Unit 33: Partly Trained – Reversing.
Research Material:
The Driving Instructor’s Handbook – Chapter 5
Driving: The Essential Skills – Part 9
Lesson Presenter
PST sheets
PST 4 – Reversing/T-Junctions – Emerging
Examiner’s Part 3 Guidelines
Reversing in this instance refers to the reverse around a corner to the left or to the right – the examiners try to keep a 50/50 split between left and right. Bear in mind that on all manoeuvres Control and Observations are the most important factors for both yourself and the customer. With a phase 1 (partly trained) customer approaching this subject, listen carefully to the word picture, and you will find that you are expected to train them to do this for the first time.
Recap: (1-2 Minutes)
At this stage your customer will probably be able to drive to a suitable area for this manoeuvre. Ask them whether they have driven away from where they are before (if you are unsure of the area as may be the case in part 3, ask them whether there are any problem areas or junctions on the way to site). Find out whether they have ever reversed before, and if so in what situation and how it went.
Objective: (30 Seconds)
To be able to reverse into a side road in a safe, convenient and legal place (specific), under full instruction (measurable and realistic). How do you feel about trying to do that maybe a couple of times in the next half an hour? (agreed & timed). Inform then that you will give them the main points about reversing once you are at a suitable site.
Main Points: (5-8 Minutes)
In order to test control skills before attempting the manoeuvre ask them to look out of the back window and describe how they would turn the wheel to move the car to the left or the right. Test clutch control skills by a creeping exercise.
Practise:
Once explained and agreed – full talk through will be necessary, though due to the slow nature of manoeuvres, pauses with question and answers may be useful to find out how much learning is taking place rather than simple following of instruction. Involve the learner – ask them what they see. Remember that the reference points you may have suggested will be your own – if you are 6’2” and your customer is 5’1” these reference points may be dramatically different. Once this manoeuvre has been achieved the first time, give feedback and encouragement, and a short chat about how they found the manoeuvre will help you decide the level of instruction for a second attempt if there is time. Remember, if you feel that they can do something with a question or prompt rather than with guided instruction – let them – always be ready to transfer responsibility.
Summary:
Feedback at this point is hugely important – this may be the first time they have managed to reverse! Be enthusiastic about how it all went, but ensure that you put into place an action plan to deal with any problems with control or observations which you couldn’t fix during the time you had in the lesson. Remember to acknowledge any mistakes, but to keep very positive about both your ability and your customer’s. Give your customer ownership of what they have done by asking them where their weak and strong points are. Fill out their track record.
On your part 3 examination, the phase 1 will usually over-run leaving little or no time for a summary. In real lessons, you will often get further on a lesson.
Discussion Points:
Complete control
Don’t let anything surprise you – observations
Clear instructions
Use of pauses to allow brains (yours and theirs!) to function
