Ok, kinda following on from another thread, your driving along a 30mph side road. You want reverse into a driveway, it's safer as there are bushes either side to it allows better vision when exiting. What do you do?

I slowed, indicated left (giving reasonable warning) then pulled towards the centre of the road just past the entrance. Put it into reverse and backed in.

This resulted in a slight disagreement over my technique.

well I aint surprised if you indicated left then pulled to the right Were you in the Fabia or a 44ton artic :think:

My reverse is similar for my drive although I have to pull right because my mother's car is parked outside the house. It does confuse a few people but we've done it for years. I either put distance between myself and the car behind and get it in quick or if there's a few I pull over before it, let them all pass and then do it

When I say to the right, I pointed the front to the centre of the road to allow me to get in in one move. The entrance is very tight, so I thought it better to do that than stay close to the near side then need to go in & out like a plonka.

So you'd have done . . ?

Lol Signalling left the driver behind will naturally steer right to check the view ahead to get by. You pulling right is something very unexpected thing to do (given normal road conditions). Driver behind slams his brake and gets annoyed/shocked that A) your blocking him and B ) your pulling to a stop lol.

I'd stick left as if I was parking on the street, stop, then I'd reverse in with caution, if it's a busy road I'd probably block drivers eventually, but at least they had clear warning of exactly what I was going to do.

It may take longer but at least your being more considerate with surrounding drivers <img src='http://www.briskoda.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/emoticon-0105-wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

Or.. If you do want to block everyone because it's a busy road put your hazards on brake and go to the middle of the road.

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Difficult one this, but after a lot of years pushing a hi ab truck around

central London and all manner of van driving then I'd have done the same

as Matt but probably used my hazards instead and maybe the slowing down hand signal.

I think hazard lights don't suggest to other motorists your intended direction of

travel but that you're doing something unusual/unexpected so most should slow

right down/stop or steer well clear.

When I say to the right, I pointed the front to the centre of the road to allow me to get in in one move. The entrance is very tight, so I thought it better to do that than stay close to the near side then need to go in & out like a plonka.

So you'd have done . . ?

ah ok, so given the full facts, probably the same :yes: I usually indicate left in plenty of time, pull left and then when clear behind, back in. As you mentioned though, it's a bit tight. What I hate is when people behind don't anticipate your next move and pull up right up your arse meaning you can't then reverse in

As I said, unless I wanted to take ages going back and fourth pulling to the kerb wasn't an option.

Hummm, maybe I just have a little more foresight that if someone signals left and looks like they are going to reverse into a driveway I hold back for a split second for them to make their move so to speak. As a bonus I also leave a reasonable gap in front so I'd not be directly on top of someone if they did slow and signal.

That said, some good points raised thus far, thanks for the replies!

ah ok, so given the full facts, probably the same :yes: I usually indicate left in plenty of time, pull left and then when clear behind, back in. As you mentioned though, it's a bit tight. What I hate is when people behind don't anticipate your next move and pull up right up your arse meaning you can't then reverse in

Sorry, should have been a little more clear in my OP! Your description was exactly what happened pretty much.

The highway code and driving test cover this pretty much, you are meant to pull over to the left and wait until the road is clear before carrying out the reverse park. Should you have done as the OP in your driving test you would have failed under the 'due regard for other road users' clause.

The highway code and driving test cover this pretty much, you are meant to pull over to the left and wait until the road is clear before carrying out the reverse park. Should you have done as the OP in your driving test you would have failed under the 'due regard for other road users' clause.

This is correct.

OP - Sorry, you are doing it wrong and asking to get smashed into.

Bad times. Luckily I was dropping a mate off and not on my driving test. Do they have reversing onto a mates driveway in the test? I had to do a parallel park in my test, but iirc the road was small, so if I done as said, the cars would just be sat behind me. Bay park, turn in the road & reversing round a corner arnt really comparable. The car behind would have been sat waiting to get round me for a while so I saved him waiting at least. Kinda shows regard for others lol.

Every days a school day I guess.

As I said, unless I wanted to take ages going back and fourth pulling to the kerb wasn't an option.

Hummm, maybe I just have a little more foresight that if someone signals left and looks like they are going to reverse into a driveway I hold back for a split second for them to make their move so to speak. As a bonus I also leave a reasonable gap in front so I'd not be directly on top of someone if they did slow and signal.

That said, some good points raised thus far, thanks for the replies!

Lol that's funny, if I see that I probably will still want to pass. Not trying to be nasty but anyone stopping in front of me or signalling left my first port of call is getting through (in a safe manner) rather than stopping and thinking what are they trying to do. Suppose it really depends where you live. Local people like to do these kind of things, nothing wrong per say if everyone understand the local 'code' if you like.

I.e everyone says thanks to each other when one is letting people through in single lane traffic back home but where my gf lives they will squeeze pass even if they had to fold their wing mirrors in (or yours for that matter lol).

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Lol that's funny, if I see that I probably will still want to pass. Not trying to be nasty but anyone stopping in front of me or signalling left my first port of call is getting through (in a safe manner) rather than stopping and thinking what are they trying to do. Suppose it really depends where you live. Local people like to do these kind of things, nothing wrong per say if everyone understand the local 'code' if you like.

I.e everyone says thanks to each other when one is letting people through in single lane traffic back home but where my gf lives they will squeeze pass even if they had to fold their wing mirrors in (or yours for that matter lol).

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but if you're not thinking about or waiting to see what they might be doing or why they've stopped how do you know you will be passing in a safe manner?

Well obviously if the road wasn't wide enough then I cannot pass and I would need to stop.. I wouldn't automatically stop before considering options just because the car in front decided to stop/slow down.. Considering options are done prior to any change in direction.

In the same situation I would slow down to appropriate speed, favouring the right side intending to overtake, signal to make it 100% sure ones intentions (I'll be honest I don't always signal for these situations, which is bad). If car steers into the middle, decide if its a safe manner to pass i.e if the driver in front acknowledges that you are intending to pass, normally this will be quite obvious by the way the driver react and also if you actually do have plenty of room to pass, naturally proceed with caution. This can be done without stopping the car first and thinking about what they might do.

Reverse?

I just proceed up the drive way, pull up at the foot of the steps leading up to the 18th century oak doors on the front of the mansion and then hand the keys to the butler who garages the car for me, that's the correct way

I have to exactly that every day. If there is someone behind me I indicate and pull over until they've passed then do the park. If I've already started when they appear then tough they can wait.

I have to exactly that every day. If there is someone behind me I indicate and pull over until they've passed then do the park. If I've already started when they appear then tough they can wait.

Sounds like a good approach to me. The biggest challenge is communicating to the following traffic what your intentions are and not doing anything unexpected.

Chris

Bad times. Luckily I was dropping a mate off and not on my driving test. Do they have reversing onto a mates driveway in the test? I had to do a parallel park in my test, but iirc the road was small, so if I done as said, the cars would just be sat behind me. Bay park, turn in the road & reversing round a corner arnt really comparable. The car behind would have been sat waiting to get round me for a while so I saved him waiting at least. Kinda shows regard for others lol.

Every days a school day I guess.

I only learned to drive in 2004 and I did have to do a 'reverse bay park' as part of the test - I had to reverse between two gates and in to a bay at the test centre making sure that the wheels stayed within the lines of the parking bay.

Ok. . . Is there an end/point to that story? I too was shown how to do a bay park, but as I said in the section you quoted, not really comparable to the situation. (Ie not on a road)

Sorry I didn't make myself clear. I had to start on the main road and reverse in to the test centre. This involved the indicating and pulling over and making sure that it was clear before commencing the manoeuvre as described:

The highway code and driving test cover this pretty much, you are meant to pull over to the left and wait until the road is clear before carrying out the reverse park. Should you have done as the OP in your driving test you would have failed under the 'due regard for other road users' clause.

Ok. . . Is there an end/point to that story? I too was shown how to do a bay park, but as I said in the section you quoted, not really comparable to the situation. (Ie not on a road)

+1, comparing a bay park with no traffic ahead or behind, and reversing into a driveway on a main road with traffic coming from behind and to your right is like comparing Star Wars: Episode One - The Phantom Menace and Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back, it can't be done.

The test centre is on MAIN ROAD -just the same as the situation described in the original post as the final part of my test, on return to the test centre I had to stop in the afore mentioned MAIN ROAD and then reverse across the pavement, in to the test centre, which has gates narrow enough for one car only and then in to the bay.

There was plenty of traffic around and there were also plenty of pedestrians to avoid as well -mums with pushchairs and the like.

Here's a map. I had to drive past and pull up where the white car is on Cecil st and reverse in to the bay I've marked with a red dot

The technique used was to pull over first and then make sure that the coast is clear, you cannot expect other road users to know what you are planning to do especially as it may not be immediately obvious. Indicating left and then moving to the right is enough to confuse anyone. Most people would assume that the car in front indicating left and slowing down is pulling over and they'd be considering passing.

Perhaps my test centre was a little more demanding than some -it wasn't practice reverse parking in some deserted retail park with no one else around -never mind if you missed the first one have a try for the one next to it.

I have to reverse into my driveway. 30 yards beyond a crossroads with traffic lights. Indicate left as soon as I'm through the junction, slow gently coming to a standstill just beyond my gateway. Most drivers will pass you; some will not. They will come to a halt six feet behind you, and refuse to move. When you then select reverse, they often panic and toot their horn. All very annoying.

If I am approaching my gateway, with no one behind me, I will still indicate left, but swing out toward, but not over, the centre line, as this makes positioning for the driveway more easy. This, however, can really panic traffic coming the other way, as they think you are going to cross over to their side of the road.

Final piece of fun? When approaching my driveway on the opposite side of the road (i.e., approaching the traffic lights), I will indicate right, and swing over on to the other side of the road, if it is safe to do so, before reversing into the driveway. This also is a source of great wonderment to other road users - I'm convinced some folks think I'm trying to run the lights on the wrong side of the road.

Fun. fun. fun!

I have this as well for my driveway, albeit it is on a sideroad it is two houses down from a junction. I usually slow and pull across the front of the drive, check for traffic then swing the nose out across the road if it is clear so I can then get up the drive in one hit. mostly it goes OK apart from the odd idiot that comes flying round the corner and has to hit the brakes 'cos I'm broadside on to them.

I know where they live but can;t be bothered speaking to them... it's the same guy who came round sideways once in the snow and then nearly lost it in front of our house (4x4 but still doesn't understand that there are limits to grip).