Backing up can be a difficult thing to do especially for someone just learning how to drive but with a great teacher, he/she will be good in no time.
Moreover, the way a vehicle is parked plays an important role in the ease with which it will be reversed, there are guides and tips that can make the process seamless if followed closely.
When backing up you should turn your head and body to the right to look out the rear window. You don’t have to depend only on your mirror, rather, with your left hand on the steering wheel and your foot on the brake, turn your head and body to the right to look out the rear window.
What is Backing Up in Driving?
Backing up also known as ‘reversing’ as the name implies is the process of driving a vehicle backward in a bid to change directions or maneuver.
Some vehicles are equipped with technical aids for this process to be seamless, but generally, the rear-view mirror is used for the purpose of backing up among other things.
In order to back up, besides the use of the rear-view mirror as an aid, the driver is expected to turn his/her head beyond the head restraint to see through the back window. It is usually not advisable to use only the rear-view mirror as a guide when reversing.
Due to the dread of reversing for some people or ignorance of reversing techniques, there are mistakes that may happen while doing so. Some of these mistakes are;
- Too Much Reliance on Technical Aids: Technical aids such as; rear-view cameras, parking sensors, etc., are available in some vehicles to ease the backing-up process. Although these aids are good, relying completely on them for guidance can be costly.
- Looking Through the Back Window the Whole Time: Although it is advisable to look back when backing up, you shouldn’t do it the whole time. You should look to the front also to be sure the positioning of your tires is right and especially if you are backing up in a tight space.
- Too Much Reliance on the Rear-View Mirror: This is one mistake that is quite common, it is wrong to depend solely on the mirror for guidance. For one, you can’t be really sure how close or far an object is to you.
- Quick Backing-Up: Another mistake often made is reversing too fast, the reverse gear is quite more powerful than the drive and could be a contributing factor. Irrespective of this, care should be taken to back up slowly.
Backing up is like a skill that with constant practice is mastered.
When Backing Up You Should?
For those preparing for the DMV written driving test, the answer is that, when backing up, you should turn your head and body to the right to look out the rear window.
Don’t depend on the mirrors alone, put your left hand on the steering wheel, your foot on the brake, and turn your head and body to the right to look out the rear window, with this, you can clearly see where you’re reversing to.
However, care needs to be taken when it comes to backing up, unfortunately, some people do not know the basics of backing up. Below are some things you should do when backing up
- Be Sure There’s a Clear Path Before Backing Up: People, poles, vehicles, etc., could be behind your vehicle therefore, it is important to be sure the path is clear in order to prevent accidents from happening.
- Check the Mirrors Again: Although it is not advisable to rely on mirrors when backing up, they are quite useful and can serve as a way of double-checking that the path is still clear.
- Reverse Slowly But be Prepared to Stop: The process of reversing shouldn’t be a quick one, slowly back up and also be prepared to stop. One of the reasons why it is better to back up slowly is because there may be a need to stop.
- If your vehicle has a large blind spot you should use a spotter
- When the weather is bad, you should be more cautious
- Ensure all car mirrors and windows are free of dirt, snow, etc. A dirty or covered mirror prevents you from seeing clearly through it.
What are the Proper Backing up Techniques?
Many accidents can be attributed to the inability of the driver to reverse properly, reversing can be a hard process and a risky one. Hence the need to follow the right techniques for doing so.
Different types of vehicles have various backing-up techniques suitable to the vehicle type. Here, we will take a look at some general techniques for reversing without any complications.
Slowly Reverse the Car
The best way to reverse a vehicle is slowly, this way it will be easy for you to stop in case of any unforeseen circumstances.
By doing this i.e. reversing slowly, you have time to check and see if you are close to hitting an object or someone.
For automatic cars, the car will accelerate on its own while all you have to do is keep your foot on the brake in order to limit the speed.
Keep an Eye on Both the Rear and Front Windows
For a beginner, you can keep your eyes on the rear through the windows, although this isn’t really ideal, it is a good option for beginners.
For others, it is advisable to look at the front and rear while reversing, this way you will be mindful of other vehicles especially if you are parking in a tight space.
Adjust the Rear-view Mirror
The rear-view mirror has been known to be a guide for backing up. In the course of backing up, there may be a need to adjust the mirror in order to get a clearer view of the back.
Be Sure the Steering Wheel is Straight before Reversing
The tire position is important when reversing, you should be able to tell if your tires are straight or not from the steering wheel.
A wrongly positioned tire can cause you to hit other vehicles or objects therefore, it is important to ensure that the tires are straight when reversing.
One way to do this is by gently taking your hand off the wheels to know which way it is turning and then readjusting accordingly.
Conclusion
Backing up a car is an act that should be mastered, it may seem easy to do till you get behind the wheel, and like the saying, “It is easier said than done”. It is also important to know your vehicle’s blind spot.
Although there are technical aids that help in checking the rear of a vehicle, it is better to check for yourself if the path is clear by looking through the back window.
Some known and tested techniques for backing up are; slowly reversing the car, keeping an eye on both the rear and front, adjusting the rear-view mirror, etc.
