Reversing

By the end of this topic you can

• You can reverse in a straight line at walking pace or slower, using clutch control or gentle braking.
• You can check all around the car, including both blind spots, before and during a reverse.
• You can reverse around a left or right corner, keeping reasonably close to the kerb.
• You can stop and wait for other road users and carry on only when it is safe.
• You can choose a safe and legal place to reverse.

What you need to know and understand

• Irish law says you must not reverse if it would endanger other traffic or pedestrians.
• You must never reverse from a minor road onto a major road.
• You may reverse onto a road from a driveway or similar place only when it is clearly safe.
• A small child behind the car may not show in any mirror.
• On the car test you do one reverse around a corner, and the tester chooses left or right.
• Breaking the reversing rules is a penalty point offence.

Looking before and while you move

Most reversing collisions happen because the driver looked once and then stopped looking. Before you move, check in front, behind, over both shoulders and in all mirrors. While you move, look mainly through the rear window, and keep glancing all round, especially at the front of the car, which swings out as you steer.

Take extra care near schools, playgrounds, housing estates, car parks and your own driveway. If you cannot see properly, ask someone to guide you from a place where you can see them, and stop at once if they disappear from view. If in doubt, get out and look.

Reversing around a corner, step by step

1. Pull in close to the kerb and stop just past the side road, a safe distance from the corner.
2. Select reverse and do a full all-round check, including both blind spots.
3. Move back very slowly using clutch control, or a light foot on the brake in an automatic.
4. As the back of the car reaches the start of the curve, steer to follow the kerb, keeping close to it but not touching it.
5. Keep checking all round, especially as the front swings out into the main road.
6. Stop and wait if a car, cyclist or pedestrian comes. Do not carry on until they have passed or clearly let you go.
7. Straighten up and keep reversing in a straight line until told to stop, or until you are far enough in to rejoin safely on the left.

Keeping it slow and steady

Speed is the enemy in any reverse. The slower you go, the more time you have to correct the steering and spot people. In a manual car, hold the clutch near the biting point and let the car creep. Small, early steering movements work better than big late ones. If you drift away from the kerb or get too close, stop, take a breath, and correct slowly.

Common mistakes

• Going too fast. Keep the car at a crawl so you can stop instantly.
• Looking only in the mirrors. Turn your body and look through the rear window.
• Forgetting the front of the car. Check it as it swings out into the road you are leaving.
• Not reacting to other road users. Stopping to let someone pass is correct, not a fault.
• Reversing out of a side road onto a main road. Always reverse into the minor road, never out of it.

Test yourself: Reversing

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