| Are you finding reversing a car very difficult? I mean | | | | to look too close behind the car or even at the car |
| annoyingly, frustratingly difficult? Try not to be too | | | | itself as they are reversing. Try to look up at the |
| disheartened because believe me you are not alone. In | | | | horizon much as you do(I hope) when you are driving |
| my experience, the majority of learner drivers struggle | | | | forwards. Sometimes I ask a person I suspect of |
| with reversing at first. The main reason, I think, is that | | | | making this error if they know how to play pool or |
| although they have reverse gear engaged, their mind is | | | | snooker. Most people have at least had a go. So then I |
| still in forward gear! Let me explain what I mean by | | | | ask them if they look at the cue ball or the object ball |
| that. | | | | when making a shot. They usually reply "The object |
| Because it feels normal and reassuring to steer the | | | | ball, of course!" So, do you get the point I am making |
| front of the car, a lot of beginners are still trying to do | | | | here? Your car is the cue ball and the horizon, or at |
| that whilst going backwards! Not surprising then that | | | | least some distance behind you, where you intend your |
| they have such problems! Can you imagine driving | | | | car to go, is the object ball. |
| forwards whilst looking out of the rear windscreen? | | | | So, to sum up, it is vital that you think about the |
| Impossible, right? Even the most experienced driver | | | | following points when learning to reverse a car:- |
| would struggle to do that. | | | | 1. Keep control of the speed, using clutch control in a |
| So, you have to put your mind into reverse mode as | | | | manual car, or the foot brake in an automatic vehicle |
| well as the car. In other words, accept that the back | | | | so that you can accurately steer and allow for the |
| of your vehicle becomes in effect the front when you | | | | time lag between you turning the steering wheel and |
| are reversing. That does not mean that you are not | | | | the back of the car changing direction. |
| aware of things happening in front of you, but you | | | | 2. Always steer the rear of the car however tempting |
| must steer the rear of the car, which is now leading | | | | it may be to look around at the front to steer. |
| the way. | | | | 3. Remember to look a long way behind you and not |
| The other important thing to mention is speed, or rather | | | | at where your rear wheels are! |
| lack of it. Most beginners, without really wanting to, | | | | If you keep in mind these important points and keep on |
| attempt going backwards around a corner faster than | | | | practising I hope and believe that you will soon start to |
| they would forwards! Remember that when reversing, | | | | see improvements in your reversing abilities.Once you |
| there is a delay in the turning of the steering wheel | | | | get comfortable reversing and steering the rear, then |
| altering the direction of the rear of the car, because it | | | | you will find that you can start to go a little bit faster |
| is only the front wheels that are turning. You have to | | | | and even look around at the front of your vehicle.The |
| adjust to that time lag and if you are going too fast, | | | | difference is that you will not be looking in front to |
| you will not be able to judge it correctly, and will | | | | steer but only to check that your car is not causing |
| probably turn too early or too much. | | | | problems for any other road user as you start to turn. |
| Another common mistake made by learner drivers is | | | | |