Manoeuvres (skills 17 to 20)

17. Reversing

You should be able to reverse smoothly and safely while under complete control. This includes reversing to the left and right around sweeping curves and sharp corners.

You should be confident reversing:

around a left and a right corner – including square and gently curved corners as well as on the straight
on a level road
on a gradient
on a narrow or wide road
on a flat road or one with a camber
on the left and right-hand sides of the road
into driveways
into and out of parking spaces

You should also know how to:

reverse accurately and smoothly
steer in the correct manner
make use of effective all-round observation
reverse without undue delay
take account of the way the car moves when you’re reversing

18. Turning the car around

To turn your vehicle around, it’s often easiest and safest to use a roundabout or reverse into a side street. If these options are not available, you may need to turn your vehicle around in the road.

You should be able to turn the car around:

on a flat road and one with a camber
under full control
accurately judging the width of the road
while looking for and responding to other road users
without running into or mounting either kerb

You should know how to:

observe carefully all around throughout the manoeuvre, especially checking their blind spots
respond safely to other road users
coordinate the hand and foot controls so the car moves smoothly
steer in the correct manner while turning as tightly as possible

19. Parking

Whether you’re parking at the side of the road or using a bay in a car park, you need to gain the skills to do this safely before you drive on your own.

You should to be able to:

coordinate your hand and foot controls well, so that the car moves smoothly
keep a reasonable distance from other vehicles
observe all around while manoeuvring and not just rely on mirrors
know where you’re allowed to park so that it’s legal, safe and convenient
perform this manoeuvre accurately, signalling when they need to
park without becoming a danger or obstruction to other road users

20. Emergency stop

Effective scanning and reading of the road ahead will cut down the risk of having to make an emergency stop.

But if it’s unavoidable, brake as quickly as possible while keeping the car under full control.

You should know:

how to coordinate the brake and clutch pedals so that the car comes to a stop under full control
the limitations of anti-lock braking systems (ABS)
how different road and weather conditions can affect stopping safely
how to control a skid if one occurs
how to move away safely again after you’ve made an emergency stop