Page 13 | to ask why people don’t reverse in?

prescribingmum · 27/03/2023 07:04

As the link shows - the examiner specifies whether you drive or reverse into the bay so it’s risky going into a test without knowing how to reverse into it

Sweetpeasaremadeforbees · 27/03/2023 08:14

This was the case when I did my test back in 2003 (and I did reverse into a bay as part of my test)

Are you sure, according to this it only came in in 2017 Driving test changes: 4 December 2017 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Driving test changes: 4 December 2017

The driving test will change from Monday 4 December 2017 to include following directions from a sat nav and testing different manoeuvres.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/driving-test-changes-4-december-2017

Rosula · 27/03/2023 09:20

pull up on the right-hand side of the road, reverse for around 2 car lengths, and rejoin the traffic

Off the point, but I'm intrigued that that's part of the test currently. I'm struggling to think of a situation when I would need to do that, other than maybe if I had parked on the right on a very quiet or one way street.

TheWomanTheyCallJayne · 27/03/2023 10:09

Reversing in is easier so I’ll do that unless I know I’ll have to access the boot (for the dogs etc). I use the back seats for shopping as there’s a big dog crate in the boot. I do I stand driving straight in at supermarkets though. I just wish people were better at reversing out again.

I think a lot of people are just appalling at reversing though. Just from my experiences of meeting them on country lanes. If I meet someone coming the other way, these days, I tend to immediately just start reversing regardless of who is closer to a passing place and most of the time I’ll get there quicker anyway.

prescribingmum · 27/03/2023 10:48

@Sweetpeasaremadeforbees I am obviously sure of what I did for my own test 🙄

Back in 2003, we had to do one of reversing around a corner or turn in a road PLUS one of parallel park between 2 cars or reverse park in a bay. There was no option of driving forward into either, they had to be done in reverse.

I assume the link you provided highlights the change of removing the former manoeuvres that were in my test

Sweetpeasaremadeforbees · 27/03/2023 11:19

I'm not sure. Here's the history of testing. I can't see any mention of changes before 2017.

History of road safety, The Highway Code and the driving test - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

History of road safety, The Highway Code and the driving test

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/history-of-road-safety-and-the-driving-test/history-of-road-safety-the-highway-code-and-the-driving-test

prescribingmum · 27/03/2023 11:33

FGS I did the test! What you can or cant find via Google is irrelevant.
I obviously know what I was tested on

Common sense dictates the test was modified from when it was first introduced and 2017 irrespective of what you can and cant locate online 🙄

GinForTheWinnn · 27/03/2023 11:35

Depends where/why I'm parking. If I don't need the boot then I reverse in. If I do, then I go straight in.

Sweetpeasaremadeforbees · 27/03/2023 11:40

I'm not saying you didn't reverse into a sodding parking space on your test, I'm saying that it wasn't a required part of the test then. Maybe you should have questioned it with your examiner. Maybe he classed it as reversing round a corner?

WhenDovesFly · 27/03/2023 11:49

For me personally, I walk with a stick so I drive into a space at a supermarket as I can't manage carrying shopping bags down a narrow space between cars to access the boot. I also drive into my drive because I live on a horrendously busy road and like a pp, no one stops to let you reverse in. I've been reversing out of spaces and off my drive for years and don't blindly drive into pedestrians because I know how to use my eyes and mirrors.

Itsbytheby · 27/03/2023 11:53

Divorcedalongtime · 26/03/2023 16:50

I think the problem with the people reversing out is that because their view is so extremely limited they are oblivious to how many bear misses they are actually having.

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My new car has an excellent rear camera. In fact there are two, one giving the back view, which seems to be able to see around corners, and a view from above, with lines for where you are heading. So I am not sure you are correct.

I don't reverse in as I didn't for about 6 years due to having a pram in the boot.

DappledThings · 27/03/2023 11:56

Sweetpeasaremadeforbees · 27/03/2023 11:40

I'm not saying you didn't reverse into a sodding parking space on your test, I'm saying that it wasn't a required part of the test then. Maybe you should have questioned it with your examiner. Maybe he classed it as reversing round a corner?

Wasn't it dependent on the test centre? I know reverse bay parking was never going to be on my test because my test centre didn't have its own car park and thats the only place they did it. So I was only ever going to be asked to do one of the the three; turn in the road, parallel park or reverse round a corner. Other people taking tests at the same time could have been asked to if their test centre had the space for it.

Sweetpeasaremadeforbees · 27/03/2023 12:02

Wasn't it dependent on the test centre? I know reverse bay parking was never going to be on my test because my test centre didn't have its own car park and thats the only place they did it. So I was only ever going to be asked to do one of the the three; turn in the road, parallel park or reverse round a corner. Other people taking tests at the same time could have been asked to if their test centre had the space for it.

I don't know because in my day you didn't have to parallel park! Me and my dad joke that if we'd had to do that in a limited time we still wouldn't have passed our tests. I don't even try because I can either do it first time or screw it up and give up and park elsewhere.

Blanketpolicy · 27/03/2023 12:06

I see cars desperately trying to get out of their parking bay

I drive in because I usually need access to the boot so it is much easier. Never had to "desperately" get out of a parking bay in my 30+ years of driving, all it takes is a bit of patience and awareness of surroundings.

Itsbytheby · 27/03/2023 12:07

Blanketpolicy · 27/03/2023 12:06

I see cars desperately trying to get out of their parking bay

I drive in because I usually need access to the boot so it is much easier. Never had to "desperately" get out of a parking bay in my 30+ years of driving, all it takes is a bit of patience and awareness of surroundings.

I agree. Getting out, even reversing, is always fairly easy (unless a very tight car park and big van parks ebhind you), getting in is generally much trickier.

Hellsmovie · 27/03/2023 12:07

I know its irrational but it annoys me that people dont reverse into a space. And I definitely judge them

Jonei · 27/03/2023 12:23

Yes that is irrational.

amusedbush · 27/03/2023 13:09

Antiquiteas · 26/03/2023 20:10

I agree. It’s basic. There’s a reason it’s a standard manoeuvre in a driving test.

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I sat my test in 2015 and, because it wasn't part of the test at that test centre, my instructor never taught me how to do it.

I have to reverse into a space at work but I'm always there early so the place is empty. I wouldn't feel comfortable backing into a space between two cars; I promise I'm not a shit driver and, gun to my head, I could probably do it, I just know my limitations.

I'm dyspraxic, which affects hand-eye coordination, depth perception, estimating space, etc. When I'm reversing, I'm processing information backwards and most of the time it's instinctual but sometimes it takes me a minute I've done everything I can to mitigate it and ensure that nobody else is affected by my issues, though; I have an automatic-only licence (to limit how many things need my attention), a reversing camera is a non-negotiable in my cars, and I'm happy to park far away, where I can drive through two spaces and end up facing forward. It probably makes me a safer, more patient driver than many.

prescribingmum · 27/03/2023 13:15

Sweetpeasaremadeforbees · 27/03/2023 11:40

I'm not saying you didn't reverse into a sodding parking space on your test, I'm saying that it wasn't a required part of the test then. Maybe you should have questioned it with your examiner. Maybe he classed it as reversing round a corner?

Why on earth would I question it with the examiner when my instructor had advised me that it was part of the syllabus and taught me to expect it as part of my test ?! Honestly, its like speaking to a brick wall!

Your link does not detail every single change in driving test history - for a start it does not detail the introduction of reversing around a corner or turning in the road yet details when they were removed.

As @DappledThings said, the location of test centre did have an influence. Mine had bays so I was advised I was more likely to be instructed to reverse into a bay vs parallel park but examiners at that centre had been known to test parallel parking.

IT WAS STILL A REQUIREMENT OF MY TEST. I CANT SHOUT IT ANY LOUDER

Sweetpeasaremadeforbees · 27/03/2023 13:19

Don't worry I give up as well.

Drilldrill · 27/03/2023 13:31

amusedbush · 27/03/2023 13:09

I sat my test in 2015 and, because it wasn't part of the test at that test centre, my instructor never taught me how to do it.

I have to reverse into a space at work but I'm always there early so the place is empty. I wouldn't feel comfortable backing into a space between two cars; I promise I'm not a shit driver and, gun to my head, I could probably do it, I just know my limitations.

I'm dyspraxic, which affects hand-eye coordination, depth perception, estimating space, etc. When I'm reversing, I'm processing information backwards and most of the time it's instinctual but sometimes it takes me a minute I've done everything I can to mitigate it and ensure that nobody else is affected by my issues, though; I have an automatic-only licence (to limit how many things need my attention), a reversing camera is a non-negotiable in my cars, and I'm happy to park far away, where I can drive through two spaces and end up facing forward. It probably makes me a safer, more patient driver than many.

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Sorry to jump on your comment but did you find you took more lessons before your test due to the dyspraxia? I ask as my daughter has dyspraxia and the conversation of driving lessons has recently come up. Was your driving instructor patient and supportive? Hope you don’t mind me asking and I’m aware everyone is very different

amusedbush · 27/03/2023 14:41

Drilldrill · 27/03/2023 13:31

Sorry to jump on your comment but did you find you took more lessons before your test due to the dyspraxia? I ask as my daughter has dyspraxia and the conversation of driving lessons has recently come up. Was your driving instructor patient and supportive? Hope you don’t mind me asking and I’m aware everyone is very different

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I'm afraid I don't have a clear answer to that. I started learning in a manual car when I was 18 (2008), had loads of lessons but absolutely despised it and quit before sitting a test. I picked it up and dropped it twice more over the years, then in 2015 I decided to try automatic lessons as a last-ditch effort. I think it was about five months from my first lesson to passing my test.

However, I wasn't diagnosed with dyspraxia (and autism... and ADHD...!) until 2021 so I didn't know at the time why I found it so difficult to learn to drive. It was clear that I struggled to get to grips with the clutch and having my hands and feet do different things at the same time, but it wasn't until I got my diagnosis that I could look back and go "ohhhh, that makes sense!"

Drilldrill · 27/03/2023 14:46

amusedbush · 27/03/2023 14:41

I'm afraid I don't have a clear answer to that. I started learning in a manual car when I was 18 (2008), had loads of lessons but absolutely despised it and quit before sitting a test. I picked it up and dropped it twice more over the years, then in 2015 I decided to try automatic lessons as a last-ditch effort. I think it was about five months from my first lesson to passing my test.

However, I wasn't diagnosed with dyspraxia (and autism... and ADHD...!) until 2021 so I didn't know at the time why I found it so difficult to learn to drive. It was clear that I struggled to get to grips with the clutch and having my hands and feet do different things at the same time, but it wasn't until I got my diagnosis that I could look back and go "ohhhh, that makes sense!"

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Thank you for taking the time to answer, it’s good to hear the experiences of people who have gone through similar struggles. My son is also autistic so think he will struggle with some aspects of learning to drive. At the moment I’m very boringly talking them through what I’m doing when driving to try and give them a little background knowledge. Whether that’s a good thing or not I have no idea 🤦‍♀️

amusedbush · 27/03/2023 14:53

Drilldrill · 27/03/2023 14:46

Thank you for taking the time to answer, it’s good to hear the experiences of people who have gone through similar struggles. My son is also autistic so think he will struggle with some aspects of learning to drive. At the moment I’m very boringly talking them through what I’m doing when driving to try and give them a little background knowledge. Whether that’s a good thing or not I have no idea 🤦‍♀️

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I think talking through what you're doing is a great idea and I would find it helpful. Obviously I can't speak for all autistic people but, in general, we like to know the "why" behind everything

blacksax · 27/03/2023 14:57

user1471517900 · 25/03/2023 22:17

In supermarkets it makes sense to drive straight in, so you can load the boot with shopping without having to squeeze the trolley past the car.

This. Likewise garden centres and DIY stores.

Besides, if you are a good driver (and some fuckwitted pedestrian doesn't decide to walk behind your car when it is already moving) then reversing out of a parking space is a doddle.