Solve our disagreement about turning round when driving backwards

[OhForkItThen]

Today I picked up a friend, she lives down a long narrow road with no turning points if full of parked cars, which means sometimes you have to reverse the entire length to get out. I did today and she gave me a funny look as a turned around to drive back, one hand on the wheel.

Then I got to mine and reversed onto the driveway, it’s a 3 lane busy road with a well used pavement and I reversed across the two oncoming lanes to reverse onto my drive. Again I turned around to drive backwards across the distance (looking forward, back and round, it’s a bust a-road by a junction) it’s a funny angle.

My view is it’s normal to turn around to drive backwards, she reckons you should use mirrors at all times as it is what they are for and I need to learn to. I’d use mirrors for little manoeuvres in clear areas like bay parking or three point turns, but surely if driving backwards for more than a small reverse you turn around? I can drive backwards very well, at a normal speed in tight areas such as down a road of parked cars. Doesn’t looking out the back give better visibility and a better judge of distance than in mirrors? Also easier to steer looking where you are going?

She’s adamant I’m wrong and should use mirrors/ am a driving test fail. She points out you have to use mirrors in vans etc.... but I just drive an awkward long estate car and it’s far easier to look back...

So who is wrong?

@ElizaPancakes I was just thinking my DF used to do the same. It always impressed me as a child, more so now I can drive and couldn't even attempt it.

I was taught to face the direction you are driving, so if reversing you turn and look out of the back window. Unless the rules have changed, assume that is what you must still do in order to pass your driving test.

According to the government website

You don’t need to wear a seat belt if you’re:

a driver who is reversing, or supervising a learner driver who is reversing

www.gov.uk/seat-belts-law/when-you-dont-need-to-wear-a-seat-belt

This is because you are supposed to look back and it is difficult to do that when wearing a seatbelt.

I'm learning to drive (19 years after I first learnt!) and have been taught you turn to check behind you every now and then, but if you do it while actually reversing you'll fail your test. Also there is no three point turn any more!

Rule 202 of the highway code includes:

Reverse slowly while

• checking all around
• looking mainly through the rear window
• being aware that the front of your vehicle will swing out as you turn.

I use both.

Your friend is wrong

@FreezerBird thanks. That’s clear enough for a win!