Manoeuvre Skills

Manoeuvres – The DG Way

By /

Supporting Learning

Please note that this blog post is primarily intended for my own clients, to accompany and support their lessons, not to teach from scratch. Consequently I have not included any diagrams. If you’re not one of my clients, this may not make much sense but feel free to read on and try the techniques described should you wish.

Go To Quick References

It’s Basic Maths (Or Not)

In my experience, no reversing manoeuvre will work consistently if you just use set references and robotically steer according to a simple formula. It’s simple mathematics;

In a basic formula where
A + B = C
if A = 3 and B= 2 then C will be 5

However if you change A to 4 then C changes accordingly.
When manoeuvring the car slowly, there are many variables, any of which can change each time you do it. For example, years ago when I initially trained as a driving instructor I was taught a basic formula for reverse parallel parking (please note for brevity I’m not including observations):

  • Pull up next to the target vehicle about a door’s width away, and level with the front of the car
  • Reverse straight until you see the rear light of the target vehicle through your rear side window
  • Turn one turn towards to the left
  • When you get to 45 degrees, turn steering two turns to right
  • As the car comes straight, turn steering one turn left

Not Consistent

When I started actually working as a driving instructor it didn’t take long to realise that this technique simply didn’t work consistently. There are just too many variables;

  • Width of the target vehicle
  • Which way the target vehicle is facing
  • How far target vehicle is from kerb
  • How far sideways you initially place from target vehicle
  • The exact point at which you turn (all three times)
  • Speed of your car
  • Speed of your steering

That’s seven variables right there and there are probably more that I’ve not listed. My point is, if you change any one of these then the result will be different and I’ve yet to find anyone, learner or experienced driver, who can do everything exactly the same every time.

The Solution

Use references to give you some structure, but more importantly, constantly monitor and evaluate where your vehicle is going compared to where you want it to go. Monitor, assess and adjust where necessary.
Never, and I mean NEVER, do some steering and just expect it to work. James Walker, I’m thinking of you! (although you got it eventually)

References

References are however extremely useful in order to apply some structure – it’s difficult to “feel” your way though a manoeuvre if you have limited or no experience. So with this in mind, see below for a run down of the references I use.

Set Up

Setting a manoeuvre up well (and being as close to consistent as possible) will not guarantee success but it certainly makes life easier. You need to think of your sideways position first as you can’t change this once you forwards set up is done;

Turn Point / Pre Turn Stop

For the bay parking, forwards or backwards, I encourage a “Pre Turn Stop” about a metre (half a bay) before you want to turn. This means you have time to look around, make sure you’re safe and get your head around what you’re going to do next. You don’t need to specifically remember where your pre turn stop should be. Remember where your turn point is and the pre turn stop is always about a metre (half a bay) before that.

Reverse Bay Park

Sideways Set Up

Pretend the lane between the bays is a two lane road. To park on the left use the left of these two lanes, to park on the right use the right lane. The car should be centered in the lane, not in a parked position next to the bays. As one of my clients puts it, “Act Natural,” and drive straight as if you’re not planning to park at all. Make sure you keep the steering straight as you approach your target bay. It’s not unusual that your hands follow your eyes.

The Manoeuvre

  • Note your turn point will be about 30cm before your head and shoulders come level with the line at the far side of your bay
  • Pre-Turn-Stop about a metre before your turn point
  • Take effective safety observations
  • Creep forward straight until you arrive 30cm before the line at the far end of you bay (turn point) then full lock away from your bay
  • As you turn across the lane, look in the mirror on the side of your bay, firstly to identify the bay you don’t want (“that’s not my bay”) then the bay you do (“that’s my bay.”)
  • Stop when the back of the car is pointing into the mouth of your bay – in a car with four doors, the end of the line where you just turned should now appear close to the front door handle in the mirror
  • Select reverse, take effective safety observations and start slowly backwards, turning quickly towards your bay as you do
  • Use both side mirrors to gauge accuracy and adjust as necessary to place the car in the bay
  • Stop when your head and shoulders are halfway back into the bay
  • Ensure you are parked correctly. You can open your door or adjust mirrors down (make sure you adjust them up again afterwards) if necessary.
  • If you need to come forwards to correct or tidy it up, use the Four Guidelines For Fixing Bay Parks (remembering to ensure you take effective observations throughout):
    • Come out straight with your wheels straight – fixing on the way out is tricky
    • Use ALL your available space
    • Have a plan before you set off back again
    • Make sure the plan is working

Back to top

Forwards Bay Park

Choice Of Bay

For a forwards bay park on a driving test, I recommend always choosing a by that has a drive-thru bay beyond it. You’re asked by the examiner not to drive into it, but if it lines up with your chosen bay then you can use the lines of the drive-thru bay to help with your accuracy when you can no longer see the lines of your target bay.

Sideways Set Up

You want to be as far as possible on the opposite side to the side you want to park. Because the car pivots around a point near the back wheels, adjustment space is limited so make the most of what you’ve got.

The Manoeuvre

  • Note your turn point is as your head and shoulders arrive half way through the bay before your target bay. Turn as you arrive. Do NOT go past and then turn!
  • Pre turn stop at the beginning of the bay before your target bay
  • Take effective observations then creep forwards and turn full lock as your head and shoulders arrive half way through the bay before your target bay
  • As the car approaches straight ensure your speed is super-slow, assess whether you need to adjust, and do so if necessary, straightening the steering to finish with the car straight and central between the lines
  • Stop when your head and shoulders are halfway back into the bay
  • Ensure you are parked correctly. You can open your door or adjust mirrors down (make sure you adjust them up again afterwards) if necessary.
  • If you need to come forwards to correct or tidy it up, use the Four Guidelines For Fixing Bay Parks (remembering to ensure you take effective observations throughout):
    • Come out straight with your wheels straight – fixing on the way out is tricky
    • Use ALL your available space
    • Have a plan before you set off back again
    • Make sure the plan is working
  • Remember if you do need to fix, ensure you take effective safety observations before reversing out of the bay and again before coming forwards

Reversing Out Afterwards

Bear in mind that the Forwards Bay Park Exercise is actually a “reversing manoeuvre” and consequently you are monitored reversing out of the bay just as much as driving in. After selecting reverse, you should take effective safety observations before moving backwards and as you reverse, you should be looking primarily (but not exclusively) in the direction you are moving, continuing to take effective safety observations until stopped and again before driving forwards.

Back to top

Pull Up On Right & Reverse

I’ve always felt this is a bit dodgy as rule 239 of The Highway Code clearly states “do not park facing against the traffic flow.” Nevertheless someone in the DVSA decided we should be tested on this so here goes.

The Manoeuvre

  • Identify a suitable place to pull up – Unless told otherwise, do not stop near bus stops or junctions or blocking driveways
    • Use the “That’s My House” principle. Once you have identified a suitable place to pull up, do not allow oncoming or following traffic to influence you otherwise – signal and wait if necessary bu treat it as you would if you were pulling up outside your house – you wouldn’t drive past your house just because there was an oncoming vehicle
  • Take effective observations
  • Signal if necessary
  • Slow and if necessary, stop to the left of the centre of the road and wait for oncoming traffic to clear
  • Aim to be close to the kerb about two car lengths before the position you want to stop (Get In And Run Along)
  • Run alongside the kerb, making tiny adjustments to ensure accuracy
  • Before reversing, take effective, all round observations
  • Reverse about two car lengths, keeping reasonably close to the kerb, using the Three Step Cycle
    1. Take effective observations
    2. Assess distance from the kerb in the right side mirror
    3. Make and hold a TINY adjustment if necessary
    4. Repeat…
  • Take effective observations, particularly to the left and left blind spot, before moving off
  • If another vehicle/cyclist is passing you during your reversing, assess whether there may be any potential conflict and pause if necessary

Back to top

Reverse Parallel Park (Road)

Note – on a driving test you will be parking on the left but the same technique can be applied to parking on the right. Consequently, instead of left and right I will refer to towards the kerb and away from the kerb.

Sideways Set Up

When parallel parking for real, you’d drive past the first of two cars to pull up alongside the second and reverse between them. Most often when on a driving test or when practising, there will be no “first” car. Pretend there is and drive past it, making sure you approach your target vehicle with your signal on (whichever side you’re planning to park). You should aim to be about half a metre away sideways from your target vehicle.

Lengthwise Set Up

  • For a normal length car, stop as your head and shoulders are level with the far number plate.
    • If the target vehicle is particularly short, compensate by going half a metre further forwards
    • If the target vehicle is particularly long, compensate by stopping next to the front wheel

The Manoeuvre

  • Signal towards the kerb as you approach the target vehicle
  • As soon as you’ve stopped, engage reverse gear to get the reversing lights on
  • Take effective observations
  • Move slowly backwards, immediately steering half a turn (steering wheel upside down) towards the kerb
  • Use the mirror on the side of the kerb and when your front door handle reaches the kerb, stop!
  • Pause for a moment to take effective observations
  • As you move again, make sure you speed is finely controlled and immediately steer back to centre, then another half away from the kerb
  • Stop again!
  • This is the crucial bit – from here on it’s all about adjustment:
  • Use the edge of the front door handle in the mirror to discern whether you’re too close, too far, or just right.
    • “Just right” is with the edge of the door handle kissing the edge of the kerbstone furthest from the road
    • If the edge of the front door handle is moving towards the pavement or grass, you’re too close
    • If the edge of the front door handle is moving towards or onto the road, you’re too far
  • Move VERY SLOWLY, monitoring just right/too close/too far and adjust accordingly
    • If just right, hold the steering steady as you are, but continue to assess – do not assume it will stay just right
    • If too close, steer away from the kerb and continue to monitor, evaluate and adjust as necessary
    • If too far, steer towards the kerb and continue to monitor, evaluate and adjust as necessary
  • Pause every few seconds to take further, effective all round safety observations

Back to top

Effective Safety Observations

In the DVSA document detailing how examiners should conduct driving tests, they mention observation when conducting reversing manoeuvres:

Irrespective of the presence of other vehicles or pedestrians, the candidate should be expected to take all round observations to ensure that the manoeuvre is executed safely. The question is not whether there is anybody there, but whether the candidate has taken adequate observations to ensure that safety is maintained throughout the exercise.

Carrying Out Driving Tests: Examiner Guidance

Effective observations don’t just involve swivelling your head around, but thinking about where potential danger might be coming from, in what form (other vehicles, pedestrians, stationary objects, etc), looking where appropriate and taking appropriate action accordingly. Appropriate action isn’t necessarily always to stop. Sometimes it may be to carry on and get out of the way. Consider what action you currently wish to take and whether taking such action will increase or decrease risk to those around you. Looking (or being seen to look) is not enough, and really, it’s not about your test, it’s about you driving safely.

Quick References

Reverse Bay Park

  • Sideways Set Up : centre lane on the side you plan to park, heading straight
  • Initial Turn Point : 30cm before far line of your chosen bay
  • Pre-Turn Stop : 1 metre before Turn Point
  • Initial Turn : Full lock away from your bay

Forwards Bay Park

  • Sideways Set Up : As far to the opposite side as you can, heading straight
  • Turn Point : Halfway through bay before the chosen bay
  • Pre-Turn Stop : 1 metre before Turn Point
  • Initial Turn : Full Lock Towards Your Bay

Reverse Parallel Park

  • Sideways Set Up : Half a metre away (half open door) from target vehicle
  • Lengthwise Position : Head level with far numberplate (adjust if target vehicle is not “normal” length)
  • Initial Turn : Half Turn towards kerb
  • Next Cue : Front door handle on kerb in mirror
  • What next : Stop, look, swap steering to half turn away from kerb
  • From Here On : Assess, Adjust, Repeat
    • Too close? : Steer away from kerb
    • Too far? Steer towards kerb
    • Just Right? : Hold steering steady