Help with driving test reversing maneouvre please

sharpy2010

I can't believe I'm the only person who reverses round a corner on perhaps a monthly basis!? It's not the most used manoeuvre but it's surely also not the least!?!

LandyAndy

sharpy2010 wrote: »

I can't believe I'm the only person who reverses round a corner on perhaps a monthly basis!? It's not the most used manoeuvre but it's surely also not the least!?!

I reverse from the road around parked cars and into my drive several times a day. Almost always in the direction in which it is done in a test.

[Deleted User]

toffeentom wrote: »

I've parked in many a bay

That's the reason for the reverse around a corner.

They don't know how good or bad your reversing is, so they aren't about to let you demonstrate it between two parked cars.

Instead, they get you to demonstrate it going round a corner, where the only stationary object you can hit is the kerb.

mikey72

sharpy2010 wrote: »

I can't believe I'm the only person who reverses round a corner on perhaps a monthly basis!? It's not the most used manoeuvre but it's surely also not the least!?!

I think I must spend half my life reversing, usually looking for customers houses on estates.
It's either a three point turn, or reverse back to the last corner and turn.
Either that or it's after meeting a tractor down a single track lane.

(About the only place I don't reverse into is supermarket spaces, then I can load the car without denting everything around me with the trolley)

toffee'n'tom

Well my son failed his driving test for the third time today. He's never failed on the manoeuvres. It's been something different every time.

He's never had more than 2 minors but had 1 serious every time. It is so harsh and I reckon a different examiner could possibly make a different judgement call.

The first time the examiner was late telling him which exit to take on a big roundabout so he had to change lanes. He failed him because although he checked over his shoulder he said he didn't use his mirror.

the second time a car slammed its brakes on in front of him. He didn't have to slam his just brake as we all would and maneouvre round him.

Today it was at a set of traffic lights. He was upon the lights and a meter or two from going through when they changed. It was a judgement call and he, as I would have done, drove through. Another fail.

I can't tell you how despondent he is now and he is getting more nervous every time when he really is a good safe driver. The instructor has said she just sits there through his lessons and doesn't have to tell him anything and he is more than ready for his test.

Any suggestions. I haven't felt this helpless for a long time

Bennifred

toffeentom wrote: »

Well my son failed his driving test for the third time today. He's never failed on the manoeuvres. It's been something different every time.

He's never had more than 2 minors but had 1 serious every time. It is so harsh and I reckon a different examiner could possibly make a different judgement call.

The first time the examiner was late telling him which exit to take on a big roundabout so he had to change lanes. He failed him because although he checked over his shoulder he said he didn't use his mirror.

the second time a car slammed its brakes on in front of him. He didn't have to slam his just brake as we all would and maneouvre round him.

Today it was at a set of traffic lights. He was upon the lights and a meter or two from going through when they changed. It was a judgement call and he, as I would have done, drove through. Another fail.

I can't tell you how despondent he is now and he is getting more nervous every time when he really is a good safe driver. The instructor has said she just sits there through his lessons and doesn't have to tell him anything and he is more than ready for his test.

Any suggestions. I haven't felt this helpless for a long time

Much sympathy! My youngest son is in a similar situation - his instructor says his driving is impeccable, yet he has failed the test over different things 5 times now! Last time was at a mini roundabout, a bus approaching from the right. Son stopped to give way. Bus flashed him to go, but son didn't. Undue hestitation! said the examiner. It's costing son an arm and a leg, and he'll have to retake the theory test at this rate.....:mad:

Lovelyjoolz

toffeentom wrote: »

Today it was at a set of traffic lights. He was upon the lights and a meter or two from going through when they changed. It was a judgement call and he, as I would have done, drove through. Another fail.

Without being there, we can't know for sure how much time your son had to stop, but if he risked it on amber then I think the examiner was right to fail him on this. Too many people jump lights on amber nowadays and I have seen way too many accidents and near misses because of it.

You say that you would have risked it - has he perhaps picked up a few bad habits from you when you've taken him out? No offense meant, but really, driving to pass a test is not the same as day-to-day driving. I'm sure most of us would fail if we were secretly tested without us knowing it.

slyracoon

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

He should move forward, back to the position he started from, wait until the junction is clear, then begin again.

Correct.

I failed my first test on this. I was reversing round the corner, car came down road I was reversing into, I noticed it in plenty of time and noticed that he had slowed to allow me to complete the manouvere so I continued. However I failed because he had right of way and I should have aborted the manouvere and tried again once the coast was clear.

toffee'n'tom

Lovelyjoolz wrote: »

Without being there, we can't know for sure how much time your son had to stop, but if he risked it on amber then I think the examiner was right to fail him on this. Too many people jump lights on amber nowadays and I have seen way too many accidents and near misses because of it.

You say that you would have risked it - has he perhaps picked up a few bad habits from you when you've taken him out? No offense meant, but really, driving to pass a test is not the same as day-to-day driving. I'm sure most of us would fail if we were secretly tested without us knowing it.

I agree. And I also agree about the majority of people failing. I wasn't there and can only go by what he's told me. I didn't say I'd 'risk' it I said it was a judgement call and if you are practically at a set of lights when they are turning to amber it is generally more dangerous to stop suddently than it is to proceed. That's what I was taught on my test and advanced driving.

Another point is it all depends on the time of day you're taking your test. Instructors tell you to try and get one just after nine and before twelve. Commuting and school runs have finished and the roads are quiet. Two of my sons friends have passed tests at that time. They didn't come across one cyclist, child on the road, no one slammed their brakes on in front of them. Surely there must be an element of judgement for examiners who are conducting tests all day to take that into consideration.

It has totally knocked his confidence and he will be so nervous next time goes that will probably get the better of him

gpc273

treboeth wrote: »

The reason for explaining to the examiner is to make it clear why you are doing something, on a driving test never assume ( !!! out of you and me as I was taught) always make it clear it goes along with making exaggerated use of mirrors checking blind spot etc.

You really don't need to exaggerate the mirror checks, examiners are trained (Repetitively!) to watch for these checks, some people just flick their eyes, that is more than enough.