How to Reverse Around a Corner | Diary Of An ADI

7/21/2019 How to Reverse Around a Corner | Diary Of An ADI

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those who’ve never done it before.

Step 1

As you approach the corner you’re going to reverse into, check your mirrors and signal

if necessary to let people know you’re pulling over (don’t do it too soon or they’ll think

you’re turning into the side road). Pull over about 3-4 car lengths beyond the side

road. You’ll be able to see the kerb leading up to the bend in your left mirror.

Step 2

Get the car into reverse as soon as you can so that your reversing lights inform others

of your intentions. Check that it is clear, and then reverse back slowly to the point of

turn, This is when you can see the bend just begin to curve away in your left mirror.

Stop at this point.

Step 3

Check that it is clear, then steer towards the bend by a fixed amount as you start to

move (it doesn’t matter if you dry steer, though you should avoid that if possible).

About a half or three quarters of a turn is enough in my car (yours might require a little

more or a little less). Don’t move the steering wheel any more while you’re moving.

After you’ve reversed about a half a car length stop and assess what has happened. If

the kerb has moved closer, steer away from it by a quarter turn. If it has moved away,steer towards it by the same amount. Then reverse another short distance, stop, and

assess what has happened again. Repeat the small steering adjustments each time

you stop depending on which way the kerb has moved in the mirror. Keep a look out for

other traffic and pedestrians – having a look all around each time you stop is a good

idea. Aim to keep the kerb no more than half way across the mirror, but not so close

that you lose sight of it into the side of the car.

Step 4

Once you are straight in the side road, straighten up your wheels and reverse back

about 4-5 car lengths. On your test, the examiner might tell you to stop if it is obvious

you have done it properly, although if he lets you carry on it is sometimes a sign that

you’re not straight and he’s checking to see that you can complete the manoeuvre

satisfactorily. Keep a lookout for other traffic and pedestrians as you finish the

manoeuvre.

You do not have to use the handbrake each time you stop (but it doesn’t matter if you

do). Use it if it will help prevent the car from rolling, and especially if you’re reversing

on a slope.



Are there any other ways to do it?

Many learners have initial problems with steering in reverse. In particular, they steer the

wrong way – and this is especially true when they’re under pressure. However, if the

pupil has good reverse steering skills then there is no reason why they can’t just go

round the corner, steering as much or as little as they need (let’s call it the freestyle

method) until they’re in the side road. That’s the ideal way of doing it, as long as you

don’t forget to keep an eye out for other traffic and pedestrians.

Is there a fool proof way of doing this manoeuvre?

Yes and no. The method I’ve described above is about as close as you can get to one

that will work on all but the sharpest of corners. Once you can do it this way, the

chances are you’ll become better at steering in reverse naturally and you can then

develop your own freestyle method as necessary.

However, try this. Using elastic bands wrapped around the mirror or a Tipp-Ex pen,

divide your mirror into four quarters (if using Tipp-Ex, you only need to make little

white marks on the plastic frame of the mirror and not on the glass itself). Make sure

you have adjusted your mirror so that you can see little or none of the car, as described

in this article. When you reverse back to the point of turn (step 2) go back until the

kerb is on the furthest elastic band/mark away from the car. Then, as you carry out

step 3, start with¾ of a turn and reverse until the kerb moves in to the next mark,

stop, and remove a quarter of a turn. Reverse again and repeat if the kerb moves in to

the next mark. If the kerb moves away to the previous mark, just add a quarter of a

turn. Carry on doing this until you are almost round. When the car is straight, take off

any remaining steering. You should aim to finish with the kerb approximately on the

second mark away from you, which it will be if you follow this method.

Once you have mastered this, you should be able to “imagine” the marks, which is

basically how people who can do the manoeuvre manage it – though they may notrealise it.

Isn’t that method too prescriptive?

Some people have major problems steering in reverse, and nowhere is it written that

they must be able to reverse around a corner like a veteran driver of 30+ years

experience. They are NEW drivers. They drive like NEW drivers. If they can whizz

safely and accurately around the corner whilst simultaneously solving a Rubik’s Cubeand playing the banjo, so much the better. The method above can help those who

don’t fall into that category.

If your pupil (or you) can do it freestyle with their eyes shut, all well and good. If they

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have problems, though, you’d be crazy to carry on trying to teach them that way.

What do I do if another car turns up when I’m reversing?

You need to use your own judgement, but generally it is OK to carry on unless

someone is coming up close behind you on the main road. As you start to turn, you’ll

need to respond to traffic coming from all sides, so good observations are essential.

Once you’re about half way around your main worry is people coming up from behind

out of the side road you’re reversing into, or people turning into the side road from the

main road. Of course, a lot will depend on where you do the manoeuvre – i.e. how wide

the roads are, and how much traffic is around. The Golden Rule is not to miss anyone

or anything because the examiners are watching for precisely that.

What do I do if someone flashes their lights at me?

Make sure that they’re flashing at you and not someone else, and then carry on withthe manoeuvre if it’s clear that they’re waiting for you – but keep an eye on them,

because once you’re around the corner they’ll probably go past and you’ll have to

pause as they do.

What would be a serious fault on this manoeuvre?

The decision will be the examiner’s, but as a rough guide: missing other cars and

pedestrians, not looking all around before commencing the actual turn, mounting thepavement, going more than half way across the side road at any point in the

manoeuvre, and so on are likely to be marked as serious faults.

Never self-assess, though. Most people who assume they have “failed” for something

usually turn out to be wrong, and not long ago one of my own pupils rode up the kerb

slightly and slipped back down again (jeopardising my alloys) and still passed. It

depends on how good the drive was, and the way the particular examiner marks tests.

Do I fail if I stall when reversing around a corner?

No. Not automatically. It depends on various factors – how many times, how you deal

with it, what is happening at the time (i.e. other road users), and so on. Aim not to, stay

calm if you do, then concentrate on the rest of the test and keep your fingers crossed.

Don’t self-assess. It’s the examiner’s decision, not yours.

Read the article on stalling.

At what point do I turn?

It doesn’t have to be millimetre perfect. All you’ve got to do is follow the kerb around,




making sure it doesn’t go too wide or disappear into the side of the car when looking in

the left mirror, and you’ve cracked it. Generally, you want to start turning just as the

kerb starts to curve away from the car.

How much should I turn the wheel when reversing around a corner?

To go round most corners driving forwards you’ll need between a half and one full turn

of the steering wheel. It would obviously need about the same amount going round it in

reverse. It depends on the corner – some are much tighter than others – and the exact

amount of steering will also depend on your car, since some have tighter turning

circles than others.

Which way should I steer?

This is the main reason many learners have problems with this manoeuvre. They have

an autopilot mode which is programmed to steer in exactly the opposite direction towhat is required whenever they are reversing. The urge to do this is really strong,

especially when they are panicked or rushed.

Remember that you are steering the rear of the car when you’re reversing – not the

front. To get closer to the kerb, steer towards it. To move further away, steer away from

it. It’s exactly the same as when you’re going forwards. Stop frequently if you’re unsure

about which way to steer – don’t just keep moving while you try to work it out,

otherwise your autopilot will kick in and the whole thing will get messed up.

A useful trick is to say to (or ask) yourself out loud each time you stop “the kerb is

moving away, so which way should I steer?” It doesn’t work if you just think it, because

your autopilot takes over again and makes you do it wrong. You have to talk your way

through the process. Try it and you’ll see what I mean.

Can I dry steer?

Yes. Dry steering is when you steer while the car is stationary, and although it isn’t

good practice to do it unnecessarily (it can damage the tyres, the steering column, and

the road surface), it is NOT marked on the test. You can read more about steering in

this article. In any case, you will usually only be steering a little while you are carrying

out this manoeuvre, so dry steering is even less of an issue.

Should I use the handbrake every time I stop?

No. Use it if there is a risk of rolling, if you think you might be waiting for a long time, if

you want to shift your foot, and so on. Otherwise, control the car smoothly using the

brake and clutch as necessary (not at the same time, though). Having said that, if you

do use the handbrake for each stop you’re not going to fail for it, so if it makes you feel




better go ahead and use it (several years ago, one of my pupils was told on the debrief

that there was no need to use the handbrake so much – but no fault was recorded and

they still passed).

My last instructor told me it’s wrong to look in the mirrors

Your instructor is wrong, and you did well to get away from him before he did any more

damage. The aim of the manoeuvre is to stay reasonably close to the kerb and to keep

an eye out for other traffic. Your mirrors are there to tell you what is happening behind

you, so you should make use of them. Just make sure you don’t stare at them – just as

you shouldn’t stare out of the back window like a zombie if you’re using that method.

But what if I can see the kerb out of the window?

Use that by all means. Just be aware that when you buy your own car you might not be

able to see the kerb through the windows. I pick up loads of pupils who can’t use thatmethod in my Ford Focus and they haven’t got a clue what to do. A mirror-based

method works in any car.

What does the left wing mirror tell me?

It came as a big surprise to me when I discovered that a few pupils actually believe that

if something is moving closer to them in the left mirror, it must be moving away from

them in reality! This is not correct. If something is getting closer in the mirror, it isgetting closer. Period.

Although it depends on how you’ve adjusted it, as a rough guide you want to keep the

kerb about a quarter to a half of the way across the left wing mirror.

Can I ask the examiner to adjust the mirror for me?

Yes. The examiners’ DT1 guide says that they should not refuse to assist if this request

is made. Obviously, this only applies to manually-adjusted mirrors – you can adjust

electric ones from the driver’s seat. As I said above, if your mirrors are in the correct

place for normal driving then they don’t really need to be adjusted. However, I am

aware that some ADIs advise their pupils to adjust the mirror downwards so that they

can see the kerb, and although I personally cannot see the point, if that’s how you do it

then it doesn’t matter if it works for you.

How far away from the kerb should I be?

I teach my pupils that½ metre (about a drain grating’s width) away from the kerb is

perfect,¾ metre is a little wide (but acceptable), and more than¾ metre is too wide.

These are ratings I use on lessons – they do not apply to the driving test.



On the driving test the examiner’s decision is final, and in most cases they are happy

as long as you don’t hit the kerb or go more than half way across the road you’re

reversing into at any point during the manoeuvre. My approach to teaching the

manoeuvre is that by training my learners to be very accurate about it, if they deviate a

bit on their tests then they’ll still be well inside acceptable limits.

Will I fail if I’m too far away from the kerb when I’ve finished?

Yes. Probably. But “too far” is a grey area, and you have to be very wide indeed to fail

for it. As I said above, as long as you are on your side of the road you shouldn’t really

get more than a driver (minor) fault.

Remember that this is not a parking manoeuvre. You are not supposed to keep really

close to the kerb (½ to¾ of a metre is ideal). As a rough guide, you need to be about

as far away from it as you would be if your were driving forwards to turn left.

What happens if I touch the kerb?

First of all, never self-assess your performance when you’re on your test. People who

assume that they have failed because they’ve made a mistake are often wrong.

Brushing the kerb isn’t an automatic fail (DT1, the examiners’ own internal reference

document, says that). Some examiners seem to be harsher than others considering all

the tales I hear, so it’s obviously best to not touch the kerb at all – but if you do, don’t

worry about it and keep your fingers crossed.

Mounting the pavement is almost certainly a fail – but again, don’t assume anything!

Not long ago one of my pupils rode up the kerb slightly and then slipped down again

(risking taking chunks out of my alloys), but he still passed. He probably wouldn’t have

if he’d have managed to get the whole wheel on to the pavement, but the point is that

the rest of the drive can play a big part in how some mistakes are marked. Examiners

often use common sense and aren’t out to fail people without a good reason.

Is it OK to keep stopping during the manoeuvre?

Yes, yes, yes, YES! Although it IS possible to fail for taking too long to complete the

manoeuvre, stopping for a few seconds a half a dozen times as you steer around is not

going to push it anywhere near this. The worst that can happen is that you’ll get a

driver fault for taking a bit too long – which is much better than a serious fault for

steering the wrong way and messing the whole thing up. Take your time. The problem

with keeping moving while trying to figure out which way to steer is that the car will

carry on going wider or closer, then you’ll panic and probably steer the wrong way or

by too much, then the whole thing is ruined. If you stop, the kerb stops getting closer

or further away.



Note that it doesn’t matter how long it takes when you’re trying to master it on your

lessons. Start out slow – a suitable speed will come naturally later.

My instructor told me to keep moving

Your instructor is wrong. Find another quickly before they do any more damage. You

do not have to keep moving, and doing so when you are getting muddled over which

way to steer or are going out of position is guaranteed to mess the manoeuvre up

completely.

Can I fail for taking too long?

Yes, but you have to be REALLY slow about it, or cause hold ups for other road users.

I’ve only ever had one pupil fail for taking too long on a manoeuvre, and it was about 10

years ago on the parallel park. He reversed back and touched the kerb. He moved out

to correct it, then touched the kerb again. He moved out one more time, and got it

parked properly this time. The examiner failed him for taking too long because there

was a car waiting.

What if I don’t have power steering?

It doesn’t matter. You need to steer enough – and that will be the same amount of

steering that you’d use driving around the same sort of corner going forwards.

My last instructor told me to look out of the back (or side) window to follow the

kerb

In my car – and many others – the rear sill is too high for this to work, and people who

have been taught that way get into a terrible mess. I drive a Ford Focus, and many of

those who pass their tests are likely to drive one, too. They were quite probably taught

in a small “learner” car that there was never even the remotest possibility of them

going out and buying (not until they reach 60 or 70, anyway).

The mirrors exist so that you can see what is behind you. Use them to follow the kerb

and you’ll be able to reverse in ANY car. Having said that, if you can see the kerb out of

the windows use that by all means – just remember that when you get your own car it

may not work.

I can’t see the kerb when I reverse around the corner

If your mirrors are correctly set for normal driving then you WILL be able to see the

kerb if you are carrying out the manoeuvre properly. If you’ve been taught to look out

of the back or rear passenger windows, the chances are you’re driving a different car




where that method won’t work.

What should I be looking for out of the back window?

Pedestrians and other road users – and not just out of the back windows. Keep a

lookout all around as you carry out the manoeuvre.

What if I can’t see it’s clear?

You mustn’t reverse anywhere if you aren’t sure it is safe. If necessary, get out and

have a look – but make sure the car is safely positioned and secured before you do.

I can’t see the point of turn

If your mirrors are adjusted properly for normal driving you WILL be able to see the

point of turn – it’s when the curved part of the kerb starts to move away from you in the

left mirror. You don’t need to angle them down especially or anything, though somepeople do. However, if you’ve been taught to reverse by looking out of the rear

windows then you will have problems in many vehicles.

Can you move forward to correct your position if you make a mistake?

Yes, but be careful. Having to add extra stages means having to do extra safety

checks, and the pressure of knowing you’ve gone slightly wrong will increase the risk

of you forgetting to do them. It’s best to get it right first time to avoid all of this.However, it isn’t a good idea to drive all the way back to the starting position so you

can have a second try – apart from the additional safety checks, you’ll end up taking

much longer over it and that can be grounds for failure.


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How to Reverse Around a Corner | Diary Of An ADI