To ask for help on reversing on a narrow country lane

[hooliodancer]

Before I start, I accept the "you shouldn't be on the road' responses which are inevitable on driving threads. But I am fine and confident on the road, been driving long distances for years, just worried about this.

I need to travel for 2 miles along a single lane road with very rare passing places. Partner has gone to work, I have just decided to do this journey and need some reversing tips.

I was going to take some special reversing lessons as I will do this journey regularly in a few months.But I really need to do it today, and feel I am being pathetic avoiding it.

Apart from reverse parking I have only once in 15 years of driving had to reverse a long distance. It has just never happened!

So please can I have some technical tips? Thanks.

(My Dad used to make us reverse round a slalom of cones when we were kids, it definitely helped when we were old enough to drive on the road!)

Yy to wing mirrors, glance alternate sides as you go and keep evenly in the middle.

Watch out for bends and if you start getting too close to one side don't be afraid to go forwards to adjust road position then try again. Otherwise you'll just end up wedged in the hedge.

And beware overcompensation aka the wibbly wobblies. As a last report just shout out the window that you're really bad at reversing and it might be quicker if they do it, sorry sorry sorry! I've gone back a loooooong way sometimes, but it's honestly better and faster and safer than making someone who is struggling do it.

Odds are anyone you meet on that sort of Lane will be a demon reverser anyway and will have their car in reverse and whizzing back to the last passing spot before you have to do anything.

You get very good at sizing up the drivers coming the other way and you can tell right away when it's someone who isn't going to manage the reverse very easily. Something to do with how fast hey get into reverse or start looking in mirrors, rather than a Moreno obvious look of blind terror!

I lived in a village in Scotland, my commute included 30 minutes on single track roads (with occasional cows straying) (not to mention the odd deer). I would repeat what others have said - when you stop, look at each wing mirror to see where the edge of the road comes, then reverse slowly, glancing from one wing mirror to the other to your rear view mirror, maintaining your position between the two edges of the road.

Passing place on your left: when you spot the passing place in the rear view mirror, concentrate on keeping the left edge of the road in view, and you'll follow the 'curve' into the passing place (with the gap on the right side of your car getting wider).

Passing place on your right: reverse straight until your car is parallel to the passing place. Let the oncoming drive then pull into the passing place (it will be on his/her left), you can then drive straight forwards again.

Look at where you want to go not what you are trying to avoid.
I tend to check mirrors then look over my shoulder.

My advice is, if you can't reverse, don't! Let the other car do it!

This is my rural life! It's fine, I enjoy the small roads.

My tips are:

Slow down approaching corners and stay as left as possible

Try to see forwards between trees if possible as you approach bends

Take note when you pass a pull-in in case you'll need it just after

Actual reversing to get to a pull-in is easy, not sure what the worry is there, just check no-one is behind you as I'm sure you would anyway!

If there is a car behind you get into reverse, the lights will soon give them the clue that you need to go back

Be patient

Keep an eye out for tractors lorries loaded with bales this time of year, they also use the tiny roads

I'm sure that if you drive sensibly you'll be absolutely fine. I've been driving around roads like this my whole driving life (it's been a number of years!) and never had an accident.

Keep track of where the passing places are. If you know the other car is nearer a passing place than you are do not be bullied into reversing under any circumstances.

Sit back, switch engine off, look hopeless, whatever you have to do - but make them move.

Where we live is surrounded by those types of single track lanes (including our lane) and locals tend to whizz backwards just automatically. I encounter plenty of people who are rubbish or very slow at reversing too, it's not a problem.
Besides the only way you get better at something is by practising it. Good for you for giving it a go!

Oh I assume you use wing mirrors anyway? If not, do! I do rarely turn around to reverse, I use the mirrors. If it's a tricky pull-in I shift the mirrors down to see the ground more, for ditches and hedges etc.

Practice reversing more and more - but go for a drive to a nice big empty car park etc. Don't be embarrassed, but a LOT of the issue is the unfamiliar feel and way your brain has to reverse things too.

If you can't find any empty car parks, find a local industrial estate where there tends to be lots of entrances to units where you can practice reversing into a road etc.

Do it more and more and you'll grow in confidence.

Oh, and don't be fooled by lots of men who claim to be amazing at it. I can tell you that most are NOT, and when we do actually pull off a good bit of parking, we are secretly rather chuffed and hope someone noticed!

Like a pp said, locals will do it automatically!

The fact you’ll be doing the journey regularly is a big help; you’ll quickly get to know the passing places.

Music off and windows down, so you’re more alert to any approaching cars.

Wing mirrors all the way. Don’t try to turn around; using your L and R mirrors to line up and keep parallel to sides of the lane is much more effective.

If you need to reverse where there’s a bend give a sharp toot on the horn as you approach, as a warning.

As above, plus stay back from the vehicle in front if the passing places are only big enough for one vehicle, otherwise you'll have to reverse to the previous passing place.

My mum hated reversing and was also a stubborn stubborn woman. She was quite fond of the 'sit there and stare at them 'til they move' method. On one memorable occasion she met a works van - they were not too far past a passing place but seemed to want her to be the one to reverse. After a few minutes of the 'stare off' she switched off the engine and got out her knitting! The other guys in the van were killing themselves laughing, the driver was purple in the face with rage and we were hiding on the floor in the back of mums car, mortified.

The van eventually reversed.

I made sure I was an ace at reversing when I passed my test!

As someone who drives roads like this daily, I’m really impressed that you’re actually thinking about this: there are loads of drivers who don’t!

I agree with the go slowly advice. You should then be able to avoid tg3 need to reverse at all. I hardly ever have to ( except today: mr caravan driver who ignored the passing place, I’m looking at you...👿)

If you do have to reverse, it helps me to put my window down and look out there. Don’t overthink it.

For those that say 'sit there and wait for the other person to do it' bear in mind that if there is a hill involved, it is the person coming down the hill who is supposed to reverse up it.

Some good advice already. I regularly drive a very twisty narrow road with high hedges either side so limited visibility. I now know where every passing place is and make sure I don't pass one without checking there's nobody coming the other way. Going round a blind corner you can also toot your horn to warn other motorists.
I got really stuck once, in the dark, didn't know the road and I asked the other motorist to watch me back. It was the only way either of us was going to make progress!

I'm also going to go with the using your mirrors and taking it slowly, but for a bizarre reason I find it really helpful to remove my seatbelt while reversing as it allows me to look fully behind for a few glances...

I think I was taught to only use my right hand on the steering wheel but to place it at the 9o'clock position with my elbow at 3o'clock, then look out of the back window.

euph a mate of mine did similar. But he got his packed lunch and flask out and poured himself a cuppa.

from the highway code
Single-track roads. These are only wide enough for one vehicle. They may have special passing places. If you see a vehicle coming towards you, or the driver behind wants to overtake, pull into a passing place on your left, or wait opposite a passing place on your right. Give way to vehicles coming uphill whenever you can. If necessary, reverse until you reach a passing place to let the other vehicle pass. Slow down when passing pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders.
it should add - thse roads are often theoretically NSL - do not drive at the LIMIT (60mph)

Get yourself some P plates, people will be more understanding (unless they are knobs) and will try to reverse instead.

I’d highly recommend using your wing mirrors, this will help you keep the car straighter. If you turn to look over your shoulder and you don’t feel confident this is when you’ll be a bit more all over the place. I’d also suggest taking a deep breath and take your time, drive at the speed you’re comfortable with, not what someone else is trying to force you to do. Practice, practice, practice and you’ll be an expert in no time.

"Get yourself some P plates, people will be more understanding "

I really wouldn't do this, there are just too many knobs about who wil take the piss.

One more thing - if you feel you are making a right mess of it, stop, go forward to straighten up and start again rather than trying to correct on the move.