How to Reverse Around a Corner

Other Driving videos for you:

Large Roundabouts  |  Turning in the Road (three point turn)  |  Reverse on the corner to your left  |  Emergency Stop

Parallel Parking – Reverse Parking  |    Reverse bay parking tips  |  Reverse into the bay to your left – mistake

Is reversing around a corner still in the driving test?

Since December 2017, reversing around a corner is no longer in the driving test, much to the relief of many learner drivers. However, that doesn’t mean that you can ignore this manoevre, as performing a correct reverse around a corner is still a useful skill in everyday driving. Reversing correctly is also safer for you, other drivers and pedestrians around you.

Tips for reversing around a corner

Hi my name is Noel Gaughan; I’m the lead driving instructor of Intensive Courses at the driving school. Today we are going to do the reverse around the corner to the left. Now, when you’re doing the reverse around the corner to your left, bear in mind this is not a parking manoeuvre. The reason we do this is similar reasons we do the three point turn, it’s to get the car going the opposite direction. When you’re doing this, remember it’s not a parking manoeuvre. In the days when this was in the test, you were allowed up to one metre away from the curb at any one point, so just remember don’t go too close to the curb. If you’re about to hit the curb you can always move forward a bit and correct, if you feel you’re going wide go forward again a bit and then correct. Don’t be afraid to correct your manoeuvres.

So, here we go. So what I am going to do is get into position, like I said before it’s reverse around the corner to the left, you always go from a major road to a minor road you don’t do the other way round. So whatever you do, go from a major road to a minor road. Don’t do it on a crossroads, it’s too dangerous, too many different roads coming into a junction. You’re going to do it on a T-junction, major road to a minor road.

So I am just going to get the car into position and we shall then begin to start the manoeuvre. Now when you park up to do the manoeuvre just park up before the junction and have a look at it, is it a sharp corner, is it a gentle corner or is it a low curb? Take these into account, how difficult it’s going to be.

Now, what I am going to do is I am going to move forward into position and I’m going to be about a half metre from the curb, give myself a little bit of space, don’t go too tight to the curb when you’re doing this. So as we go forwards I am going to just get into position. Now when I am driving past the junction I am going to have a little look in, see how far back I can go, I can see there’s a parked car a few metres back. So I am just going to tell everyone I am going to park up – mirror, signal – driving past the junction a little bit and stopping.

Now I am getting the car ready, putting the car into reverse. When you put the car into reverse, obviously the reverse light comes on so people know what I’m up to. So I am going to have a good look around over my right shoulder and going to look over my left shoulder and make sure there are no pedestrians crossing the road. Make sure there are no cars coming up and down the road and definitely make sure there are no cars coming out of the road you are going into.

So what I am going to do is reverse back, try and get myself into position for the point of turn, so looking around and going back and I am looking in my little mirror just to see where the beginning of the curb is. I can see it’s beginning to sweep at this point, so what I am going to do is stop again, look around because as the back of the car goes around the corner the front of the car sweeps out into the front of the road.

Now, as I am looking ahead I can see there’s a car coming straight ahead so I am going to let him come past first before I continue the manoeuvre, do not interfere with anyone else on the road. Just looking around to make sure it’s safe and begin to go fairly slowly back and I’m just following the yellow line as I am going around the corner. Again I am going to stop and make sure it’s safe, look into the road I am going into again for pedestrians behind me as well on the other side. Coming back very, very slowly, keeping about a half metre from the curb at any one point, stopping looking around, looking at the road you’re going into. If there’s a car coming out of the road you’re going into just move forward out of the way. So take your time, don’t interfere (with other drivers).

So as I am going back, I am just going to follow the curb again around very, very slowly, taking my time, looking around in the road you’re going into. Okay, looking over for pedestrians over my blind spot on my right shoulder and as I come into the road I am just looking round, looking into my mirrors making sure there’s nothing there. Now, I am just going to straighten the car up and reverse back. I am going to clear the junction as much as possible; that gives the cars behind you a chance to overtake back into their own side of the road. I’m just going back a little bit more, making sure it’s safe. Move back a little more, I’m close enough to the car behind so I’m finished.

The reason we do this is to pull forward, signal right and go in the opposite direction. Quite a simple manoeuvre but do it slowly, take your time and don’t rush it.