The Left Reverse

Why do I have to know this?

It is one of the five set manoeuvres. The examiner will choose two of the five for your test.

This is a very useful manoeuvre. It is an alternative to the Turn in the Road. It is the skill that will help you to reverse on to a drive way or into a parking bay. You might use it if you have to get out of the way of another vehicle.

How do I do it?

Before you start

• Is it safe to do the manoeuvre?

• Is it legal to do the manoeuvre here?

• Is it going to annoy other people if I do the manoeuvre here?

• Is it possible to do the manoeuvre here?

Starting the manoeuvre

• The examiner will start you off from a normal parking position. In real life driving you do not have to do the same.

• As you drive past the corner you are reversing into have a look. What problems can you see.

• Come to a halt three car lengths beyond your corner. Make sure that the car is about 50cm from the kerb. Make sure that the car is straight and that the steering wheel is straight.

• Take your seat belt off and twist round in your seat. You need to see out of the back left window.

• Right hand at the top and left hand at the bottom of the steering wheel. Reverse back until you see the kerb start to bend, to the left, in the back left window.

• Steer left, try to keep the kerb in the same place in the back left window.

• Eventually the kerb will vanish from that window. Keep steering to the left until it is in the centre of the rear windscreen.

• Turn the steering wheel to the right until the car and steering wheel are straight

• Reverse back at least three car lengths from the mouth of the junction.

Points to note

During the reverse you must look over your right shoulder at least three times. You are looking for other road users who might need to steer around you. Look before you start to steer left, half way round the corner and at one other time in the manoeuvre.

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