How to reverse around a corner.

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This manoeuvre is not as commonly used by qualified drivers as a parking or turn in the road manoeuvre. You will reverse around a corner if you need to turn the car around but the road you are on is too narrow for a turn in the road.

The best way to perform a reverse around a corner manoeuvre will depend on the shape of the corner, the slope and camber on the road and your visibility.

You need to leave a couple of car lengths between you and the corner, on approach slow down and scan around you, taking note of key things – the angle of the corner, the camber on the road, the gradient of the street you are turning into, any obstacles that might disrupt your vision.

You should pull up to the kerb about 1.5 feet from the kerb, this is also the position the car should be in at the end of the manoeuvre. Cancel your signal, put the car into reverse if it is all clear, remembering to check your blind spot.

This is a snail’s pace manoeuvre, try and maintain a constant speed and check for hazards at all times, you are using two roads on this manoeuvre so there could be hazards approaching from numerous locations.

Start to turn at the Turning Point – when the first kerb stone that curves is adjacent to your back wheel.

Since the car is reversing your main focus should be out the rear window, you can take off your seatbelt if this makes you more comfortable. Try to get used to looking out the rear window when reversing around a corner, some people find it confusing to try and judge the corner using the mirrors and you need to look where the car is going. If the road is busy be prepared to stop to give way to traffic frequently.

Check all around you before you start to steer, you do not have the right of way and if any other traffic approaches you will have to give way.

Steer left – this is the part that you need to learn to judge through practice, try to keep your vehicle at a constant distance from the kerb, most mistakes on this manoeuvre are a result of trying to compensate for deviating either too close or too far from the kerb.

Position the car parallel to the kerb, and reverse for another two car lengths, bringing the car to a stop in relatively the same position as you started in.

The examiner on the driving test will expect you to be able to:
• Judge your starting position, 2 car lengths from corner, fairly close to kerb
• Start to turn at the “Turning Point”.
• Account for the camber in the road, braking and applying the gas pedal where necessary
• Constantly maintain awareness of the other road users and pedestrians
• Perform the manoeuvre without bumping the kerb.
• Never mount the kerb.

Remember that most mistakes on this manoeuvre come from the trying to make up for earlier errors – the manoeuvre does not have to look like a perfect text book example as the examiner knows each corner is different.