Top Tips:LANCE'S TOP TIPS TO PASS THE MANOEUVRES

All tips are written by LANCE only as a guide - please ask your expert LANCE SOM instructor for more advice.

New Driving Test Requirements

The driving test now has changes and includes Sat Nav testing lasting 20 mins.

You will be required to do several manoeuvres in your driving test and will be accessed on control and observation

New Manoeuvres - Parallel Parking, Driving into a Parking Bay, Pulling up - reversing and continuing.

Turn in the Road

Instead of doing a turn in the road (three point turn) or reversing around a corner you will be now asked to complete one of two new manoeuvres or parallel parking.

It is still worth studying these procedures and you may be asked to do them!

Aims and Objectives

To turn the car around in the road and face the opposite direction (say in a cul de sac)

Control

Complete the manoeuvre with as few moves as possible (3 on most roads, 5 may be acceptable)

Try nor to touch the kerbs!

Observation

Check around 360 degrees before each move, be aware and giveway to other road users throughout.

Method

Use our BITE-OBSERVATION-MOVEMENT technique (B-O-M) for each step SLOW CAR - FAST WHEEL.

STEP 1. (!st forwards move)

Find the bite and consider the camber (slope in the middle of the road), try not to roll when the handbrake is released. Check 360 degrees and giveway if necessary.
Use clutch control and steer briskly RIGHT (full lock)
About a metre from the kerb on the other side, steer briskly LEFT (as much as possible) before stopping 30 cm from the kerb. HANDBRAKE ON.

STEP 2. (reverse move)

Find the bite, complete observation and steer briskly LEFT looking over your left shoulder, about a metre from the kerb look RIGHT and steer RIGHT before stopping. HANDBRAKE ON.

STEP 3. (final move)

Find the bite, complete observation and steer briskly RIGHT , when clearing the kerb steer LEFT, check mirrors and drive on.

Reversing Round a Corner

Aims and Objectives

Reverse from a major into a minor road (so you can go back in the opposite direction)

Control

Try to be about 30cm from the kerb (max 1m)

Try not to touch the kerbs!

Observation

Mainly looking over your left shoulder out of the rear windscreen with 360 degree checks whenever necessary - especially at the turning point.

Method

STEP 1. Drive past the side road

Use M-S-M, signal if necessary when passing the first half of the side road and pull up 30cm from the kerb, about 2 car lengths beyond the corner.

STEP 2. Reverse back to the turning point

Adjust the nearside door mirrors to sight the kerb. Select reverse gear (activating the white lights at the rear) then reverse slowly backwards using clutch control until you see the back of the car reaching the corner. Check 360 degrees.

STEP 3. Reversing around the corner point.

STEER LEFT, how much depends on how sharp the corner is. If you need to get a little closer to the kerb, steer left , to move away steer right.

STEP 4. Entering the minor road

When the front of the car is pointing straight, steer right to straighten the wheels. Continue to reverse back for a safe distance (about 2 car lengths). MSM and blindspot before driving on.

Reverse Parking

Aims and Objectives

To reverse behind a parked car and park close to the kerb (enabling you to park inbetween 2 cars in a town space).

Control

Complete the manoeuvre with a maximum of 30cm from the kerb and no more than 1 car length's distance from the car in front.

Observation

Mainly looking over your left shoulder out of the reer windscreen with 360 degree checks whenever necessary - especially at the turning point.

Method

STEP 1. Draw alongside the parked car.

Use M-S-M, and allow 30cm between the door mirrors. Pull up slightly ahead of the parked vehicle. Signal left if necessary and select reverse to activate the white reverse lights.

STEP 2. Reverse back to the turn point

This is when the backs of the cars are level Check 360 degrees.

STEP 3. Parking (1 LEFT - 2 RIGHT - 1 LEFT)

STEER l Turn LEFT, to reverse the back of the car towards the kerb.When the nose of the car is at 45 degrees, STEER l RIGHT. Then, drift in until the back of the car is about 30cm from the kerb (you can use the rearside door mirror to help). When close enough STEER FULL LOCK RIGHT - this will steer the back of the car away from the kerb while bringing the front parallel to it. STEER LEFT to straighten the wheels, you can pull forwards if necessary.

STEP 4. Angle start to move away

Clutch control, 2 checks on the blindspots

Bay Parking

Aims and Objectives

To enable you to reverse into a designated parking space in a supermarket or multi-storey car park.

Control

You need to complete parallel and inside the lines

Observation

Mainly over your left shoulder our of the rear windscreen with 360 degree checks throughout.

Method(BAY PARK to the RIGHT is most common at SOUTHPORT'S TEST CENTRE!)

STEP 1. The turning point.

Line yourself up with the middle of 2 bays before before the one you wish to park in. Check 360 degrees.

STEP 2. FULL LOCK RIGHT

STEP 3. Parking

When the nose of the car is straight STEER LEFT, to straighten the wheels.

Bay Parking to the left will be the same technique but STEER LEFT AT THE TURN POINT.

DEALING WITH CROSSROADS

Aims and Objectives To safely deal with junctions and observe RIGHT-OF-WAY

M-S-P-S-L

Control

When approaching junctions use the mirror-signal-manoeuvre routine, breaking the manoeuvre down into position-speed-look.

Observation

Always check the interior mirror and at least the appropriate door mirror before changing speed or direction. Note if turning left, the appropriate door mirror would be left and therefore it would be the right door mirrors for right.

Method

STEP 1. The APPROACH

In the interior mirrors note how close the traffic is following behind you. If they are too close, you should slow down sooner (taking a more gentle approach) and activating the red brake lights. If you're intending to turn left you might be looking for cyclists, motorbikes etc. If turning right, look for anything overtaking.

Make sure you let other road users know which way you are going and remember the brake lights. Generally, if you are going left or ahead keep to the left. If you're turning right move just left of the centre line (normal right turn position) or into the right hand lane. It is generally the same at roundabouts.

STEP 2. SELECT GEARS

GEAR SELECTION depends on whether or not the junction has an OPEN or CLOSED (restricted) view into the major road.

Most busy junctions are closed (in Southport) so only first gear will provide you with enough time to take effective observation and emerge safely.

If you have a very open view and you're sure it's safe, it may be possible to emerge in second or higher gears. Note your gear of choice should guide your speed.

STEP 3. OBSERVATION

Look to the right first because that's where the immediate danger might be coming from.Look right-left-right at least once before you emerge. Keep repeating this cycle if the road is busy.

STEP 4. MOVE

Edge out until you can see, using clutch control (creep and peep.) Emerge when it's 100% safe and check your mirrors on the new road.

IMPORTANT

If turning left and the vehicle opposite is turning to their right (the same direction as me) who has priority? You have priority.

If going ahead and the vehicle opposite is turning to their right who has priority? You have priority.

Therefore, when you are turning right you generally give the other vehicle priority if they are going to their left or straight ahead.

If turning right and the vehicle opposite is also turning right what should I do? It's equal priority so make eye contact and expect that whoever is there first might expect to go first. If that's you, edge forward slightly and if it feels safe carefully continue.

Show Me Tell Me

DSA instruction videos are available on Youtube