Three-point turn may be dropped from UK driving test

[richw]

Personally, I'd like to see learner drivers being taught to drive in saloons rather than hatchbacks, so there's a bit more of a challenge to it and you actually have to know where the extremities of the car are.

I would happily do another driving test in a saloon rather than a hatchback.

Having driven a few vans, hatchbacks and estates since passing my test in 2005, in September I bought a saloon. I'm finding it harder to park than a LWB van I used to drive. I can't see the back end very clearly, made more difficult by a spoiler on the edge of the boot lid.

It's a lovely car driving forwards or I wouldn't have bought it due to the difficulties reversing!

I certainly agree tests should be taken in more challenging cars!

 

[Kite159]

I certainly agree tests should be taken in more challenging cars!

Where did I park that Model T?

I live in a rural area, but did my test and lessons mainly in the Winchester area, so I got a bit of dual-carriageway practise (A303/A34) and rural backroads practise, plus one-way system practise

 

[ralphchadkirk]

Where did I park that Model T?

I live in a rural area, but did my test and lessons mainly in the Winchester area, so I got a bit of dual-carriageway practise (A303/A34) and rural backroads practise, plus one-way system practise

That's nothing compared to the Stratford one way system at rush hour!

 

[Greenback]

When I started driving lessons (many many years ago) the instructor asked me if I wanted to learn to pass the test or learn to drive, the two are very different!

Correct, my instructor said once I passed the test I could start learning to drive!

 

[Emyr]

I think the reverse parking (in a car park), should be reversing out of the space instead.

No.

Reversing into a bay allows you to park in a smaller space than driving forwards into a bay. Especially with the added restriction of not gouging adjacent cars.

This then leaves you facing forwards with a better view for exiting the bay.

It has always been thus.

 

[455driver]

I thought reversing out was illegal?
It certainly is out of a minor road onto a major road so using that logic with a parking bay being the most 'minor' road you should always reverse in so you can drive out!

 

[Peter Mugridge]

A policeman told me once it's always better to drive forwds in and to reverse out because it makes it just that much more difficult 9 ie a bit slower ) for anyone to nick the car.

He did also tell me the bit about reversing on / off driveways and apparently woe betide anyone who has a driveway onto a main road ( eg the a240 between Ewell and Tolworth ) as it is apparently illegal to reverse off the main road as well as being illegal to reverse onto one... Better buy a turntable if you live in such a road!

 

[ainsworth74]

Reversing into a bay allows you to park in a smaller space than driving forwards into a bay.

Does it? If I have a very narrow bay to park in I'd always go in forwards rather than in reverse as it would be far easy to get in and out than trying to reverse into a small bay.

 

[starrymarkb]

Having driven a few vans, hatchbacks and estates since passing my test in 2005, in September I bought a saloon. I'm finding it harder to park than a LWB van I used to drive. I can't see the back end very clearly, made more difficult by a spoiler on the edge of the boot lid.

It's a lovely car driving forwards or I wouldn't have bought it due to the difficulties reversing!

I certainly agree tests should be taken in more challenging cars!

Agree, my 05 Astra had a supertanker turning circle compared with my current A2, I can reverse straight out of my parking space now and turn to leave the car park, rather then reverse to 45deg pull forward before the wall, reverse the last bit to go through the gate.

 

[Emyr]

Does it? If I have a very narrow bay to park in I'd always go in forwards rather than in reverse as it would be far easy to get in and out than trying to reverse into a small bay.

When driving forwards, the front of the car sweeps a curved area which extends beyond the line where you'll eventually park.

When reversing, the extra sweep is in the "aisle", not the bay.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

No.

Reversing into a bay allows you to park in a smaller space than driving forwards into a bay. Especially with the added restriction of not gouging adjacent cars.

This then leaves you facing forwards with a better view for exiting the bay.

It has always been thus.

When I'm parked in a supermarket car park, i generally want easy access to the boot to put my shopping away.

 

[Kite159]

At work there is an unofficial rule that you need to reverse into the car-park, the unofficial reason is that the guard patrol are lazy and wants an easy job when walking up and down checking the car-passes which is easier if all the vehicles are reversed in rather than mix.

When parking at a supermarket, I will park forward in as like Spacephoenix, it is easier to access the boot to put the shopping away.

 

[Springs Branch]

At work there is an unofficial rule that you need to reverse into the car-park........

In my neck of the woods, reverse-in parking is very rare, hardly anyone does it. Except, I've noticed, in workplace car parks.

Possibly because that's the place many people want to get away with maximum haste at the end of the day. A kind of 21st-century version of those old films of stampeding workers leaving shipyards etc. at knock-off time.

 

[muz379]

No.

This then leaves you facing forwards with a better view for exiting the bay.

It has always been thus.

This is why I will always reverse into a bay at the supermarket etc because you have a much better view to observe oncoming traffic when pulling out of it

Plus if people come and park really close either side its easier than trying to reverse out would be