Reversing round a corner

By the end of this topic you can

• You can choose a safe and legal corner to reverse round.
• You can reverse slowly while keeping a steady distance from the kerb.
• You can judge when to start steering and how much to use.
• You can keep looking all around and stop for other road users.
• You can straighten up and finish parallel to the kerb in the side road.

What you need to know and understand

• Do not reverse from a side road into a main road; reverse into the side road and then drive out forwards.
• Avoid reversing on busy roads; choose a quiet side road with a clear view.
• Before and during reversing, check all mirrors, blind spots and for pedestrians, cyclists and obstructions.
• As you steer, the front of the car swings out towards the middle of the road.
• You must not reverse further than necessary.
• Reversing round a corner was removed from the driving test in December 2017 but is still taught.

Doing it in stages

1. Choose a quiet left-hand side road with no parked cars near the corner. Check your mirrors and signal left if it helps others.
2. Drive past the side road and stop on the left, about two car lengths past the corner and close to the kerb.
3. Select reverse, look all around and reverse slowly in a straight line, looking mainly over your left shoulder.
4. When the back of the car reaches the point where the kerb starts to curve, look all around again, because the front will swing out.
5. Steer left in proportion to how sharp the corner is, keeping the kerb at a steady distance in the rear window or left mirror.
6. As the car comes into line with the side road, straighten the wheel.
7. Reverse a short distance into the side road, keeping parallel to the kerb, and stop. Then drive out forwards when it is safe.

Watching the whole picture

This manoeuvre needs observation in every direction. Traffic on the main road will see your car swing out as you turn. Traffic may also want to come out of the side road you are reversing into. Pedestrians may want to cross behind you.

If anyone approaches, stop and let them decide what to do. If a vehicle wants to come out of the side road, it may be better to drive forward out of the way and start again.

Sharp corners and gentle ones

A sharp corner needs more steering, applied more quickly, at the moment you reach the curve. A gentle, sweeping corner needs less steering held for longer. If you drift too far from the kerb, steer a little more left; if you get too close, ease off the steering. Moving slowly gives you time to correct.

Common mistakes

• Starting to steer too early and mounting the kerb. Wait until the back of the car reaches the curve.
• Forgetting that the front swings out. Look round to your right before you steer.
• Reversing too quickly through the turn. Keep to a slow walk.
• Stopping too close to the corner. Reverse far enough in that you are clear of the junction, without going further than needed.
• Choosing a busy road or a corner with parked cars. Pick a quiet, clear corner.

Test yourself: Reversing round a corner

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Reversing and U Turns