Methods of reversing?

[Futuramic]

My dad reverses his car by looking out of the back window, or down the side at all times. I rarely look out of the back, instead lining my car up using the wing mirrors - with occasional glances to the rear to check for safety. I've tried looking through the back window - but I'm below average height so I can't see a lot.

Now, without wishing to boast, 99% of the time I can parallel and reverse bay park first time. I've never hit anything. My dad, using the rear-window method finds it difficult to back his car into a bay and always seems to end up closer or, on top of one line. Recently he has collided with a bollard and the gatepost of our driveway.

However, on programmes such as Traffic Cops, the police drivers always seem to back their cars up by looking through the back - is there any advantage to this method if done properly?

[anonymous-user]

I think that a combination of direct observation through the back and the mirrors is the best way to do it. I find that mirrors help to gauge the currect position of the car and looking out of the back helps to gauge where you're about to go.

The main reason to look out the back was illustrated to me yesterday when I watched someone reverse into a parking space (at 90 degrees to the road). This person used only their mirrors and didn't look out of the back at all. Car pulls up, into reverse, applies left lock, gets neatly into the centre of space, wheels straight, reverses more, left mirror: clear, right mirror: clear, reverse, BANG! right into the tree that was directly behind them and not visible in either mirror

[robwales]

For parking and manoeuvring, I always use the mirrors.
For higher speed reversing e.g. if you come up against someone on a country lane, I always look through the back window, left arm behind the passenger seat, and steer with the right.

[andyj2]

Hardly ever physically look over my left shoulder and through the rear window.... nearly always use the wing mirrors and rear view mirror.

Living in the country and having to also park on a very tight drive way alongside my dads car when I was learning to drive, made me perfect my reversing skills quite quickly!

I've got to the point now, that if I meet another car on a country road, I'm always the one who reverses (after first checking nothing has come up behind me!), regardless of what the other car is doing.

[Jungles]

Low-speed: Physically check through the rear window at the beginning of manoeuvre, then use mirrors, check through rear window again near the end of manoeuvre.

High-speed: Always looking through the rear window.

[Don]

andyj2 said:

Hardly ever physically look over my left shoulder and through the rear window.... nearly always use the wing mirrors and rear view mirror.

Living in the country and having to also park on a very tight drive way alongside my dads car when I was learning to drive, made me perfect my reversing skills quite quickly!

I've got to the point now, that if I meet another car on a country road, I'm always the one who reverses (after first checking nothing has come up behind me!), regardless of what the other car is doing.

I grew up in the country: when it comes to reversing down single track lanes for 50 or 100 yards its no problem. Its amazing how many can't do it, though...

When I reverse I try to maintain full all-around observation out of all the windows, bouncing my vision around in an attempt to assess if any new hazards are arriving whilst I perform the manouver. Whilst doing this I check the mirrors (particularly the side mirrors) to check positioning. If its a tricky parallel park I may angle the passenger door mirror down to check the kerb: but only if it's a tricky one - they aren't usually.

Always astonishes me how few people can reverse competently. Makes life very difficult when you can't.

[imbecile]

I find the most important thing about controlled high speed reversing (not j-turns or the like) is having your hand in the correct position on the wheel - on a right hand drive car this is in the nine o clock position with your right arm (so making a no-entry sign with the wheel), your left arm on the seat.

Or that's what works for me and what I've been told, anyway...

[Jungles]

imbecile said:

I find the most important thing about controlled high speed reversing (not j-turns or the like) is having your hand in the correct position on the wheel - on a right hand drive car this is in the nine o clock position with your right arm (so making a no-entry sign with the wheel), your left arm on the seat.

Or that's what works for me and what I've been told, anyway...

That depends, IMHO.

If reversing at high-speed in a straight line, I prefer my hand at the bottom of the steering wheel. It's very stable there, and less likely to suffer from excessive input or over-correction.

If doing a manoeuvre in reverse (which shouldn't be done at high speed), then I agree with the 9 o'clock. My personal preference is 12 o'clock for doing manoeuvres.



For J-turns, everything is dependent on the situation. Preferably use both hands. If one hand is to be used, then position your steering hand to maximise rotation in the wanted direction. There should be very little need for counter-steer if your anticipation and control is good.

[sultanbrown]

Christ, there's a lot of people here who would struggle to pass the basic driving test!

[freddytin]

For myself I find using the door mirrors and looking out of the rear screen the only safe option, as there are far too many blind spots on modern higher vehicles.
The mistake I see all too often is people getting confused with their feet, i.e. as they are twisted looking behind their legs are out of position and instead of braking they hit the gas.
By only using the clutch and the brake it gives a steady controlled action with a no danger of accelerating instead of braking

[RobM77]

An interesting thread I've always thought this too - using the mirrors is far easier and safer than looking behind me. What more could you want than a perfect view down each side of the car and also out of the back of the car?

[Nic Jones]

I always look through the back rather than the mirrors, unless parallel parking when I use a combination of both.

It's interesting when driving in the lanes how most of the people who look through the back window can reverse quickly and accurately but those who only use the mirrors tend to play pinball with the hedges.

Whenever I meet people in the lanes I find myself in reverse and going backwards now before the other car has normally even thought about it.

[Robin Hood]

Sounds like a lot of people would be stuffed reversing a truck then

[bobt]

sultanbrown said:

Christ, there's a lot of people here who would struggle to pass the basic driving test!

But then the basic driving test is just that. The method of reversing for most experienced, capable drivers would depend on what vehicle they werein and what the reversing situation was.

I remember taking my basic driving test, and having a little marker on the bottom edge of the rear window to assist in reversing round a corner. I don't have one now, and can generally manage it without kerbing my wheels or finishing more than 30 com from the kerb.