Reverse Park
Reverse Parking
| Turn in the Road | Left Reverse | Bay Parking | Reverse Parking |
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Reverse Park - Parallel Park
If you are asked to do a reverse park on your driving test the examiner will ask you to pull up behind a parked car. They will then ask you to pull up alongside the vehicle in front and reverse around the parked vehicle finishing within two car lengths. This manoeuvre is only ever done behind one car and not between two vehicles for safety reasons.
Freedom Driving School Preston will make sure that you are fully capable of completing this manoeuvre using the following technique. Ensuring that you use sufficient control along with good observation to ensure that you are able to complete the manoeuvre every time.
Pull up alongside the vehicle
If you are asked to complete the reverse park manoeuvre on your test, the first thing you need to do is pull up alongside the parked vehicle giving yourself some reversing distance.
As soon as you have pulled up, select reverse gear, this put the reverse lights on ensuring that following traffic knows that you intend to reverse.
Point of turn
Reverse back making sure that at all times you are looking up and down the road stopping for any vehicles on the road.
The point of turn is when the back of the parked vehicle is half way up your rear passengers window, this makes sure that the back end of your car is clear of the parked vehicle.
At this point we need to steer, making sure it's safe to continue (allround observations) steer full lock to the left)
Straitening Up/Right Steering
As the front of the car moves right we need a point to straitening up the steering, this is when the car gets to a point just over 45 degrees, to make this simply just think about a clock face and you are aiming to get the car to 2 o'clock position.
Once the steering is straight reverse back until you right mirror covers the rear lights/corner of the parked car, at this point steer full lock right.
Straightening Up
As you start to pull in behind the parked vehicle your car should start to line up with it. At this point you need to straighten your steering so that you car is close to the kerb.
If you are too far away from the kerb you may need to steer slightly to the left to get you closer and then right to bring the front end closer to the kerb. If you are too close to the kerb and may hit it if you continue you should move the car forward so as not to hit the kerb. (remembering that hitting the kerb may result in you failing you driving test)
Two car lengths
As you pull in behind the vehicle you need to reverse back two car lengths. This will enable you to move away safely after the manoeuvre. If you're not sure how far to reverse, reverse back so that you can see the rear tyres of the vehicle in front as well as at least half a metre of tarmac. If you feel that you have reversed too far move forward making sure you close to the kerb. Remembering that you will be asked to move away from this location so make sure you don't get too close.