reversing exercise...

NEW AND WANNABE DRIVERS (INTERACTIVE)
1

haven’t seen this posted here, so here goes…

when you begin your test and are asked to do the reversing exercise, ask there and then if you may get out and check visually if you’re close enough when reversing in.

Why? Cos you’re allowed these days. Not a lot of instructors even know that!
I know cos my own instructore found out when I was doing class 2. I asked at the point of being asked to do the exercise, was told yes I may. When I’d reversed in and began to get out he told me there’s no need, its fine as it is :smiley: the fella who trained with me even stopped 6 feet short on purpose so he could get out, check it, get back in and finish.

don’t just assume though as I don’t know if its just the grimsby test centre or if its everywhere. The basis of the change in allowance there is that in real life you can get out and check so why not on the test?

One point though - if you switch the engine off while you check its considered you’ve completed the exercise to your own satisfaction, so make sure you leave her running!

Remember though - do ask 1st!

2

el gordo 78:
One point though - if you switch the engine off while you check its considered you’ve completed the exercise to your own satisfaction, so make sure you leave her running!

If you were on the public highway, it would be an offence to leave an unattended motor vehicle with the engine running.

It would probably be best to advise the examiner that the engine will be turned off whilst the check is made.

3

I am I saw this discussed elsewhere, but that if you leave your engine running you have failed because that is illegal!!!

Is the horses mouth aound here at all??

4

good bit to check up on then. would have thought as its considered you’d be doing such a manouver off the highway that its safe to leave it running if its in neutral and parking brake on. maybe I misheard that bit but pretty sure.

so indeed - horse’s mouth required!

5

i think krankee is in needc of here as he’s the one with the rule’s and regs.

so c’mon krankee get your rule book out on this one :wink:

6

when i did my class 2 on several occasions a few lads failed for leaving the motor running!! ,i was definately told to switch off and i did just that and passed!! :smiley: :smiley: :smiley:

7

I’ve certainly not heard of any changes, and if there had been any, then I’m sure I would have picked them up.

From the manual ‘Driving Goods Vehicles’ Page 163 under Faults to Avoid, or in common parlance. “Reasons to Fail”

leaving the cab in ordor to satisfy yourself of the vehicle’s position.

My first inclination is to say that the Examiner does not know how to conduct the test properly, which is not so daft as would seem because the DSA are short of Examiners throughout the Country and are getting a great deal of flak, both from within the Training Industry, and probably from M.P.'s as well.

In order to reduce the waiting times for ALL types of Test they are moving Examiners around the various Centres to try and clear some of the backlogs.

The last time I checked, an exception to being accompanied by a Full licence holder was ‘when undergoing a Driving Test’. Which means that Examiners DO NOT have to hold a Licence for the class of vehicle for which they are conducting a Test. Although, Health & Safety considerations would normally preclude such a practice.

As to leaving the engine running, the only reference material that I can quote is somewhat old so, although the wording may have changed slightly, the main elements remain

Regulation 91: the offence of quitting a motor vehicle without stopping the engine and setting the brake (previous Regulation 89) has been re-defined as an offence of causing or permitting a motor vehicle to be on a road unless it is either attended by a person licensed to drive it or the engine has been stopped and the brake set.

“Attended by a person” is a subjective term and depends on the circumstances.

Getting out and going into a nearby shop would almost certainly be an offence, but getting out to check the load, clean the nearside mirrors, or even crossing to the opposite footpath to ask directions, in my opinion, would not. The difference being that in the latter examples, the driver is ‘in attendance’ with the vehicle.

Furthermore, this Regulation only applies on a Road. A Test Centre is private property and therefore definately NOT a road. It could not easily be classed as a Public Place as most have a sign saying “Authorised Visitors Only” or suchlike.

I even have a video, issued by the DfT, called “Check It Out”, which advocates leaving the engine running whilst carrying out vehicle checks so that the air pressure builds up and leaks can be more easily heard. - And before anyone… :laughing: I agree.

Roadrunner. - When you did your Class 2 at what point did you get out of the vehicle? The format is the Show Me/Tell Me questions. Into the cab, Reversing Exercise, Examiner climbs in - Braking Exercise - Road Drive - Informed of result. The Candidate will only need to get out of the cab for C+E uncoupling/coupling where, leaving the engine running could have Health & Safety implications.

8

I have just failed my class 2 test on the reverse exercise [and 2 other serious faults, but that’s beside the point!]. I was under the impression that you were NOT allowed to leave the cab during the exercise. As previously stated by others, it is against the law to leave a vehicle unattended with the engine running on a public road, so I would be really interested to know the official line of thought on this one, before my next attempt at the test…

9

Krankee,
Thanks, I think you answered my question while I was trying to post it.
My typing is nearly as bad as my attempts at passing my class 2!!
Al.

10

Al, a pleasure. Best of luck for next time.

11

well krankee i completed the reverse just a couple of feet short of the barrier switched off climbed out,checked the gap jumped back in and shuffled it back to within about a few inches just to make sure. I was told on some occasions i could check the gap on others nothing mentioned!!. A bit inconsistent me thinks :unamused: The fact that you can leave the cab to check comes from scotland ,they have been able to check it for ages and england has just followed suit i was told .Some scottish newbies might be able to shed some more light!! I guess the dsa books will be updated accordingly on the next print run to in form people of this.

12

I passed both C and C&E in Scotland within the last two months and was told that it was OK to get out of the cab to check once you had the tail in the box - the only purpose in doing this would be if the examiner said you were short and you wanted to verify this I suppose. But the book clearly states that you cannot get out of the cab to verify the position during the exercise. If that has changed we should be told - I doubt it myself.

Around here the practice is to use a mark on the body to line up the tail end - some examiners are a bit sniffy about that.

13

petrock:
Around here the practice is to use a mark on the body to line up the tail end - some examiners are a bit sniffy about that.

The company I used has red warning triangles fitted to the mudflaps on the back of the trailer; they stick out slightly, so you can judge your position. Of course they’re there to make the trailer more visible for safety reasons… :laughing:

I think it’s a little petty for them to complain about using marks to line up. I mean, let’s face it, how many places are there that you have to reverse up to a barrier without touching it, and you can’t get out and look? Most RDC bays you just reverse slowly until you hit the rubber, and when you can’t do that, you either get someone to wave you back, or GOAL yourself.

Krankee:
My first inclination is to say that the Examiner does not know how to conduct the test properly, which is not so daft as would seem because the DSA are short of Examiners throughout the Country and are getting a great deal of flak, both from within the Training Industry, and probably from M.P.'s as well.

Well, some people have been given minor faults for taking a shunt during the reverse; I took a shunt, but I didn’t get a minor fault. So, the test isn’t as uniform as they’d like you to think.

14

el gordo 78:
haven’t seen this posted here, so here goes…

when you begin your test and are asked to do the reversing exercise, ask there and then if you may get out and check visually if you’re close enough when reversing in.

Why? Cos you’re allowed these days. Not a lot of instructors even know that!
I know cos my own instructore found out when I was doing class 2. I asked at the point of being asked to do the exercise, was told yes I may. When I’d reversed in and began to get out he told me there’s no need, its fine as it is :smiley: the fella who trained with me even stopped 6 feet short on purpose so he could get out, check it, get back in and finish.

don’t just assume though as I don’t know if its just the grimsby test centre or if its everywhere. The basis of the change in allowance there is that in real life you can get out and check so why not on the test?

One point though - if you switch the engine off while you check its considered you’ve completed the exercise to your own satisfaction, so make sure you leave her running!

Remember though - do ask 1st!

I would think that would be an instant fail if you leave the engine running and get out to look. The reversing exersise is about using observation and being able to position a truck between 2 cones.

15

talking of reverse markers!,The truck i used had the obligatory white marker tape at the back of the wheel arch. but not needed as on the test pad a fire hydrant grate was in such a position that if you backed the rear nearside tyre on to it you were plumb in the hatched box !!! :sunglasses: :sunglasses: :sunglasses: .But got out to check anyway !!

16

As someone who has taken class 1 a few times of late, all the examiners suggested I should nudge the back gate, “like you would on a bay”

17

steve_24v:
As someone who has taken class 1 a few times of late, all the examiners suggested I should nudge the back gate, “like you would on a bay”

Really? I thought that was an instant fail? :open_mouth:

I guess each examiner (or test centre) is different?

18

MrFlibble:

steve_24v:
As someone who has taken class 1 a few times of late, all the examiners suggested I should nudge the back gate, “like you would on a bay”

Really? I thought that was an instant fail? :open_mouth:

I guess each examiner (or test centre) is different?

all examiners/instructors sholud be singing from the same hymm sheet :wink:

19

MrFlibble:

steve_24v:
As someone who has taken class 1 a few times of late, all the examiners suggested I should nudge the back gate, “like you would on a bay”

Really? I thought that was an instant fail? :open_mouth:

I guess each examiner (or test centre) is different?

Well here in Pontypool it was encouraged, as long as it doesn’t re-position itself or fall over :slight_smile:

After my first attempt where I wasn’t back far enough I made sure it rocked !

20

Krankee:
I’ve certainly not heard of any changes, and if there had been any, then I’m sure I would have picked them up.

From the manual ‘Driving Goods Vehicles’ Page 163 under Faults to Avoid, or in common parlance. “Reasons to Fail”

leaving the cab in ordor to satisfy yourself of the vehicle’s position.

My first inclination is to say that the Examiner does not know how to conduct the test properly, which is not so daft as would seem because the DSA are short of Examiners throughout the Country and are getting a great deal of flak, both from within the Training Industry, and probably from M.P.'s as well.

these examiners are apparently the guys who’ve been there for donkeys years. the one I had (called mr warren) is [so I’m told] a stickler for rules, and comparatively strict/harsh.
I couldn’t comment on how much so as I’ve only had the one hgv test (class 2) and can’t pass verdict on that element.

but, just relaying how it is at the test centre local to me :smiley: