There are many things you need to master before becoming a safe competent driver, including backing your car into a parking spot. While it seems simple enough, there are a few tasks you need to accomplish to do it successfully. Prepare by practicing the following steps.

How to Reverse Your Vehicle

1. Change Your Gears

Turn on your car, push the brakes and shift your gear into reverse. While this may seem self-explanatory, doing this activates your rear lights and alerts pedestrians that you’re going to back up.

2. Check Around Your Car

Check to see what’s in front and behind you before you reverse. This is done to verify whether pedestrians and other hazards are crossing behind you. Rear- and side-view mirrors aren’t totally reliable to check your blind spots so you need a fuller picture of your surroundings.

3. Maneuver Backwards

Once you know it’s safe to continue, slowly release the brake and back up. If you’re reversing to the left, look over your left shoulder as you turn your steering wheel to back up. If you’re backing up straight or into a spot on the right-hand side, look towards your right shoulder as you turn your steering wheel towards the right.

4. Park

After reversing, place the car in park and turn the engine off. Check your surroundings before exiting the vehicle. It may take some time before you feel confident while backing, but, as they say, practice makes perfect.

Get comfortable with reverse parking and more at Morgan School of Driving. This established driving school offers extensive lessons and courses in person and on Zoom to prepare you for your road test or at their locations in Rochester, Fairport, and Greece, NY.  The company also holds a point and insurance reduction program to get you back on the road. Learn more by visiting their website or calling (585) 425-2410.