was way too over on the left, no one could pass behind me), coasting (don't usually do this, the effect of nerves) and reaction to a hazard. I knew I wasn't test-ready, but I had to apply for my test to renew my permit and thought **** it, it'll be a good way to gauge where I'm at. And it was! I'm glad I did it. I now feel much more up to test standard but by no means am I expecting to pass my next test. If I pass it - fluke. If I fail it - fluke. I have little confidence in the test really. Ennis is looking very appealing.

Galbin

Extrasupervery wrote: »

It's your word against his, but put your word in writing with the tester's name, if they consistently get reports about this tester with the same complaint (giving instructions way too late, causing you to mess up and be marked) then they'll know it's not just disgruntled learners.

I failed on sloppy right hand turns (I was way too over on the left, no one could pass behind me), coasting (don't usually do this, the effect of nerves) and reaction to a hazard. I knew I wasn't test-ready, but I had to apply for my test to renew my permit and thought **** it, it'll be a good way to gauge where I'm at. And it was! I'm glad I did it. I now feel much more up to test standard but by no means am I expecting to pass my next test. If I pass it - fluke. If I fail it - fluke. I have little confidence in the test really. Ennis is looking very appealing.

Funny you say that, as my old instructor told me to hire a local instructor this time. So I did, and he asked if I knew the tester's name. Unfortunately, I didn't. However, now it makes me wonder as at the end of the lesson he said the same thing everyone says to me, "you can drive". Great. He used to be a tester at this centre himself, but he didn't think he knew this guy. I wish I had thought to ask his name on the day of the test! They don't wear badges though, so never thought of that.

I have to say I am not glad I sat a test and had such a harsh tester. Now I can never say that I passed first time. I understand that other people don't mind failing, but it was devastating to me when I felt I drove safely and competently. And it's soul destroying that everyone I drive with since says to me, "you can drive".

The only reason I am not going to Ennis is that I am unemployed due to lack of licence (wish I had known it was essential in the sector I trained for), so cannot afford to travel there, stay there, pay hundreds to a local instructor to do the routes, pay for food, stay another night, and take the test. All added up that's a few hundred!

Extrasupervery

Do you have your cert from that test? His name should be on it! Or at least his surname and initial. Unemployment pending a license is ****, as it seems to take a lot of money to get a license.

Galbin

Extrasupervery wrote: »

Do you have your cert from that test? His name should be on it! Or at least his surname and initial. Unemployment pending a license is ****, as it seems to take a lot of money to get a license.

Ooh, brilliant! I didn't know that had his name. Yep, when I first graduated I had a serious shot at two really good jobs (both HSE and both asked for a scanned copy of my licence), but now after 10 months unemployment, it feels like nobody wants me. I also have invisible disabilities and chronic health issues, so that will only add to my gap of paid employment. I do lots of volunteer work, but really wondering what will become of me. Oh well. There are a lot of people out there worse off than me though, so I try to stay positive.