Driving Schools Directory
• Accelerator • Gear Lever • Moving Away • Seat Belts
• Anticipation • Gears • Moving Off • Signals
• Approaching Junctions • General • Overtaking • Steering
• Brake • Handbrake • Pedestrian Crossings • Steering Wheel
• Clearance • Head Restraint • Reverse Parking • Stopping
• Clutch • Indicators • Reversing • T-Junctions
• Crossing Other Traffic • Interior Mirror • Road Positioning • The Engine
• Crossroads • Making Progress • Safe Distance • Turn In The Road
• Emmergency Stop • Meeting Approaching Traffic • Safety Routine
• Exterior Mirrors • Mirrors • Seat


Practical Driving Test Tips - Reverse Parking
Problem Reason Solution
At the point of turn you didn’t check / take effective observation Because you were concentrating too much on controlling the car Check ahead, over your right shoulder and left shoulder, before the car starts to turn
At the point of turn you didn’t check / take effective observation Because, although you looked, you didn’t act on what you saw / heard Act sensibly on the information you receive
When reversing, you weren’t looking properly / taking effective observation Because you were looking over the wrong shoulder Look, through the middle of the rear window over your left shoulder, when reversing in a straight line
When reversing, you weren’t looking properly / taking effective observation Because you were looking through the rear side window / ahead Look through the middle of the rear window when you’re going backwards
When reversing, you weren’t looking properly / taking effective observation Because you were staring in the door / interior mirrors Use the door mirrors as part of your overall observation strategy, for no more than a count of, say, 1 - 2 seconds
When reversing, you weren’t looking properly / taking effective observation Because you were looking forward (too much) Look the way the cars going, through the middle of the rear window
When reversing, you weren’t looking properly / taking effective observation Because you didn’t turn sideways in your seat Turn sideways in your seat so that you can look squarely through the middle of the rear window
When reversing, you weren’t looking properly / taking effective observation Because you didn’t check forward (enough) Check forward, with quick glances, every half car length
When reversing, you weren’t looking properly / taking effective observation Because you were looking through / over the head-rest Look clearly between the headrests - this will give you the best view to the rear
When reversing, you weren’t looking properly / taking effective observation Because you didn’t open the windows Open the windows before starting this manoeuvre and actively listen for hazards
You (almost) hit the kerb Because you steered too much Turn a specific amount (advise for gap) and then keep the wheel still: ‘steer and still’
You (almost) hit the kerb Because you didn’t take off the steering early enough Start to steer the other way when the door mirror is level with the corner of the stationary car
You (almost) hit the kerb Because you over steered and kept turning the wheel Use the ‘steer and still’ method (explain) and allow the steering time to take effect
You didn’t check properly during the manoeuvre Because you didn’t check sufficiently over your right shoulder Check your right blind spot with frequent glances as you position the car in the gap
You didn’t look properly /take effective observation before moving off Because you didn’t check blind spots all around the car Check ahead, over your right shoulder and left shoulder before the car moves back
You didn’t look properly /take effective observation before moving off Because, although you looked, you didn’t act on what you saw / heard Act sensibly on the information that you receive
You didn’t look properly /take effective observation before moving off Because you glanced too quickly to take everything in Take a longer look, say, two seconds
You didn’t park centrally within the marked lines / parked at an angle Because you didn’t line up correctly before starting the exercise Position the car squarely in front of the bay, if possible, so that it goes in centrally
You didn’t park centrally within the marked lines / parked at an angle Because you looked mainly in the mirrors Use three reference points to help you position properly:1. To the rear - look mainly through the middle of the rear window. 2. To the front - quick glances forward. 3. To the sides - quick glances in the door mirrors
You didn’t park centrally within the marked lines / parked at an angle Because you rushed the exercise, not giving yourself enough time to steer Reduce your speed by, say, half, to give you time to steer and take effective observation. Half the speed, twice as safe
You didn’t position the vehicle correctly before starting to reverse Because you’ve parked too far / close / at an angle from the car Stop parallel and alongside the car, approx 30 - 60cm from it. The narrower the gap the further out you need to be
You didn’t position the vehicle correctly before starting to reverse Because you’ve stopped too far back / too far forward of the car Pull .up with the two bonnets ‘level, or slightly further forward, say, no more than a bonnet length
You dry-steered Because you turned the wheel before the car moved Turn the wheel only when the car is moving
You finished too far back from / too close to the car: Because you weren’t aware how much space you should leave Look at the gap and leave no more than a car length - a good guidelines ‘tyres and tarmac’ (advise)
You got too close to the parked car Because you steered too early Turn later, when the back of the car is level with the end of the vehicle you’re reversing behind
You reversed too quickly Because the clutch came up too quickly / too far Bring the clutch up slowly and smoothly, say, in the time it takes you to say ‘clutch up slowly’ and then keep the clutch at, or about, the biting point
You reversed too quickly Because you had too much gas Set the gas about the thickness of two one-pound coins
You reversed too quickly Because you didn’t assess the start correctly Look at the road and decide whether it’s level, uphill or downhill
You reversed too slowly Because you didn’t bring the clutch up high enough Keep the clutch at or around the biting point, using movements .of about the thickness of a pound coin up or down
You reversed too slowly Because you didn’t have enough gas Set the gas about the thickness of two one-pound coins, more for uphill starts
You shunted backwards and forwards unnecessarily Because you didn’t control the car sufficiently precisely Drive slowly, say, walking pace and turn the wheel briskly.
You stalled Because you didn’t release the handbrake Release the handbrake before the car moves
You stalled Because your foot came off the clutch too quickly Keep your left foot still as the car starts to move
You stalled Because your foot came off the gas as the clutch came up Keep the gas set about the thickness of two one-pound coins
You stalled Because you didn’t assess the start correctly Look at the road and decide whether it’s level, uphill or downhill and then use the appropriate technique
You steered the wrong way Because you got confused about which way to steer Steer in, to the left, to go towards the kerb, and vice-versa
You veered away from the kerb Because you-weren’t looking through the middle of the rear window Look mainly through the middle of the rear window
You veered in and out Because you were steering too far one way and then too far the other way Steer no more than 5 or 10 minutes in either direction, when reversing in a straight line
You veered towards the kerb Because you were staring at the kerb and got drawn towards it... Look further down the road, say, 20 - 30m, and use other reference points to monitor your position: door mirrors / checking forward
You went too far back before turning Because you steered too late Turn earlier, when the back of the car is level with the end of the vehicle you’re reversing behind
You went too far back before turning Because you didn’t steer enough Steer more (advise the pupil). The narrower the gap the more you need to steer
You went too far back before turning Because you were going too fast Keep your speed to a walking pace. This will give you the time to look and steer
Your control was erratic - stop / start progress Because your left heel was off the floor Keep your left heel on the floor -this will give you more precise control
Your control was erratic - stop / start progress Because your right heel was off the floor Keep your right heel on the floor - this will give you more precise control
Your control was erratic - stop / start progress Because your right foot was going on and off the brake / gas pedal too quickly /harshly Use smooth, gentle pressure on the gas and brake
Your control was erratic - stop / start progress Because the clutch pedal travelled too far up and down Keep the clutch pedal at or about the biting point. Move it about the thickness of a one-pound coin either side of the biting point, as a general guideline
Your steering was erratic Because you only used one hand on the wheel Use two hands on the wheel, where possible, to maintain full control (advise pupil on hand positioning)
You’ve finished the exercise with the wheels turned Because you didn’t appreciate the effect it could have on others Park pretty - all road wheels straight and parallel to the kerb and with the steering wheel straight
You’ve finished the exercise, too close to /too far from the kerb / at an angle Because you’re unaware of the ‘correct distance Park about 15 - 20cm from the kerb, and parallel to it
You’ve finished the exercise, too close to /too far from the kerb / at an angle Because you didn’t turn sufficiently / turned too much Steer according to the size of the gap / turning circle of car (advise)