[blair turgott]

I passed my driving test about a month ago. I have been driving around loads since I have passed and I think I am a good driver and never get myself into awkward situations (other people have said I am good too). So just normal, general driving I am completely fine.

However I am just so bad at maneuvers!!! I am so bad when it comes to just reversing as well as parking next to the curb.

When I did my test, I got lucky and had to do a bay park which is one of the only maneuvers I can do well (I can also do 3 point turns/turns in the road well).

Anyway, back to my point. Today, I tried to reverse out of my driveway and my neighbours cars are parked where I am trying to reverse. I tried to reverse round it and ended up hitting it which was extremely embarrassed. Luckily when I told my next door neighbour (who is a really lovely lady) she was not angry with me at all. Also luckily there is no visible damage to her car or my car.

Last week I parked without any problems, and when I pulled out I realised there was another car coming and the road was so narrow because cars are parked by the curb all the way along the road so that we both could not get past. So I had to reverse back in a straight line really far until I could go into a gap to let the other car go in the opposite direction. I struggled just to reverse without going too close to the curb or too close to the car parked to my left. I almost ended up hitting a bollard until the passenger shouted at me to stop otherwise we would have hit it.


I don't know hot to improve this? I think part of the issue may be that I have my wing mirrors at the wrong angle although I don't know where they should face? I try and get the wing mirrors pointing to the ground so I could see any small people, cyclists etc. I don't know if this is right though
also almost hit a bollard

[Fahim711]

The way to set you mirrors is not to face them all the way down, but they should be equally balanced so that you can see the top part of the car and bottom part of car. They should be at angle so that your outside door handles are just in view.

But when reversing i tend not to rely on my side mirrors too much, its always best just to make glances with your eyes at the back so you can see how much you need to whereas in mirrors your only restricted to part a view.

But if it still doesn't help i'll guarantee you practice will make perfect, once you get the hang of it. i had the same problem with cars so then i asked my dad to let me borrow his massive mercedes benz delivery van and i started parallel parking in that once i got the hang of that in that van, cars became a minor thing.

[lauraaaa.xo]

Apart from practicing your reversing in empty car parks and things, do you have blind spot mirrors? If not, I find that they are really helpful when reversing and seeing how close you are to kerbs or other cars as they give you a wider view.

[blair turgott]

(Original post by lauraaaa.xo)
Apart from practicing your reversing in empty car parks and things, do you have blind spot mirrors? If not, I find that they are really helpful when reversing and seeing how close you are to kerbs or other cars as they give you a wider view.

Yeah I think I have them - I have the ordinary wing mirror and then a really small circular mini mirror inside to see the curb. The problem with them is they only show the back wheels of the car so usually the front of my car hits the curb and not the back (my car is at an angle).

[Kage]

This will come with practice. You will get to know the size of your car instinctively to know where it is on the road/the side of the road. Trust me on that.

[micboy]

(Original post by blair turgott)
I passed my driving test about a month ago. I have been driving around loads since I have passed and I think I am a good driver and never get myself into awkward situations (other people have said I am good too). So just normal, general driving I am completely fine.

However I am just so bad at maneuvers!!! I am so bad when it comes to just reversing as well as parking next to the curb.

When I did my test, I got lucky and had to do a bay park which is one of the only maneuvers I can do well (I can also do 3 point turns/turns in the road well).

Anyway, back to my point. Today, I tried to reverse out of my driveway and my neighbours cars are parked where I am trying to reverse. I tried to reverse round it and ended up hitting it which was extremely embarrassed. Luckily when I told my next door neighbour (who is a really lovely lady) she was not angry with me at all. Also luckily there is no visible damage to her car or my car.

Last week I parked without any problems, and when I pulled out I realised there was another car coming and the road was so narrow because cars are parked by the curb all the way along the road so that we both could not get past. So I had to reverse back in a straight line really far until I could go into a gap to let the other car go in the opposite direction. I struggled just to reverse without going too close to the curb or too close to the car parked to my left. I almost ended up hitting a bollard until the passenger shouted at me to stop otherwise we would have hit it.


I don't know hot to improve this? I think part of the issue may be that I have my wing mirrors at the wrong angle although I don't know where they should face? I try and get the wing mirrors pointing to the ground so I could see any small people, cyclists etc. I don't know if this is right though
also almost hit a bollard

I used to experience the same problems as you, but then I bought a Peel P50. To get out of the difficult situations like you said, I simply lift and push the car. It works wonders!

BTW, there is no reverse function on a Peel P50 - Handy for us since we dunno how to reverse.

[trixster]

It is probably plain and simple lack of confidence more than anything. Have you only had your car for a month? if so, you will still be coming to grips with it. As another member said, in time you will be get to 'know' your car and parking it will be second nature.

It has been quite some time since I did driving lessons, but I remember my driving instructor telling me all of these long winded techniques about how to do parallel parking, bay parking, etc., and in reality they were utter rubbish. They made what should be very basic maneuvers into this big song and dance that made them way more complicated to execute than they actually are. As soon as I passed, I just used a bit of instinct and common sense when performing those same maneuvers and did it absolutely fine.

Keep practicing, go SLOWLY if you are worried and try not to feel pressured into making quick decisions by other drivers. You are totally in control and over thinking tends to make it worse.

[Robertall]

You going to shoot me, I couldn't reverse or parallel park my first car.

On my 2nd car, No trouble. Bay park, 3 point turn is easier.

First car was a Skoda

My 2nd car is a Volvo V70 Estate.

It seems illogical that a 17ft car is easier to park than a 14-15ft car. But for me, it is definitely the case. I am not saying that you cannot reverse your car, but if you get the chance to try a different make/model of car on private land to do some reverse maneuvers - give it a go.

Cheers

[Anon420]

Sigh and I did all maneuvers no issues but got failed because I was going 10mph too slow on a country lane (I explained i was being careful! ha!)

Goes to show the consistency with the DVLA...

[Clez]

(Original post by blair turgott)
I passed my driving test about a month ago. I have been driving around loads since I have passed and I think I am a good driver and never get myself into awkward situations (other people have said I am good too). So just normal, general driving I am completely fine.

However I am just so bad at maneuvers!!! I am so bad when it comes to just reversing as well as parking next to the curb.

When I did my test, I got lucky and had to do a bay park which is one of the only maneuvers I can do well (I can also do 3 point turns/turns in the road well).

Anyway, back to my point. Today, I tried to reverse out of my driveway and my neighbours cars are parked where I am trying to reverse. I tried to reverse round it and ended up hitting it which was extremely embarrassed. Luckily when I told my next door neighbour (who is a really lovely lady) she was not angry with me at all. Also luckily there is no visible damage to her car or my car.

Last week I parked without any problems, and when I pulled out I realised there was another car coming and the road was so narrow because cars are parked by the curb all the way along the road so that we both could not get past. So I had to reverse back in a straight line really far until I could go into a gap to let the other car go in the opposite direction. I struggled just to reverse without going too close to the curb or too close to the car parked to my left. I almost ended up hitting a bollard until the passenger shouted at me to stop otherwise we would have hit it.


I don't know hot to improve this? I think part of the issue may be that I have my wing mirrors at the wrong angle although I don't know where they should face? I try and get the wing mirrors pointing to the ground so I could see any small people, cyclists etc. I don't know if this is right though
also almost hit a bollard

i passed my test 2 and a half years ago and i am terrible at maneuvers too, but in most situations you dont rele have to - parallel parking is useful, maybe you could go and practice that, but i dont think Iv reversed around a corner in my life - the most impractical driving skill ever. you will never be reversing round a corner at 2mph making sure you are 5 inches from the curb. Even bay parking - its so much easier to just drive in and then reverse out.

You shouldnt have your mirrors pointed at the ground though - how are you going to see other cars! I hope I never have to overtake you.

[mikeyd85]

Buy some traffic cones. 4 should do you, but the more the merrier.
Find an empty car park.
Set up said cones to make thin "roads" or a parking bay.
Practice, practice, practice.

I'm sure you'll get there in time!

[blair turgott]

Also, I just thought I would mention another problem which happened today.

I was driving along this road and just in front of me on the road were loads of parked cars which take up one side of the road so you and the cars going the other direction cannot go through at the same time - you often have to wait and let them go past. As I was driving up to where all the parked cars were, the bus stopped so I assumed he was letting me through. Then the absolute nutter decides to try and drive as I am already going down the road (so we are driving up to one another). I realised I was not going to get through so I had no choice but to reverse back really far (about 60 metres of reversing). I was reversing ever so slowly and since the road is on a very small bend, I was struggling to go round the bend without going too close to the curb on one side or too close to the parked cars on the other - i could not follow the shape of the road. So it was actually the buses mistake to go in the first place, but I sucked at reversing back and could have easily hit the parked cars wing mirrors.

[Rarrgh]

You'll gradually get better at them, and if you think that your really bad, get some extra lessons to go over them.

[Chibelta]

It's ok, I passed my test about a year ago and I still can't reverse properly

[Bubble87]

(Original post by Anon420)
Sigh and I did all maneuvers no issues but got failed because I was going 10mph too slow on a country lane (I explained i was being careful! ha!)

Goes to show the consistency with the DVLA...

Off topic but seriously?! Speed limits are a guideline for the potential risk on a road it doesn't mean you should always be driving at that speed! I see 50mph limits near me on narrow road with loads of blind spots! I do 35 on them! Can't believe you were failed for that.

[Mustard-man]

So you mention 3 situations and they all appear to concern reversing. Considering you passed about a month ago you shouldn't be so hard on yourself. It will come with practise. The confusing aspect of reversing is it's sort of the opposite in the sense that you're looking backwards but when you steer anti-clockwise you're going right instead of left if you were looking and going forward. At the same time, you will have to check different mirrors frequently due to view constraints. Also, even if you're reversing out of something with a fence or a car next to you and on to an adjacent road, you need to check the area you're reversing from since the turning of the steering wheel swings the front of the car and you could easily hit the object.

Reversing is really about all-round awareness, which only come with practise and experience. Unfortunately driving tests / lessons only cover a handful of situations, and in those situations the maneuvers are set movements. For instance, during my driving test I was required to do a reverse parallel park. I was taught something like a full anti-clockwise turn, then at a certain angle a half turn back, bla bla. Thing is, I NEVER screwed one up during my lessons, but happened to nudge the curb during my test. So I was like **** what do I do. Sounds stupid now, but as a learner you may be able to pass something, but it's one's adaptability that makes them the better driver, and be able to overcome unique situations.

Just practise

[Frankster]

(Original post by micboy)
I used to experience the same problems as you, but then I bought a Peel P50. To get out of the difficult situations like you said, I simply lift and push the car. It works wonders!

BTW, there is no reverse function on a Peel P50 - Handy for us since we dunno how to reverse.

LOL WHAT!? You're 16...