Driving Test Tips – Reverse Left Around the Corner

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Driving Test Tips – Reverse Left Around the Corner
If you happen to get reverse left around the corner on your driving test then don’t worry, as I’m sure you have been practicing this manoeuvre with your driving instructor as well as doing it on private lessons with your Mum or Dad, friend whoever.
Starting the manoeuvre off. Usually when you’re asked to do this manoeuvre by the driving examiner they will either pull you up before the junction on your left or say as you approach the junction, that you will be using the next road on your left, for this manoeuvre.
This advanced warning will give you time to plan what to do: A couple of things to think about before you start it off.
As you are driving past the junction, look into it and see if there are any potential hazards like parked cars, pedestrians, driveways etc. See how sharp the corner is that you are reversing around, this will enable you to estimate how much steering you will need at the point of turn.

As you pull up past the junction try to give yourself a bit of space from the junction say 2-3 car lengths or 10 meters, remember mirrors signal before you pull over and try not to signal before the junction, as this may confuse other road users around you.
As soon as you pull over and your car is in a straight line and is reasonably close to the kerb, keep your foot on the footbrake and place your car in reverse gear, this is so that anybody behind you will know that you intend to reveres back.
Whilst the foot brake is down, you can if you are comfortable doing this, gradually find the biting point, if you are on a flat surface, if not perhaps apply the handbrake. Whilst your preparing your car to move backwards, check all blind spots and mirrors, and put your driver’s side window down a few inches, this will enable you to hear oncoming vehicles and to hear what is going on around you.
As you revers back look through your rear window, and if you like pause occasionally to see what is going on around you. Keep going back until you have found your point of turn, if your instructor has not discussed this with you before.
Then it usually is when the kerb disappears in your rear window, and if you have any reversing aids fitted in the rear window or extra left side door mirrors you may also see the kerb in these disappearing there as well. Once your left rear wheel is next to the kerb that is starting to curb around the corner this is your point of turn.
At the point of turn you need to stop and check all blinds spots and mirrors, as you turn left your car will swing to the right, this is the most dangerous part of the manoeuvre so you have to be careful, if there are vehicles coming, make certain you pause and give way to them, and there may also be pedestrians or cyclists crossing the junction behind you.
If anybody does approach your vehicle during the manoeuvre, then it is always best to pause and keep an eye on them until they have passed you, otherwise the examiner will assume you have not seen them or are unaware that they have priority.

Remember the examiner is only looking at two areas to mark you on for your driving test:
Observations: see what around you and making to certain it is safe to carry on with your manoeuvre.
Control: how well you steer and keep reasonably close to the kerb.
You can always stop as many times as you like during your manoeuvre to check what is going on around you, and also to see how far from the kerb you are. When you are into the new road and your left rear wheel is getting closer to the kerb remember to straighten your wheels up and reverse back until you are a good safe distance from the junction.
If vehicles are coming up behind them, make certain you give way, if they pull up a long distance away and flash you, they may be waiting you to reverse away from the junction so that they can then safely overtake you. If they instead pull up right behind you, and refuse to go around you, you may have to pull forward and let them out. If this happens the examiner may have seen enough and they may just tell you to move on.

Tags: dreaded manoeuvres, driving test manoeuvres, driving test reversing, left around corner, Reverse around corner, reverse left, reverse manoeuvres