Why will car drivers not reverse, incompetence?

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Tue 14 Sep 2010 12:27
Why will car drivers not reverse, incompetence? - dieseldogg

After a week in Cornwall, where my car appeared to be the only one fitted with a reverse gear, incl being asked to move my non blocking carefully parked car so as to prevent a 35 year old women "struggling" ( her words ) to reverse.

She was driving a wee Peugeot & there was room for a people carrier.

Ergo why was she allowed to pass her driving test?

Scheesh

Edited by dieseldogg on 14/09/2010 at 12:29

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Tue 14 Sep 2010 13:04
Why will car drivers not reverse, incompetence? - TheOilBurner
When holidaying in Cornwall and driving narrow lanes that I know very well, I'm normally happy to reverse, except when I can see a numpty in front of me who has only a few feet to back up and yet still refuses to budge, compared to perhaps a 1/4 of a mile for myself.

In those cases, I've been known to switch off the engine and pick a book up.

Strangely, they've soon found reverse gear after that, although some of the more stubborn souls will wait a minute or two before getting the message! ;)

When finally moved to reverse, it soon becomes apparent why some people refuse, they simply cannot do it. Witness the weaving about into the hedgerows and general confusion as the steering wheel appears not to function as they expected...
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Wed 15 Sep 2010 10:42
Why will car drivers not reverse, incompetence? - Andy P

I've noticed that some people have great difficulty with this strange notion of going backwards. There are two in particular:

One will go against the one-way system we have in the car park so that the bay into which they're reversing in on the driver's side of the car - evidently trying to reverse while looking through the rear passenger window is a bit tricky. The other seems to take four or five goes to reverse into a space where the nearest vehicle is several hundred yards away.

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Wed 15 Sep 2010 11:19
Why will car drivers not reverse, incompetence? - Dutchie

I think it is general awareness practice experience, some people are more confident reversing than others.It is part of the driving test.It is problaby strange for some people to go backwards in their car.

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Wed 15 Sep 2010 12:17
Why will car drivers not reverse, incompetence? - turbo11

Your right oil burner. When I visit my sister who lives on Exmoor, I regularly come across drivers who are unable or un -willing to reverse on the tall hedge lined narrow roads around where she lives. I think its whether your used to reversing, as its second nature to the locals. There are however some roads around where she lives that are very difficult to reverse over long distances due to their extreme narrowness. One in particular I drove down last month was 3" max.either side of my mirrors. My car still bares the scratch marks!.

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Wed 15 Sep 2010 12:55
Why will car drivers not reverse, incompetence? - Armstrong Sid
At a place where I worked some years ago, there was a woman who could not/would not reverse park her car by the kerbside.

She would drive up to the place where she wanted to park, get out of the car and ask one of her friends or colleagues to do the final manoeuvre for her.
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Wed 15 Sep 2010 12:59
Why will car drivers not reverse, incompetence? - Dutchie

There is a market here reverse your car for a fiver cheaper than a prang.

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Wed 15 Sep 2010 13:14
Why will car drivers not reverse, incompetence? - madf

We have lots of narrow one car roads - which I travel weekly . Passing places every 300-800 metres . Thickly wooded and hilly so seeing who is coming is difficult and versing up hills VERY difficult especially as most of the worst corners are on hills..

Some people refuse to stop at passing places and just keeping driving at you expecting you to reverse. I ma happy to do so downhill.. but if uphill and a long way, I will not - especially if their reverse is only 20-50 meters.

One driver refused to co-operate.. reverse 20 metres back.. expecting me to reverse 300 uphill.

I just switched off my engine, picked up a book and pretended to read.. The message went home...and they duly reversed..

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