Will I have to reverse park during the driving test? | LTrent Driving School

Will I have to reverse park during the driving test?

Will I Have to Reverse Park During the Driving Test? | LTrent Driving School Blog

Reverse or parallel parking is among the key areas you may be tested in during your practical driving test. The testing officer will look at your general road awareness and not just your driving skills in this maneuver.

While excelling in your reverse park test doesn’t qualify you as a skilled driver automatically, it helps to improve your overall score during the exam. Here’s everything you need to know about the parallel car park test.

Rules of Reverse Parking

To execute your reverse parking test successfully, stick to the following rules:

Maintain Kerb Distance

As a rule of the thumb, you should always maintain a less than 500mm distance between your car wheels and the kerb to avoid touching the kerb. The car must also be in the correct parallel position before the maneuver can begin.

Be Accurate with Measurements

Keep a one-meter distance between your car and the one to your left at a parallel position. Once the car is safely into its parking slot, ensure there’s a 1 to 2 meter distance between the vehicle in front and the one behind your car.

Maximize on Control

As is standard with all parking manoeuvers, you have a maximum of four directional changes to make for your car to settle in its parking space.

Testable Areas in Reverse Parking

Examiners can test their learner drivers reverse parking skills in different environments. These include:

Reverse Park into a Car Parking Bay

A car park bay is one of the easiest yet tricky places to do a reverse park. In this environment, the examiner will mostly want to know if you can:

  • Put the car wheels in a parallel position before commencing the manoeuver
  • Make good observations about your surroundings
  • Maintain the right speed using the clutch control
  • Stick within the bay lines while keeping the car in a straight position

Reverse Parallel Parking in the Road

Trying to complete the maneuver on a busy road is not the same as a parking bay. Here, you must:

  • Stop at a suitable position to commence the reverse park
  • Select the reverse gear and observe your surroundings using the side mirror
  • Take note of the mirrors and blind spot
  • Turn the steering wheel at the right angle as the car moves backward
  • Keep the front wheel adjacent to the kerb but within touching distance
  • Deal with other road users and pedestrians appropriately

Above all, an examiner will want to confirm that you stayed calm during the reverse test in both instances to consider you as a safe driver.

Complete Your Reverse Parking Test Successfully

The best driving schools teach you the basic and in-depth skills to handle a reverse parking test. This includes lessons on how to make three-point turns and the common faults to avoid during a test.

Want to learn how to drive? At the Ltrent Driving School, we have experienced driving instructors who can help you become a confident and competent driver. Contact us for more information.

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