How To Do All The Manoeuvres Required For Your Driving Test!
If you are taking the UK practical driving test, you will need to know how to perform all of the following four reversing manoeuvres. The examiner will ask you to carry out two of them during your test:
Reverse Around A Corner
Turn In The Road
Bay Parking
Parallel Parking
Each of the manoeuvres requires careful vehicle control whilst taking effective observations to deal with other road users and pedestrians.
In addition, around one in every three test candidates will be asked to perform an emergency stop.
Many learner drivers worry about the reversing manoeuvres required for the driving test, but if you learn how to do them properly and get plenty of practice, they're a lot more straightforward than they seem at first glance!
Read on for links to detailed step-by-step instructions and video tutorials on how to do all the manoeuvres required for your driving test.
The advice given on this page has been written by fully qualified Driving Standards Agency Approved Driving Instructors (DSA ADIs) and is intended only for UK drivers and those taking the UK Practical Driving Test.
Please be aware that road traffic legislation and what is considered good driving practice varies throughout the world!
Driving Test Manoeuvres
All the manoeuvres you could be asked to carry out on your UK Practical Driving Test!
How To Reverse Around A Corner
Reversing around a corner into a side road on the left on your driving test
Reversing around a corner involves reversing your vehicle approximately 2 - 3 car lengths into a side road (usually on the left) under control and reasonably close to the kerb.
Click the link below for detailed step-by-step instructions and video tutorials which will show you how to reverse around a corner (right click the link to open in a new tab or window)
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How To Reverse Around A Corner
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Reversing around a corner is one of the manoeuvres you may be asked to show the examiner on your driving test. You will usually be asked to reverse round a corner into a side road on your left. It is unlikely (but not impossible!) that you will be ask...
How To Do A Turn In The Road
Turning in the road using forward and reverse gears on your driving test
Turning in the road involves turning your vehicle around within the width of the road to face in the opposite direction by use of forward and reverse gears.
This manoeuvre is often (incorrectly) referred to a "three point turn", but there is no restriction on the number of "turns" you can make - three turns is (obviously!) the minimum amount in which you can turn around to face the other way, but depending on how wide the road is, you may take five turns or more!
Click the link below for detailed step-by-step instructions and video tutorials which will show you how to do a turn in the road (right click the link to open in a new tab or window)
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How To Do A Turn In The Road
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The turn in the road (often called a "three point turn") is one of the manoeuvres that you might be asked to perform on your Practical Driving Test. The aim of this manoeuvre is for you to turn the car round to face in the opposite direction by usin...
How To Bay Park
Reversing into a parking bay on your driving test
Bay parking involves reversing into a marked parking bay either to the left or the right.
This manoeuvre is carried out at the DSA Test Centre car park either at the beginning or end of the test. NB - you will not be asked to perform the bay parking manoevure at Test Centres that do not have a suitable car park. Check with your Test Centre or driving instructor to find out whether bay parking is carried out at the centre where you will be taking your test.
Regardless of whether your Test Centre has the facilities to carry out this manoeuvre, learning how to reverse properly into a parking space is a skill that will be invaluable to you once you pass your test - I highly recommend that all learner drivers should know how to bay park!
Click the link below for detailed step-by-step instructions and video tutorials which will show you how to bay park (right click the link to open in a new tab or window)
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How To Bay Park
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Bay parking is one of the reversing manoeuvres you may be asked to carry out on your driving test. Reversing into a marked parking bay is carried out at the test centre car park either at the start or end of the driving test. You can choose whether...
How To Parallel Park
Reverse parallel parking on your driving test
Parallel parking involves reversing your vehicle to park behind another vehicle which has been parked next to the kerb.
Click the link below for detailed step-by-step instructions and video tutorials which will show you how to parallel park (right click the link to open in a new tab or window)
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How To Parallel Park
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Reverse parking (often called "parallel parking") is one of the manoeuvres that the examiner may ask you to do on your Practical driving test. The aim of the parallel parking manoeuvre is to show that you can reverse the car safely and un...
How To Do An Emergency Stop
Emergency stop / controlled stop on your driving test
The emergency stop (or the "controlled stop" as it is also known) involves showing the examiner that you are able to stop your vehicle as quickly as possible whilst under control should an emergency situation arise while you were driving.
Unlike the four set reversing manoeuvres, the emergency stop does NOT require you to reverse your vehicle, but as one in three test candidates will be asked to perform the emergency stop exercise and it's often regarded as a "driving test manoeuvre", I've included it here.
Click the link below for detailed step-by-step instructions and video tutorials which will show you how to do an emergency stop (right click the link to open in a new tab or window)
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How To Do An Emergency Stop
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The emergency stop is an exercise that you may be required to carry out on your driving test. The emergency stop is often referred to as a "controlled stop" and is done at random on approximately one in three driving tests. The aim of the...
Can You Take Your Seatbelt Off When Reversing On Your Driving Test?
Yes, you can take your seatbelt off when carrying out any of the reversing manoeuvres on your driving test - but it's not advisable!
It's very easy to forget to put it back on afterwards - which won't impress the examiner at all!
Further Help
If you need more help, here's a few links to some highly recommended books and software that will not only help you to pass your driving test, but will teach you good, safe driving practice - for life!
Recommended Book: "Driving: The Essential Skills"
The Official DSA Guide to Driving: The Essential Skills
The Official DSA Guide to Driving:
the essential skills
The Official DSA Guide to Driving: The Essential Skills (book)
by Driving Standards Agency (Author)
This book has been written by the Driving Standards Agency - the people who set the driving test!
This book explains clearly and precisely all the skills you need to show the examiner during your driving test and how to achieve them.
If you drive to the standard outlined in this book, not only should you pass your driving test, but you will be a safe and considerate driver after you pass.
Recommended Software: "Driving Test Success"
The Driving Test Success range of learner driver software from Focus Multimedia
Driving Test Success ALL Tests 2008/09 Edition
(PC)
Driving Test Success ALL Tests 2008/09 Edition (PC)
by Focus Multimedia Ltd
This bestselling computer software has helped literally thousands of people pass their driving tests!
Not only does it provide comprehensive help for the Theory and Hazard Perception test, it also includes over 60 video tutorials to help prepare you for your Practical Test - including how to perform all the manoeuvres filmed using multiple camera angles.
"The best and most comprehensive learner driver product on the market." - Approved Driving Instructor News"
Recommended DVD: "Driving Test Success"
Interactive DVD version of the Driving Test Success range of learner driver software from Focus Multimedia
Driving Test Success ALL TESTS 2008/09 Interactive DVD
Driving Test Success ALL TESTS 2008/09 Interactive DVD
by Focus Multimedia Ltd
(DVDi - interactive DVD, no PC required - all you need is a TV and DVD player)
For those who don't have access to a computer, this interactive DVD is invaluable. It will run on a DVD player or DVD compatible games console and enables those without a PC to get useful visual help and practice for both the Theory and Practical tests.
DVD 1 - THEORY TEST
DVD 2 - HAZARD PERCEPTION TEST
DVD 3 - PRACTICAL TEST
Gain the confidence and knowledge you need to pass your Driving Test using this fully comprehensive DVD. With over 60 video lessons, you can revise and refresh the essential driving skills taught to you by your Approved Driving Instructor, before and after lessons. Includes tutorials for all the manoeuvres required on your driving test.
Driving Test Manoeuvres - More Information
Links to websites that offer guidance on how to carry out all of the maneuvers for the UK driving test
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Driving Test Online
Tips and advice on the UK driving test written by more...0 points
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Hints and Tips to Pass Your Driving Test
Hints, tips and information for learner drivers in more...0 points
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Practical Test Tutorials
Detailed tutorials for learner drivers including a more...0 points
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Driving test maneuvers
Driving test maneuvers dont fail on them!0 points
How To Pass Your Driving Test
More information pages to help you pass your driving test!
Here are some links to other pages I've written to help learner drivers pass their driving test!
Rright click links to open in a new tab or window)
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Theory and Hazard Perception Test (UK)
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All UK learner drivers have to pass a theory test before being allowed to take their practical driving test. There are two parts to the theory test - the multiple-choice test and the hazard perception test. This page is an information resource for...
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UK Practical Driving Test (Cars)
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The practical driving test is a test of ability to drive a car without assistance from an instructor or accompanying driver. The driving test covers a range of situations and road conditions and involves demonstrating the ability to manoeuvre the ca...
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How To Find A Good Driving Instructor
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How do you find a good driving instructor? There are so many driving instructors and driving schools to choose from - where do you start and what should you look for? The aim of this page is to provide you with some straightforward, simple advice o...
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How To Overcome Driving Test Nerves
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Driving test nerves...getting nervous and stressed out about taking a driving test is the reason that many learner drivers fail! "How can I control driving test nerves?" As someone who works in the UK driver training industry, I come ac...
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Learning To Drive A Car In The UK
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Most people want to learn to drive a car at some point in their lives. This page is an information resource for anyone wanting to find out more about what's involved in learning to drive a car in the UK! Here you'll find videos, information...
Driving Test Talkback!
Comments or questions about taking your driving test? Ask here!
Learner Driver News
News and advice for learner drivers
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byDriving Test News
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- In October, the DSA said the Toyota iQ was not suitable for the driving test. It said following a risk assessment on the iQ, it found there was an ...
- Women worse at parking than men, study shows
- As part of the test 65 people were asked to park an Audi A6 family saloon in a standard-sized parking space. Their manoeuvres ? including head-on, ...
- A drink-driving disaster
- Driving instructor William Loney was there to guide me through the manoeuvres and all I had to do was pay attention and do what I was told. ...
- How I tested my blood alcohol level
- It also means that a person's ability to manoeuvre a vehicle is impaired and that person is 11 times more likely to get into a vehicular accident than a ...
Driving Test Maneuvres - Index
How to do all the maneuvres required for your UK driving test
- How To Reverse Around A Corner
- How To Do A Turn In The Road
- How To Bay Park
- How To Parallel Park
- How To Do An Emergency Stop
- Can You Take Your Seatbelt Off When Reversing On Your Driving Test?
- Further Help
- Recommended Book: "Driving: The Essential Skills"
- Recommended Software: "Driving Test Success"
- Recommended DVD: "Driving Test Success"
- Driving Test Manoeuvres - More Information
- How To Pass Your Driving Test
- Driving Test Talkback!
- Learner Driver News
- Driving Test News
by CDT
I hope you find this page about Driving T... (more)
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