Reversing around a left corner

Reversing around a left corner.

Introduction

December 4th 2017 had big changes to the driving test as the DVSA has taken the left reverse and the turn in the road exercise and replaced it with driving into a parking baying bay and then reverse back out of it and park on the right hand side of the road and reverse back 2/3 car lengths.  
Your instructor may still cover the left reverse and the turn in the road  to a low level just in case you ever went the wrong way on your  driving test and the road was a dead end, so you will need to turn your vehicle around. 

Once you have covered reversing in a straight line with little or no help from your instructor you will be ready to undertake a more difficult manoeuvre, reversing around a left corner.  

Teaching Strategy

Your instructor will give you as much support as you need on previous lessons covered on the way to the training location i.e. … P.O.M cockpit drill, gear changes, the hand and foot controls, Hazard and L.A.D.A routines, open/closed junctions, roundabouts and traffic systems. 

Then at the training location your instructor will brief you on the reverse manoeuvre then on the first attempt give you full talk through then reducing to either prompt or independent as you improve.(manoeuvres are not always taught in order).

Lesson aims

The aim of today’s lesson is to drive to a suitable location working on the hazard and L.A.D.A routines then be briefed on the left reverse manoeuvre, then you can practice this manoeuvre using clutch control while reversing slowly around different shape corners. 

During this lesson you will be assessed on your general drive to the training location and will be giving you as much support as you need to improve your driving skills. The reverse exercise will also give you a better understand of the biting point/clutch control while reversing and observing out of the rear window and the proper effectiveness of the use of mirrors.

Lesson Brief

This lesson we are going to be covering reversing around a left corner exercise (ether 90 degree or rounded).
Basically the left reverse is two straight lines while negotiating a 90 degree or a relaxed (rounded) corner. 
The only extra skill needed in this manoeuvre than the straight line reverse is the point you need to start to turn your steering wheel up around a left corner and the additional observational checks needed before, during and after the turn. 
Complete the exercise on sharp and curved corners on roads.

Life skill

The safest and easiest way to turn your vehicle around or go back in the opposite direction is to drive all the way around a roundabout or around the block.  This is not always possible so the next best and most common solution is to reverse into an opening on the left/right. 
But we feel being able to reverse a vehicle will give you more advanced life skills when manoeuvring a motor vehicle.

Location where to do the manoeuvre. 

Pull up on the left hand side of the road somewhere safe, legal and convenient just after the side road which you intend to reverse in to. 
Keeping roughly one metre from the curb.


Best place to stop
Ensure the side road is free from parked vehicles and obstructions and no debris on the road are as you don’t want to get a flat tyre.
You must never reverse from a side road into a main road, only consider reversing into a side road on the left that was a give way junction and had little or no traffic emerging out of it and never revere in to a one way street.  

P.O.M

Once you have parked up one the left hand side of the road you then to get prepared to reverse around the corner.

Select reverse gear

When selecting reverse gear remember the white lights on the back of your vehicle come on, so the vehicle coming toward (from behind) you will know your reversing so you will need to press your brakes to activate your brake lights telling them you have stopped.

Please note reverse gear can be in different places so your instructor will guide you on correct position on the gear stick.

Use of brakes

If any vehicle drive towards the rear of your vehicle use your brakes to warn the vehicle you have seen them and stopped.
Hand(s) position

When reversing you would usually hold the steering wheel with the right hand at the 12 o’clock position and the left hand at the 6/7 o’clock position. This will hopefully keep the vehicle to stay in a straight line when you are looking out of your rear window when reversing.
Use of seat belt.

By law you are allowed to remove your seatbelt, however it’s not practical as you could forget to put it back on or if you need to abandon your manoeuvre because a vehicle has come behind you. You will need to put it back on before you drive forward.

Releasing your seatbelt can help, however if you shuffle around in your seat you can look through the rear window by looking over your left shoulder a lot easier. 

Camber of the road.

Most roads do have cambers however they should not be a problem on this reverse manoeuvre.

Preparing, observing and manoeuvre

Prepare 
Reverse gear.

Observations 
Reverse the 6 point checks, check from your right shoulder to the left shoulder, so you’re looking the correct way (over your left shoulder).

Move 
Reverse to the point of turn when no vehicles are driving towards you.

When reversing who do you giveway to?

Give way to approaching vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians.

This could help when to stop when obstacles are coming towards you:-

Motor vehicle 6 car lengths from you.
Cycle about 3 cars lengths from you.
Pedestrians 1.5 car lengths from you. 

Always pause and wait if a vehicle appears from your rear, press your foot brake as this will identify and show that you have seen the vehicle and stopped. 
Watch for pedestrians/children on bikes or walking crossing the rear or around your vehicle, you will need to give way and wait for them to be clear before you can continue reversing. 
When crossing a driveway to your rear, watch for road users emerging or wanting to turn into the driveway.

Reference points (so accurate)

  • The curb will be roughly in the middle of the back window (diagram below).
  • In the near side door mirror (you will see how far away the side of your car is from the curb).
(You may have a small blind spot mirror that’s helpful).
Clutch control 

All the set manoeuvres should be undertaken at a very slow speed by using slow clutch control by moving your clutch a £1 thickness up and down from your biting point.
All round observations

While reversing you should be taking observations through the rear window of the vehicle (i.e. the direction you are traveling). Occasionally using clutch control to take all round observations to the front and the sides.

The nearside door mirror may also be useful for checking the position of the vehicle in relation to the curb.  

Beginning the manoeuvre (9 o’clock)

Straight line reverse to the P.O.T
Prepare the car to reverse:-

Prepare 
Reverse gear.

Observations 
Reverse the 6 point check so go from your right shoulder to the left shoulder, so you’re looking the correct way (over your left shoulder).

Move 
When no vehicles are driving towards you.

Once you have done P. O. M

Start your straight line reverse until your back seats are in line with the curb looking out of your side passenger window (we call this the point of turn).
Point of turn

This is the point you start to turn your steering wheel (using the pull push method) to the left using both hands maintaining observations over you left shoulder looking out of the rear window.
When looking to the rear the effects of steering appear to be delayed this is why it is easy to over steer when reversing.
Follow the curb

Once you have put the correct amount of steering on your steering wheel (your instructor will go over this information on your lesson).
The front end of your vehicle will start to move out into the road so ensure there are no hazards in your way.
Remember YOU will need to stop for vehicles, cyclists and Pedestrians.
Clutch control 

All the set manoeuvres should be undertaken at a very slow speed by using slow clutch control by moving your clutch a £1 thickness up and down from your biting point.
Straighten your wheel. 12 o’clock

Judge when you should begin to straighten up your steering as you enter the side road by using your near side mirror and the rear window. Normally it’s when you see the curb in the middle of the rear window again.

Use of wheel

The biggest problem when any reversing is over steering (snaking). So in the diagram below you can see the vehicle is close to the centre line.
So turn the wheel the way you want the vehicle to go, so if you need to go towards the curb you turn it left.

But only move the steering wheel only 1 hour the way you need to go, so the 6 o’clock position will be moved to the 5 o’clock position till you vehicle gets a small angle. Then put the steering wheel back to the 6 o’clock position.
Let the back end drift towards the curb then turn the opposite way the same amount.

All round awareness

Because you intend to turn into a side road against the flow of traffic, extra observations are needed into the side road and also needed to the front of your vehicle as the front of the car will swing out as you turn and you may become a hazard to passing traffic on the major road.
In the below diagram the best option will be to abandon your reverse manoeuvre and go back to your start position.
Distance you need to reverse into the side road

When reversing to the left on test you are required to reverse back for a reasonable distance (i.e.. about 3 to 4 car lengths) into the side road. 

Dealing with other road users

When reversing to the left be prepared to abandon the manoeuvre and drive forward back to the start position. 
Until you are well back into the side road it is potentially very dangerous for other vehicles to overtake you so close to the junction.
So if this happens go back to the start position.

Reversed back 3/4 car lengths
Once you have reversed back three to four car lengths the exercise is completed.

Make your vehicle safe

Once you have reversed far enough make the car safe by applying the handbrake and put your vehicle into neutral.
Drive on
Once you have completed the exercise independently you will be ask to drive on.

Preparing, observing and manoeuvre (P.O.M).

Prepare 
1st gear.

Observations 
Normal 6 point check so go from your left shoulder to the right shoulder.

Move
When safe.

Remember to fasten your seat belt before driving away safely that’s of course if you had taken it off. 

Reflect & Review

So remember your instructor is there to HELP you so on your driving lesson if you have any uncertainties or need anything rewording or recapping to make things any clearer, just ask.

Your training Vehicle is fitted with dual Controls and if necessary could be used throughout your lesson if needed. These are here for your safety so we can step in to keep you safe. 
So don’t worry if the issues arise we will aid & guide you VIRBALLY or PHYSICALLY and we can go over the situation if happens to correct if in the future.

Risk management
Physical control of your vehicle

The aim is for you the student to have full control of this lesson with previous lessons and have full talk through on the new topic and then reducing the support throughout with you decision making as best you can.
Your instructor’s job is to analyse any faults or new faults that may accrue in this lesson and put them right.

Talk about any issues if the situations happen on the driving lesson and put issues right.
  •   Fault identification.
  •   Fault analysis.
  •   Remedial action.
Level of instruction on your lesson
  •   Full talk through.
  •   Prompt.
  •   Independent.

End of lesson
  •   Feed back at the end of your lesson.
  •   Student’s responsibility of lesson and improvements.
  •   Plan for the next lesson.
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