So, how many trainers still rely on bits of tape, or straws, or something secured to the mudguard to judge the length of the vehicle?
All of the manoeuvring areas are marked out in the same way, with cross markings along the centre line every metre, and numbered every 3 metres. Therefore, if you know the length of your vehicle, knock a bit off, look to the right, and line up your shoulder with the appropriate length.
For example, if the vehicle is 15m long, your shoulder is probably 700-800mm back from the front of the vehicle, so to stop with the rear of the trailer in the 750mm hatched area merely requires you to stop with your shoulder lined up at about 15.1 or 15.2 metres.
This system negates any difficulties with the seat being at the wrong height, or you couldn’t see the marker because it was raining, or the sun was in the wrong place, and from conversations I have had with Examiners, it is a method they prefer to see utilised.
After all, in everyday driving, particularly reversing onto bays, you judge the distance by observing the position of the vehicles on neighbouring bays. So why not use a similar methodology when undertaking a test?
The only problem is there’s normally at least 3 bangs, the way I reverse, before the one your talking about Wheel Nut.
Any one want a wing mirror or two ?, I’ve got em for every make & in most colours.
Hey Krankee! Its funny you should post this particular message actually as it was the [zb]ing marker on my trailer which failed my test for me! It was my fault however as i didnt have the trailer straight enough so the marker on my trailer wasnt spot on and i hit the barrier at the back! Thats how i failed my test! I was gutted!
I think the idea with the trailer marker is fool proof as long sa you remember two simple rules
…the first one is…on the morning of your test, make sure you practice the reverse manouver once just to make sure your seat height is right so the marker on the trailer correctly stops you in the metre box [or however big or small it is!]!!
…Secondly if you are using the marker on your trailer, dont do what i did! When you reverse into the box, keep an eye on BOTH mirros making sure your trailer is dead straight! If it isnt, pull forward and straighten it up…its only a shunt your aloud a few! If uyou dont straighten your trailer up your marker wont be accurately stopping the end of your trailer in the box and BANG…you’ll hit the barrier!
Just thought id share that with you it may well help you if you have your C&E test coming up. At the end of the day whatever method you find easier for the reversing exercise is the one to use. Theres no point trying to plz the examiner too much, if you get it in the box without to much fuss, you’ve passed that exercise no matter what method you use.as long as its safe your ok.
To be fair, using a marker as a guide should be allowed in the test!
I have used a glove laid on the floor many times when trying to position a tanker exactly on a loading point, or especially if you have to have the outlets over a bund next to the set.
Krankee i think people generally dont use the markers on the floor in the test centres because the areas that are used to practice the reverse exersice whilst training simply do not have those markings on the floor. I practiced the reversing in a working yard with my driving school. There were trucks coming in and out backing onto bays whilst i was half way through the exercise and no metre markings or anything on the floor. I didnt even think about using those markings in the test centre as my instructors didnt mention it…i think people just learn using the trailer markers, get upto test standard using that method…then why change at the last minute? If you see what mi getting at?!
the trouble with the reversing exercise really is if you go that touch too far, bingo. failed. so thats why markers are put on as fail-safes.
the major reason people don’t learn by distance markers is that most practice areas don’t have them on so its a bit of a gamble finding your mark 1st time on the test without a bit of practice on their area, which of course isn’t allowed.
For example, Glanford Park which I use to practice - It has SOIME markers every 10 metres, on the even numbers, but they’re not completely accurate, so for me, with left eye shut the 20m marker should almost vanish behind the mirror. but on test, the marker and numbers are far smaller and on the other side of the line so that marker is useless.
the only foolproof method I had, wasn’t tape or straws, but was indeed the rearmost mudguard. simply give that tiny touch of left-turn on the wheel with a metre to go so its almost dead straight at the end but with a tiny tiny kick to the right, showing me all the mudguards, and I simply line it up so I can fit an imaginary fist between mudguard and kerb (of a person stood at the back of the trailer - not a whole fist right in my mirror).
for real-world reversing, I know its different but its the test that matters. I’ve never had to reverse like on my test, in a class 2 ever again. sure, I’ve gone up to bays at RDC’s but then its clutch up to allow half an mph and wait for the tarmac to stop moving beneath me…
el gordo 78:
for real-world reversing, I know its different but its the test that matters. I’ve never had to reverse like on my test, in a class 2 ever again. sure, I’ve gone up to bays at RDC’s but then its clutch up to allow half an mph and wait for the tarmac to stop moving beneath me…
i thought that is what the rubber blocks were for on the wall
touch the blocks, hand brake spot on
“the major reason people don’t learn by distance markers is that most practice areas don’t have them on so its a bit of a gamble finding your mark 1st time on the test without a bit of practice on their area, which of course isn’t allowed”
That is precisely what my point was aswell El Gordo!
My instructor told me to leave it short and get out and check taht way if your short you know just another (X) feet and its spot on ! passed me my test first time anyway!
Thats odd…Dan…my examiner didnt mention getting out and checking saying its aloud or not aloud etc… My instructor did say to me however your not aloud to get out…Besides you shouldnt really need to anyway its quite an easy exercise…just i made a right [zb] up of it on the day!!
Super Dan:
get out and check just make sure you switch the engine off !
super dan i thought if you got out to check but turned off the engine it is asthough you have finished the exercise to the best of your ability or am i just being daft
The end of the exercise is when you apply the handbrake. If you are going to ‘get out and check’ and you don’t apply the hanbrake first… errr, well you’ve failed anyway!
My artic training consisted of the boss saying one Saturday morning ‘take that artic home and practice over the weekend, you’re taking it to Liverpool docks on Monday’
Bent it all over a piece of wasteground all afternoon and all day Sunday and set off full of gloom on Monday.
Reversed round 2 blind corners in a dark warehouse with a wideload at the docks - no problem!
My mate, an experienced driver, tore the side of the sheet out on the gatepost going in. Big red face! Not mine though. Smug smile!
I think its important to get rid of the impression that its OK to get out of the cab to check the reversing position during the test - page 163 of the 6th edition of the DSA handbook clearly says that one fault to avoid is “leaving the cab in order to satisfy yourself of the vehicles position.”
It would be interesting to hear of anyone who has done this during the test reversing exercise and got away with it.
