Reversing

Reversing needs practice until you become confident. Start by reversing in a straight line, then go on to reversing round corners and more complicated manoeuvres.

Your vehicle will respond differently in reverse gear. You can’t feel the car turning with the steering as you would in forward gears, and you have to wait for the steering to take effect.

Move your vehicle slowly while in reverse. This way, you’ll be able to respond accurately and safely to the steering movements.

How to sit

Turn slightly in your seat. If you’re reversing straight back or to the left, hold the steering wheel near the top – at 12 o’clock – with your right hand, and low on the wheel with your left hand.

If this position is uncomfortable, you might find it easier to hold the wheel at 12 o’clock with your right hand. Your left arm can rest on the back of your seat or the back of the front passenger seat.

Seat belts

You may remove your seat belt while carrying out a manoeuvre that involves reversing. Don’t forget to refasten it before driving off.

How to steer

When to begin steering?

Avoid turning the steering wheel while the vehicle is stationary (‘dry’ steering). It could cause damage to the tyres and increased wear in steering linkages.

As soon as you start moving, turn the steering wheel the way you want the rear of the vehicle to turn.

In reverse, it’s often helpful to begin turning or straightening up sooner than seems necessary.

Remember, reverse slowly and you’ll have time for

• unhurried control of the vehicle
• checks to the front, side and rear.

What to check

All-round observation is just as important when you’re reversing as it is when you’re going forward.

• Check for other road users before you reverse; motorcycles, cyclists and pedestrians are more difficult to see.
• Check to the rear, particularly for children playing behind the vehicle.
• Check all round – forward, behind, over both shoulders and in all mirrors.
• If in doubt, get out and check.
• Keep checking all the time you’re moving backwards, particularly behind you and to the sides, and especially at the point of turning.

Always be ready to stop.

Reverse-assist technology

Two main reverse-assist technologies are available in modern cars

• ultrasonic parking sensors that bleep when you approach an object such as a wall
• rear-facing cameras, where the image from the camera is shown on a screen on the dashboard.

Don’t rely on these technologies alone. You should still observe all around you and throughout the manoeuvre.