How to Reverse Park (Parallel Parking)

Reverse parking (often called "parallel parking") is one of the reversing manoeuvres that the examiner may ask you to do on your Practical driving test (the other reverse parking manoeuvre is Bay parking). The aim of the parallel parking manoeuvre is to show that you can reverse the car safely and under control to park it in a space behind another parked car, close to and parallel with the kerb. You need to demonstrate smooth co-ordination of the controls and good observation throughout the manoeuvre.

Here you will find step by step instructions to help you learn how to do a perfect parallel/reverse park!  You may be asked to reverse park behind a single vehicle or between two vehicles - don't worry if the examiner chooses the latter as you won't be asked to squeeze into a tight gap! The examiner will look for a space of one and a half to two car lengths at the bare minimum - probably longer! The examiner will usually ask you to pull up on the left and then say something along the lines of; "The vehicle ahead of you is the one upon which I would like you to perform the reverse / parallel park manoeuvre. Please drive forward and stop alongside the car ahead. Then reverse in and park reasonably close to and parallel with the kerb. Try to complete the exercise within about two car lengths."

Let's start with a summarized list of what's required for the parallel parking manoeuvre. You may find it helpful to use this list as a memory jogger - you could even copy it and print it out!

PARALLEL PARKING 

1. Start with left door mirror in line with front bumper of the target car (the one you are going to park behind!) and about an arms length away. Handbrake on.

5. Look over your right shoulder and then over your left shoulder as you continue to move slowly in reverse

6. When left door mirror is pointing at the back off-side of the target car, turn the steering wheel two full turns to the right (720 degrees)

7. Keeping the car moving, look again over your right shoulder and then over your left

8. Once the car is straight and parallel to the kerb, turn the steering wheel another one turn to the left to straighten the wheels

9. Handbrake on and gear lever into neutral

Remember the steering pattern used - one turn to the left, two turns to the right and one turn to the left - 1 2 1!

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How to Reverse Into a Side Road

Reversing around a corner is one of the manoeuvres you may be asked to show the examiner on your driving test. You will usually be asked to reverse round a corner into a side road on your left. It is unlikely (but not impossible!) that you will be asked to reverse into a side road on your right.

The aim of this manoeuvre is for you to reverse into the new road, smoothly and under control, keeping reasonably close to the kerb. You will also be expected to carry out all appropriate safety procedures and checks whilst doing so. This will demonstrate to the driving examiner that you can control the car safely and reverse with reasonable accuracy.

Here you will find step by step instructions to help you learn how to do a perfect reverse around a corner - both to the left and to the right!

 Reversing Around a Corner 

If the examiner asks you to do a reverse around a corner on your driving test, it will usually be a reverse into a side road on your left. There is nothing to stop the examiner from asking you to reverse into a side road on your right - but in practice the right corner reverse is usually only carried out in vehicles that have limited rear visibility such as vans. It is useful though to know how to do a right reverse because knowing how to reverse around a corner to the right could come in very handy if you ever found yourself needing to turn around in a situation where there is no side road to the left or where the road is too narrow to allow you to do a turn in the road etc. On your driving test (assuming that the examiner wants a left reverse!), you will be asked to pull up at the side of the road just before you reach the road that the examiner wants you to reverse into. You'll then be asked something along the lines of; "I would like you to reverse into the next road on the left. Drive past it and stop, then reverse for some distance up the new road keeping a position which is parallel and reasonably close to the kerb".

 REVERSE AROUND A CORNER TO THE LEFT

1. After the examiner has told you what they want you to do, drive on past the road into which you will be reversing. Pull up a couple of car's lengths from the corner and about one drain's width (approx 2 feet) away from the kerb. As you go past the side road, quickly assess it so that you know what to expect - what type of corner/how sharp is the turn, are there any obstructions or children playing in the road etc. Handbrake on, gear lever into neutral & make sure your indicators are switched off.

2. Full observation all round. If clear, select reverse gear and start to reverse. No signals are needed.

3. Looking mainly over your left shoulder, through the rear windscreen, reverse slowly back to where the back wheels of the car are approximately in line with the point where the kerb starts to bend (this is known as the turning point). Alternatively look for the kerb in the rear nearside window. 

4. The front of the car will swing out when you start your turn, so at this point you MUST take thorough observations by checking for traffic both ways and for padestrians behind - don't forget to check your blind spot as well.

5. If clear, keep moving backwards slowly and turn the wheel full lock to the left. The amount of steering required will depend on how sharp the corner is.

6. Reverse for approximately one car's length looking only out of the rear windscreen.

7. Glance in the left door mirror to check your position relative to the kerb - if you are getting significantly closer to the kerb, turn the wheel to the right. If you are getting significantly further away from the kerb, turn the wheel one quarter of a turn to the left. If your distance from the kerb appears to be largely unchanged, do not adjust the wheel. Keep checking all around as you complete the manoeuvre (including your blind spot), especially for anyone coming around the corner as you turn.

8. Keep looking well down the road through the middle of the rear window. This will help you judge whether the car is parallel with the kerb. When the position of the kerb reaches the middle of the rear windscreen, straighten the wheel and reverse for 2 to 3 car lengths from the junction before stopping. Handbrake on & gear lever into neutral and wait for further instructions from the examiner.

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TURN IN THE ROAD (THREE POINT TURN)

1. 1st gear, find the bite

 2. Full observation - left to right

3. Handbrake off

4. Full right lock as quickly as possible

5. As you approach the far kerb, straighten wheel and stop

6. Handbrake on

7. Reverse gear, find the bite

8. Full observation - right to left

9. Handbrake off

10. Full left lock as quickly as possible (looking over left shoulder)

11. Look over right shoulder once you have full lock

12. As you approach the kerb, straighten the wheel and stop

13. Handbrake on

14. 1st gear, find the bite

15. Full observation - left to right

16. Handbrake off

17. Turn to the right to the normal driving position

When you have stopped, the examiner will ask you to turn the car around in the road to face the opposite direction using forward and reverse gears. Prepare to move off by depressing the clutch, selecting first gear, setting the gas and finding the biting point. You must now OBSERVE thoroughly all around you - check your drivers mirror (rear view mirror), both door mirrors, look over your right shoulder to check your blind spot, check in front of the car and lastly check your drivers mirror again. If there is oncoming traffic from either direction, or pedestrians who may be crossing the road (or about to cross it), then wait. Release the handbrake and using clutch control (balancing the clutch and the gas to move the car at a low speed), start to move forwards SLOWLY whilst turning the steering wheel QUICKLY to the RIGHT. Get the steering wheel onto full right lock as soon as you can, so that ideally the car should end up at a right angle across the road. You must be looking and listening for other road users throughout the manoeuvre and be prepared to stop and let them proceed if necessary. As you approach the kerb on the opposite side of the road (about 1 metre away), turn the steering wheel briskly to the LEFT. As the front wheels get near to the kerb, put the clutch right down and use your footbrake to stop. Apply the handbrake. Prepare to move off again by pressing the clutch down, selecting REVERSE gear, setting the gas and finding the biting point. OBSERVE again to make sure the way is clear in all directions and look over your left shoulder before you begin to reverse. If clear release your handbrake. As the car starts to move, turn the steering wheel as far to the LEFT as it will go. As before, constantly check for other road users and be prepared to stop if needed. When you are about half-way across the road, change to looking over your right shoulder so that you can see the kerb as you get nearer to it. As you approach the kerb on the opposite side of the road (about 1 metre away), turn the steering wheel briskly to the RIGHT. As the front wheels get near to the kerb, put the clutch right down and use your footbrake to stop. Apply the handbrake. Prepare to move off again by pressing the clutch down, selecting FIRST gear, setting the gas and finding the biting point. OBSERVE again to make sure the way is clear in all directions. If clear release your handbrake. Drive slowly forward, turning the wheel to the right if necessary to straighten up on the left hand side of the road, then once straight proceed as normal. (Don't forget to check your mirror for traffic coming up behind you at this point)

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  How To Do An Emergency Stop (Controlled Stop)

The emergency stop is an exercise that you may be required to carry out on your driving test. The emergency stop is often referred to as a "controlled stop" and is done at random on approximately one in three driving tests. The aim of the emergency / controlled stop manoeuvre is to prove that you can bring the car to a halt in a straight line in an emergency situation. Here you will find step by step instructions to help you learn how to do a perfect emergency stop! The emergency stop is done at random on approximately one in three driving tests. If the examiner wants you to carry out the emergency stop, you will be asked to pull over at the side of the road in a safe place and the examiner will then explain what you will be required to do along the following lines; "Shortly I am going to ask you to stop the vehicle as if in an emergency. Just as if for example a small child ran into the road ahead of you. My signal for the manoeuvre will be..." (at this point the examiner will demonstrate the signal they will give you - it's usually holding up their right hand in front of the windscreen whilst saying "STOP"). The examiner will continue their instructions - "When I give the signal I'd like you to stop the car as soon as possible, while maintaining full control. Please try not to anticipate the manoeuvre when you see me look over my shoulder to check that it is safe for you to perform it. Drive on when you are ready please".

Doing An Emergency Stop On A Driving Test  

1. After the examiner has explained what you will be required to do, move away as normal after making the proper observations. Try to keep your cool and don't try to anticipate when the examiner will ask you to stop. You WILL see the examiner checking that it's safe for you to do the emergency stop but don't assume that it's about to happen just because the examiner looks around - you must WAIT until you get the signal!

2. When the signal is given, you must try to stop as soon as possible in a controlled manner. This is the only time on your test that is no need for mirror checks or signals - the examiner has already checked it is safe and your brake lights will tell other road users what you are doing. Simply remove your foot from the accelerator (gas pedal) and brake firmly but not too hard that the brakes lock or you skid. Just before the car stops press the clutch pedal down. Keep both hands on the steering wheel as you brake to keep the car in a straight line - there's no need to worry about changing gear.

3. When the car has stopped, apply the handbrake and put the gear lever into neutral and take your feet off the pedals while you wait for the examiner's next instruction.

4. The examiner will then say something along the lines of; "Thank you, I won't ask you to do that exercise again. Drive on and follow the road ahead when you're ready.". Before moving away you must perform an all-round observation including mirror checks, checking over both your left and right shoulder and giving a signal if necessary.

 Good Luck - Daren