Reverse to the Right / Right Corner Reverse
The Reverse to the Right / Right Corner Reverse Manoeuvre is not one of the manoeuvres that you might be expected to perform on your Practical Driving Test unless you are taking an advanced driving test
Being able to perform the Reverse to the Right / Right Corner Reverse in the prescribed manner shows a high degree of skill in the fields of control and observation.
It will probably be a relief to you when your instructor tells you that you have reached the required standard for the reverse to the Right manoeuvre. It usually is!
The Reverse to the Right / Right Corner Reverse Manoeuvre is one which is only performed on advanced practical driving tests. For quite some duration while you are performing this manoeuvre you will physically be on the wrong side of the carriageway. This is an excellent reason to be very careful indeed about performing this manoeuvre. You must make certain that you have developed the necessary reversing and observational skills on the reverse to the left before attempting the reverse to the right manoeuvre.
The aim of the Reverse to the Right / Right Corner Reverse manoeuvre
The aim of the reverse to the right / right corner reverse manoeuvre is the same as for the reverse to the left apart from the fact that the available corner is on the right-hand side of the road.
Reverse to the Right / Right Corner Reverse
The briefing for the Reverse to the Right / Right Corner Reverse manoeuvre
If your instructor wishes you to perform the reverse to the right / right corner reverse manoeuvre they will pull you in to the side of the road before the junction upon which they intend you to perform the manoeuvre and give you a brief something like the following.
"The junction ahead of you is the one upon which I would like you to perform the reverse to the right manoeuvre please. I would like you to move past the corner and stop. Then reverse for a suitable distance up the new road maintaining a position which is parallel and reasonably near to the kerb".
Their wording may not be exactly the same but the main points have to be in there somewhere.
Reverse to the Right / Right Corner Reverse
Key points for the Reverse to the Right manoeuvre
Reverse to the Right / Right Corner Reverse
Control your speed throughout the manoeuvre
Keep your speed low throughout this reversing manoeuvre using the gas and biting point. It is far better to be stationary occasionally than to go too fast during a reverse manoeuvre.
While you are in the reversing around the corner phase of this manoeuvre the faster you reverse the harder it is to correct any mistakes that you may make with the steering. At a slow speed if you think that you are slightly wide in the reverse you can correct it in good time. If you are going faster than necessary you will find that the mistake is immediately un-recoverable.
Reverse to the Right / Right Corner Reverse
Effective observations
Observations during the reversing phase of this manoeuvre are all around observations with the exception of a couple of forward glances as you reverse up the new road. Remember that once you have pulled into the kerb on the right hand side of the road your all around observation is reversed, moving the head from right to left instead of from over the left shoulder to the right.
Reverse to the Right / Right Corner Reverse
Where to stop before reversing
The correct place to stop once you have crossed the mouth of the junction prior to reversing is twelve inches from the kerb and far enough past the start of the radius of the curve that you will be able to see it when you look over your shoulder.
In the new road you should reverse for quite a few (I recommend at least six) car lengths from the give way lines. This is plenty far enough that if the examiner asks you to turn right at the end of the road you can perform a proper move off (including an all around observation because your starting position is not by the kerb) followed by a full right emerge procedure. It is farther than you would reverse on a reverse to the left but the reason for that is that you have the possibility of traffic turning into the road on your side.
Reverse to the Right / Right Corner Reverse
Points of steer during the reverse
There are two points which you need to know that we refer to as points of steer. As you reverse back towards the corner you have to decide when to steer to the right. This is the first point of steer.
When you have completed the corner you have to steer left to straighten the wheel for the straight reverse. This is the second point of steer.
Reverse to the Right / Right Corner Reverse
Reference points for the reverse
You need two reference points to complete this manoeuvre. You need one for the straight reverse and one to help you reverse around the corner accurately.
It has been pointed out by many pupils that by looking in the near side wing mirror they can see the kerb quite nicely and reverse accurately around the corner. While this is true enough it is not allowed in this manoeuvre. The wing mirror has a very limited zone of vision, so therefore continuous observation into it could not be seen as safe by the examiner. By using the reference points below you will be able to complete this manoeuvre by looking over your right shoulder alone
Reverse to the Right / Right Corner Reverse
Reference point for straight reverse
As you look over your shoulder through the back window prior to starting the reverse, follow the line of the kerb until it appears to meet the car window near the bottom. There will be something there that will be useful as a reference point. There is usually either the dealers advertising sticker, a manufacturers logo, the ABS logo or a central brake light casing right in the middle of the window. These will not be directly in line with the kerb as you look at it but there will be a correlation between the position of what ever is there and the kerb.
As you reverse if the correlation between your reference point and the kerb remains the same then you are reversing parallel to the kerb. If your reference point starts to move towards the kerb more then your car is doing the same thing so you would steer away slightly to correct the direction.
Do not over steer while reversing. If you are reversing slowly then slight changes in direction are all that is required to keep a straight course. The direction of steer when you are reversing is exactly the same as it is when you are going forwards. Left will take you away from the kerb and right will take you towards it.
Reverse to the Right / Right Corner Reverse
Reference point for reversing around the corner
As you reverse to your first point of steer you have to decide when to turn the wheel. At exactly the same moment in time as you decide to turn the wheel you should be looking at the bodywork of the car where it appears to meet the kerb. That exact point on the car is your reference point for the turn. This part of the manoeuvre is easier in the reverse to the right because the kerb is on your side of the car.
As you turn you should be really fussy about keeping the kerb exactly in line with your reference point, making any minor corrections to the steering as necessary to achieve this. If you do so then the car will maintain its distance parallel from the kerb.
The reference point is only any use for the first half of the way around the corner. After that you may make occasional checks into the nearside mirror. Do not be tempted to watch it like a television. Yes, it will make your reverse accurate but your zone of vision will be so restricted that you must expect to fail.
Performing the Reverse to the Right / Right Corner Reverse manoeuvre
Moving away from the kerb
Your car is stationary and parked so the driving plan is P.O.M.
Preparation - Clutch down, first gear, gas and biting point.
Observation - All around to check for pedestrians as well as road users.
Manoeuvre - Move away when it is safe to do so.
Use the M.S.P.S.L routine to perform the pulling in to the kerb on the right. Making sure of course that the timing of your indication is not before the centre line of the road that you are crossing the end of.
As you are driving past the road in first gear, take a look into the road looking for hazards that may prevent you from performing the manoeuvre. (examiners decision, not yours).
When it is safe to do so move across the road in a suitable position for stopping.
Stopping after the corner
Position for stopping :- You need to be about one foot away from the kerb and at least one car length past the end of the radius on the corner.
Once stationary apply the handbrake and select reverse gear immediately.
The straight reverse
Preparation - Gas and biting point.
Observation - All around to check for pedestrians as well as road users.
Manoeuvre - Looking over your left shoulder, reverse towards the first point of steer.
Before you get to the corner perform an all around observation. (turning the wheel to the right will move the front of the car into the road thereby creating a hazard. You are checking that it is safe to do so before creating the hazard). Make sure that you do this observation early enough that you can look back at the kerb before you get to the point of steer.
Decide when to turn the wheel and set up your reference point for the corner reverse (over your right shoulder) at exactly the same time.
Reverse around the corner
Turn right now as much as necessary while reversing to maintain the relationship between the kerb and the reference point.
While you are reversing around the corner you are expected to perform sufficient all around observations that if anything comes (road user or pedestrian), you will see it early enough that you can stop the car and apply the handbrake before they get to you. This way you are a stationary hazard for them to negotiate rather than a more hazardous moving one. If it does prove necessary to stop then the full Preparation, Observation (all around) and Manoeuvre is expected before you move off again.
Straightening up in the new road
As you are getting further around the corner you will see that you are coming to the end of the radius of the curve. Just before the kerb straightens again straighten your steering wheel quickly (look at the wheel for a second as you finish straightening if necessary to make absolutely sure that the wheel is straight).
You can now follow your reference point for the straight reverse up the new road. (now looking over your left shoulder).
When to stop after reversing around the corner
In the new road you should reverse for six or seven car lengths from the give way lines. This is plenty far enough that whichever way the examiner asks you to turn at the end of the road you can perform a proper move off (including an all around observation because your starting position is not by the kerb), position yourself once again on the correct side of the road and perform a full emerge procedure.
Reverse to the Right / Right Corner Reverse
What we are looking for in the Reverse to the Right / Right Corner Reverse manoeuvre
Co-ordination
You will be expected to co-ordinate the speed of the vehicle throughout the reverse to the right / right corner reverse manoeuvre using the foot pedals and remembering not to use the gas pedal at the same time as the brake.
Your steering throughout the reverse needs to be co-ordinated to the extent that you steer in the correct direction for any minor corrections that are necessary when you reverse.
Observation
Observations are expected at certain points during the reverse. Frequent random observations are alright if you forget where they should go but there are some required ones.
During the two straight reverses you will be expected to look up and down the road for oncoming vehicles.
The examiner will expect to see all around observations :-
Before you start to reverse - so that you can find out is there any road users or pedestrians in such a place as to prevent you from performing the manoeuvre. There may also be a car coming from the side street that you are about to turn into. Mirrors would never show that.
While reversing, before you start to turn the wheel at your first reference point - you are about to create a hazard because when you turn the steering wheel to the right the front of the car will swing out into the road causing a potential hazard to oncoming vehicles from any direction.
Often enough while reversing throughout the turn that you will observe any oncoming road users from any direction - as you reverse you are the one doing the odd thing therefore it is up to you to ensure that it is safe. Keep a sharp lookout for pedestrians as well as road users.
When you have stopped after reversing and are asked to move off again they will expect an all around observation before you move. You are not technically in a parking position so there is the possibility that something may be coming up the inside of you or that pedestrians / cyclists may be about to cross from an unexpected angle.
Accuracy
The examiner is looking for you to pull up about twelve inches away from the kerb and remain parallel to the kerb for the duration of the reverse.
In the new road you will be expected to reverse for a suitable distance so that when you move away you have enough space to perform two separate procedures. The first would be moving away from the stationary position, and the second, and quite separate procedure would be the turn at the end of the road. I would recommend reversing at least four car lengths for this purpose.
This is plenty far enough that if the examiner asks you to turn right at the end of the road you can perform a proper move off (including an all around observation because your starting position is not by the kerb) followed by a full right emerge procedure. It is farther than you would reverse on a reverse to the left but the reason for that is that you have the possibility of traffic turning into the road on your side.
