The Manoeuvres
These tips work with the System of Car I teach in the Renault Clio I use. They are not supposed to be full instructions, or to replace proper tuition. Some of the markers mentioned may need to be modified for other cars, or for unusually tall or short people. Also, if your Approved Driving Instructor tells you something different - trust him/her, as being the professional to whom you are paying your hard-earned cash.
That said, I hope you find them helpful.
Parking
Reverse Park (car park) (aka Bay Park)
- Position car in centre of lane between two lines of bays.
- Count the lines of the target bay 1, 2; count forward to line 4. 5-point check then align the window switches with line 4. Stop.
- 5-point check, reverse slowly, immediately steer full lock, check again all is safe.
- Half way in, look for line in door mirror on inside of turn.
- Three quarters in, look for line in door mirror on outside of turn.
- When both lines are visible and go straight back, straighten steering.
- Look back over left shoulder through car; continue to reverse until in bay; stop; secure the car.
Reverse Park (on road) (aka Parallel Park)
Method 1
- Position car next to target vehicle, half a metre away and a little in front. Reverse gear.
- 5-point check, and reverse until end of target vehicle is visible in rear passenger-side window; stop.
- 5-point check, and reverse, steering one full turn left; continue, using left door mirror, until car makes a V-shape with the kerb, stop.
- 5-point check, and reverse slowly, steering two full turns right; adjust steering as needed; look in mirror and behind as you go, until car is parallel with kerb; straighten up, stop; secure the car.
Method 2
- Position car next to target vehicle, half a metre away and a little in front. Reverse gear.
- 5-point check, and reverse until end of target vehicle is visible in rear passenger-side window; stop.
- 5-point check, and reverse slowly on full lock to an angle of 45 with the kerb; straighten up, stop.
- 5-point check, and reverse straight back using left door mirror until car makes a V-shape with the kerb, stop.
- 5-point check, and reverse slowly on right lock as needed, looking in mirror and behind as you go, until car is parallel with kerb; straighten up, stop; secure the car.
Reversing
Turn in the Road
- Prepare car in 1st; 5-point check; and move slowly, steering quickly to full right lock.
- Safety check - look right.
- As car approaches far kerb, steer quickly to straighten up; stop; hold car secure; engage reverse.
- 5-point check, and reverse slowly, steering quickly to full left lock looking over left shoulder at first.
- Safety check - have another look up and down the road.
- Looking over right shoulder, as car approaches far kerb, steer quickly to straighten up; stop; hold car secure; engage 1st gear.
- 5-point check, especially remembering the road to the left, and move off steering right.
- Check mirrors, and EITHER drive away down the road, OR pull up at the kerb, with signal if necessary.
Reverse into a Limited Opening (aka Reverse Around Corner)
Instructions for reversing to the left. Swap lefts and rights for reversing to the right.
- Drive past the target opening (side road); continue one car length past and stop a third to half a metre (width or a drain grid) from the kerb. Engage reverse.
- 5-point check, and looking over left shoulder, reverse towards the corner. In left door mirror, mind the gap. Stop when rear wheel reaches the beginning of the corner.
- 5-point check, paying particular attention to your right side; reverse slowly, steering left; mind the gap, also frequently check both ways along the road and also the road you are entering. Stop for any traffic or pedestrians.
- 5-point check every time after stopping.
- Once round the corner, continue to reverse at least a car length - until you can see three hazard centre lines is good; stop; secure the car.
Note - you do not have to be in a parked position at the end. You will still be the same distance from the kerb as when you started.
Glossary
Five point check: Left blind spot, left mirror, main mirror, right mirror, right blind spot. Reverse the order if moving away from a parked position on the right.
Mind the gap: When reversing, look in the kerb-side door mirror (but not only there!) and keep the distance between the rear wheel and the kerb constant. To move towards the kerb, pull the hand on the kerb side down on the steering; to move away, pull the hand on the off side down. Don't overdo it!
Secure the car: Handbrake on, gears in neutral. Now you can safely take your feet off the brake and clutch and relax! Cancel any signal.