Reversing

Awareness comes first

Awareness is the most important part of reversing. Most pupils focus on accuracy — understandably, because that's the tricky bit. But think of it this way: you can always fix a manoeuvre that's gone wrong; you can't fix poor awareness. Once you've hit something — or someone — it's done.

So where should you be looking when reversing? Everywhere. Before starting, check all around for hazards. Throughout the manoeuvre, keep reassessing your surroundings for anything that changes. There's no magic to it — just make safety your priority, not accuracy.

Control when reversing

Reverse bay parking

There's no single method you must use — it's simply a case of keeping everyone safe while pointing the back of the car into the space. As you enter the car park, choose a space and line the car up ready to reverse in — at whatever angle works for you. If you're swinging across the road to get your angle, check for hazards first.

Once set up, check all around, keep the car moving slowly and steer as needed. We're deliberately not prescribing exactly when and how much to steer — the skill is feeling where the car is going and adjusting, just as you do driving forwards around a corner. Want to get closer to a line or car? Steer towards it. Too close? Steer away.

Parallel parking

Parallel parking uses exactly the same skills — you're still just pointing the back of the car into a space. You're on a road, so the hazards are different, but good, consistent observations keep everyone safe.

Pull up alongside the car you'll park behind, checking around you before stopping and signalling left so other road users know you're stopping. Select reverse — the reversing light acts as an extra signal to cars behind. Have a good look around before you move. Start by turning towards the kerb; once you've created the angle you need, reverse in a straight line; then judge your distance from the kerb and turn away from it to finish. And as with all reversing — keep checking around you throughout.

Forward bay parking

Driving forward into a space and reversing out. Generally we'd suggest reversing in and driving out instead: the car goes into a space more easily backwards, and reversing in is safer than reversing out, because you can see the traffic and the space as you enter — whereas backing out, parked cars block your view of the car park.

Sometimes forward parking makes sense though, so here's how to do it safely. Check all around before turning in, and signal if anyone's around. Create as much space as you can — if the space is on the right, start as far left as possible. Turn in as late as you can, which straightens the car sooner so you enter straighter. Keep the speed right down: it's tempting to go quicker because you're moving forwards, but slow speed lets you adjust on the way in.

Reversing out: check all around first, and think about the blind spots created by the cars parked beside you. Creep out slowly, continuously checking for new hazards. Start turning once your front end has cleared the neighbouring cars, and check all around again before driving off.

On test, you can park on the left or right, in any space — the examiner will say: “I'd like you to park forward into a space of your choice.”

Pulling up on the right

Parking on the right and reversing back two car lengths is — again — all about safety. You can fix your position; you can't fix a missed observation with a hazard nearby. The examiner will ask you to stop on the right in a safe place. Assess how stopping will affect others:

• •Are there any cars behind?
• •Do we need a signal?
• •Are there any oncoming cars?
• •Any junctions nearby affecting the decision?
• •Where can I stop safely?
• •When do I move across to position in time?

Common scenarios: if there are cars or pedestrians around, signal so they know what you're doing. If there's oncoming traffic, give way — stop at your point of turn and wait. And time your signal carefully if there's a junction on the right, so it doesn't look like you're turning in.

Once parked, you'll be asked to reverse back two car lengths, keeping close to the kerb — constant observations, stopping for any hazards, small adjustments as you go. Then move off again: check all around, remembering you're crossing the oncoming traffic, and once it's safe, move back over to the left and continue.

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