Struggle Reversing a Car? This May be Why

Common mistakes people make when trying to reverse a car and why so many people struggle to reverse even after passing the driving test in Great Britain.

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This video is a guide intended to help people who are learning to drive with a driving instructor in Great Britain, it is by no means a replacement for driving lessons with an appropriately qualified driving instructor.

Laws and driving rules may be different in your country. The makers of this video cannot be held liable for any consequences caused by any information that is in any way inaccurate, misleading or missing. The makers of this video are not liable for any person's driving other than their own, it is the responsibility of the person driving a vehicle to ensure they drive safely and within the law. The makers of this video are also not liable for any person failing a driving test as a result of the information provided in the video.

00:00 It's normal
00:37 Mistake 1
01:32 Mistake 2
02:24 Mistake 3
03:24 Mistake 4
04:27 Mistake 5
05:07 Mistake 6
05:49 Mistake 7
06:32 Mistake 8
07:22 45 degree vs 90 degree
11:38 Mistake 9
12:23 Why many struggle
15:16 How I was taught
17:52 Practise exercise
22:15 The driving test

[chimingchiu]

As a driving instructor myself, I think this video is THE (not one of the) clearest and most comprehensive explanation on reversing a car. Thank you.

[niteshkumarjangde]

Today, I successfully passed my driving test with just 2 minors. Your thorough explanations of every topic truly dispelled all my doubts about navigating UK roads. Your dedication to each learner's progress is immensely valued and appreciated. Thank you for your exceptional guidance! ❤❤❤❤❤

[bb-qvfu]

THANK I PASSED MY TEST AT FIRST ATTEMPT. I LEARNT A LOT OF CONFIDENCE TIPS AND TECHNIQUES FROM YOU. YOU ARE AMAZING

[mimiaj]

A great tip my sister once told me, when reversing, you steer the direction you want to move your back wheels. If you want the back wheels to go right, steer to the right.

[targettmark]

i got my first car last weekend, a 2010 Ford Fiesta 1.2L :) :) your videos are a massive part in passing the UK driving test :) :) thank you from the bottom of my heart Richard :) :)

[IMHO]

Over a year of driving and parking still gives me so much anxiety! This video was really helpful. Thanks

[NwaHp]

This guy REALLY knows his stuff!...Trust me!...plus his socks are incredible!

[Jackmawer]

Richard, after months of watching your videos after being recommended them by an ex-student of yours, and being encouraged by success stories in your comments, it was finally my turn to pass yesterday - with 3 minors.
I couldn’t have done it at all without the help of your channel. Thank you so much for all of your hard work! ❤

[BBHW]

As an ADI who has been teaching learners for over 20 years, in a word: Excellent. Well done Richard on a superb episode. Brilliantly explained and I applaud you for debunking the '3 lines' bay parking method. I sincerely wish I'd had a driving instructor like you when I learned to drive back in 1972.

[no_one_]

Such a nice video for your country. Driving in India, you have to keep in mind the traffic behind will blow your ears off - and if you acquiesce: steal your parking space 😢

[paris_riley]

As a learner who’s teaching herself, reversing is the bane of my existence, especially controlling speed when reversing and this has really helped

[lm]

Another one I would add is turn off the stereos and wind down the windows, sometime you do indeed pick up things you cannot otherwise see, and your visibility might also improve. My most frightening experience was a cyclist that came out right around the corner behind me when I was reversing, glad I was doing a very slow speed. From that moment onwards, I always make sure to use my hearing when backing out, and try my best not needing to back out of a space.

[FudFst]

My best tip is essentially to picture where your rear wheel is, and realize this is what determines where you'll end up. I say this after about 10 years as a garbage truck driver, where reversing is definitely a must-have skill. Best is of course if you can physically see your rear wheel which is tricky in most cars but easy in a lorry. In fact, most cars (modern anyway) are horribly difficult to see out of compared to a lorry.

[adelinaciubotariu]

You are the best. All the instructors should teach their pupils how to reverse. I have taken nearly 200 hours of driving and even after I passed I still need to go now into an empty car park and to learn how to reverse so I don't panic when I have to park. Thank you for this video.

[WanderingLunatic]

Passed my test in Barnet (come visit the worst potholes in the country) yesterday on my first attempt. Your videos were a substantial part of me learning to drive. Thank you so much for all the hard work you put into them.

[grahamparsons]

I was taught to pass the driving test by the RAF, then I was taught how to drive over several day and nights by the same instructor. Skid pan, night driving, motorway driving and dozens of reversing manoeuvres in many situations and a few different vehicles. I left the course quite confident. And now 45 years later I am still accident-free except for a slip on black ice that caught many locals the same night.

[nicole_gemmell]

Been watching you for the last year, passed my test 2 weeks ago and got my first car (Fiat 500 X after learning in a Volkswagon Polo) and everything you have said in this video is spot on, so much is different, especially as my own car is quite a bit larger than what i learned in, I always find myself coming back to your channel for advice, even now when i've passed so thank you for your content, it is appreciated 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🙂

[simonhodgetts]

What helped me enormously with reversing was driving a van - there’s no rear window, so it’s all on the door mirrors - but because you can place the corners of the van easily, you quickly learn how to position it - and confidence grows quickly. I also think that reversing on the door mirrors (using the over the shoulder for occasional checks for pedestrians or other vehicles) works well. Most modern cars allow you to angle the mirror glasses down momentarily so that you can see the kerb. Parallel parking took a while longer to master, but, I’ve never had a driveway, so I’ve had plenty of practice! Even if I had a reverse camera, I’d still use the mirrors and over the shoulder look!

[paultasker]

I'm not even a learner (passed in 1999) and I'm still fascinated by these videos. Most of us are not great at reversing and like you I was taught methods that only worked in 1 car. I was taught to look at where the car is in a corner window. But that corner window varies in placement between cars. Also how many turns to put on in a non power assisted corsa. My first car had different steering ratio and thus 2 turns in that car did not do the same in mine!

[hayden]

In Malaysia, those who wants to get a manual license will not be taught reverse parking, only parallel parking. I was taught like this when i learn how to drive. No reverse parking, only parallel parking. Those who wants to get an automatic transmission license gets to learn both reverse and parallel.😂 After i passed my test. I straight away watch Richard's videos on how to reverse parking. And OF COURSE, it helped a lot.