Turn in the road
The object is to turn
the car round so it’s facing in the opposite direction by using 1st
gear to shunt slowly forward and reverse gear to shunt slowly backwards. Then
move forward to park up on the opposite side of the road. You have to do this
in as less shunts possible, which doesn’t mean you have to do it in 3 shunts.
From a left hand parking position, bring the clutch slowly to a very weak biting point so it feels like the engine is very slightly pushing against the wheels. If you fetch it up to high the car will move away too quickly when you release the handbrake. Press the gas down just a few millimetres so the engine is at a gentle hum. Check forwards and all around, if the road is clear, release the handbrake. Keep observing looking in the right hand door mirror and forwards as you move.
As the car moves slowly forward, turn the steering very quickly onto full right hand lock. As you start to do this, try and keep tight control with the clutch pedal and don’t let the car move more than a creeping speed, it also helps if you keep the gas in the same place so keeping the engine revs up.
Most roads are cambered, which means they are usually higher in the middle and drop down in the gutters.
As you near the opposite side of the road, you will have to turn the steering back to straight again, this is usually done in the last 3 feet (1metre) of movement.
As you do this, the car may start to move quicker as the wheels straighten and it starts to roll down the camber so you need to be ready to press the clutch down and probably use the footbrake as well to stop it rolling into the kerb.
Hold the footbrake tight and apply the handbrake.
Select reverse gear then fetch the clutch slowly to biting point, you will need the clutch in a position whereas you will be able to release the handbrake and it won’t roll forward into the kerb, but not so high that it moves backwards quickly. Ideally you need the clutch set to a point that you can release the handbrake and the car holds still on biting point, at the same time also set the gas.
Before you move check for traffic to your right and left then move you head round in a semi circular 180º movement so you are looking through the back window. Slowly relax the clutch upwards so the car starts to creep backwards, as you do this turn the steering very quickly onto full left lock.
When you are on full left lock, turn your head all the way back so you are looking over your right hand shoulder in the direction of the rear offside wheel.
As you near the opposite side of the road, you will have to turn the steering back to straight again, this is usually done in the last 3 feet (1metre) of movement.
As you do this, the car may start to move quicker as the wheels straighten and it starts to roll down the camber so you need to be ready to press the clutch down and probably use the footbrake as well to stop it rolling into the kerb.
Hold the footbrake tight and apply the handbrake.
Select 1st gear then fetch the clutch slowly to biting point, you will need the clutch in a position whereas you will be able to release the handbrake and it won’t roll backwards into the kerb, but not so high that it moves forwards quickly. Ideally you need the clutch set to a point that you can release the handbrake and the car holds still on biting point, at the same time also set the gas. Look both ways, especially to the left and creep forwards slowly whilst turning the steering quickly to the right. If you can’t clear the kerb on the opposite side DON’T bump into it. Stop the car then repeat the second shunt i.e. shunting back slowly turning quickly left and then right again, then repeat the third shunt to clear the kerb.
Reversing round a Square (sharp) corner
Stop on the left hand side just before the street that you intend to reverse into. Pull forwards after checking round and position your vehicle in a reversing position roughly about 18 inches (½ metre) away from the kerb on the opposite side of the street and about 3 car lengths forward, including your car.
See diagram below
Check round over both shoulders checking for other road users. If clear reverse back at creeping speed, keep tight control of the clutch!
There is a green dot which is stuck on the side window, when this dot reaches the kerb edging around the corner you are reversing; you need to turn the steering on full left lock (1½ turns) at a fairly quick rate whilst the car is slowly moving back. Just before you reach this point you will have to check over your right shoulder and forwards to make sure the road is clear as the front of your car will swing out as you start to steer. You may have to wait if the road is busy. Keep moving very slowly back on full lock, when you are partly into the reverse, just before half way, have another look over your right shoulder. At all other times keep looking through the back window. When the car looks straight in the street you are reversing into (check left hand door mirror but don’t live in it) steer the wheels into a straight position in as less movement as possible (1½ turns) right, try and do this hardly moving so as the car is still in a parallel position with the kerb (straight position with the street) when you have finished straightening up. Keep looking through the back window keeping in a direct line back. Use the side mirror to check position but don’t live in it.
Reversing around a gradual (round) corner
Stop on the left hand side just before the street that you intend to reverse into. Pull forwards after checking round and position your vehicle in a reversing position roughly about 18 inches (½ metre) away from the kerb on the opposite side of the street and about 3 car lengths forward, including your car.
See diagram below
Check round over both shoulders checking for other road users. If clear reverse back at creeping speed, keep tight control of the clutch!
This shape of reverse is done similar to the sharp reverse but the left hand lock is put on in a more gradual way. Reverse very slowly back to a point where you can just about see the kerb edge around the corner through the nearside rear window (Point A). When you can see this, turn the steering quickly ½ a turn at the same time looking over your right shoulder to check for passing vehicles etc. When you have reversed ⅓ of the distance round the turn put on another ¼ turn on the steering (Point B).
Have another check over your right shoulder and forwards, wait if necessary. Creep back slowly until you feel you have completed two thirds of the corner. At this point (C) turn on the final ¼ of the turn. Reverse back until you meet a parallel position with the kerb, and at this point D straighten up the wheels quickly moving as slow as possible. Keep looking through the back window keeping in a direct line back. Use the side mirror to check position but don’t live in it.
See diagram below
