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 - Reversing
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 car is 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 corner) and then keep the wheel still: ‘steer and still’
You (almost) hit the kerb Because you steered too early Turn earlier, when the back wheels are level with the point where the road begins to turn
You (almost) hit the kerb, in the new road Because you didn’t take off the steering early enough Start to steer the other way when you’re about two thirds of the way around the corner
You (almost) hit the kerb, in the new road 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 before starting the manoeuvre Because you didn’t look into the new road as you passed Glance into the road you’re going to reverse into, as you drive across it
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
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 position the vehicle correctly before starting to reverse Because you’ve parked too far/ close / at an angle from the kerb Stop parallel to the kerb, approx.) 30 - 45cm from it. The sharper the corner the further out you need to be
You didn’t position the vehicle correctly before starting to reverse Because you’ve stopped too close to / far back from the corner Pull up about two car lengths from the corner. A guideline is so that you can see the apex (tip) of the corner in your interior mirror
You dry-steered Because you turned the wheel before the car moved Turn the wheel only when the car is moving
You reversed too fast Because the clutch came up too fast Keep the clutch at, or about, the biting point
You reversed too fast Because you had too much gas Set the gas about the thickness of two one pound coins
You reversed too slowly 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 reversed too slowly Because your foot came off the clutch too quickly Keep your left foot still as the car starts to move
You reversed too slowly 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 reversed too slowly Because you didn’t assess the start correctly Look at the road and decide whether its level, uphill or downhill and then use the appropriate technique
You stalled Because you didn’t release the handbrake Release the handbrake just before the car moves
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 Always 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 in towards the kerb, in the new road Because you didn’t look far enough down the road Look about 20 - 30m down the road and scan your vision back to the car
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 wide around the corner Because you steered too late Turn earlier, when the back wheels are level with the point where the road begins to turn
You went too wide around the corner Because you didn’t steer enough Steer more (advise the pupil). The sharper the corner, the more you need to steer
You went too wide around the corner 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 pedal
Your control was erratic - stop / start progress Because you allowed the clutch pedal to move too far up and down Keep the clutch pedal at or about the biting point and move it up or down no more than the thickness of a one-pound coin, 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, in the new road, too close to / far out from the kerb / at an angle Because you didn’t appreciate the effect it would have on others Finish about 30 - 45cm from the kerb, and parallel to it; i.e. with left-side front and rear wheel the same distance from the kerb
You’ve finished, in the road, too close to / too far from the junction Because you’re unaware of the correct distance Stop about three car lengths from junction (4 - 5 for right-hand reverse)