And although frowned on by many when it was initially introduced, you will notice people carrying out this manoeuvre nearly every day of the week, especially outside schools and shops.
A very simple manoeuvre but also considerably dangerous if carried out incorrectly.
The Routine:-
1. MSPSGL routine as though you were going to turn right.
2. Select a position in the road that you are going to pulling up to the kerb on the right hand side of the road.
3. STOP and give way to oncoming traffic if needed.
4. Once safe, pull over to the right hand side, ensuring the car is up to (but no further away) than 200mm from the kerb, being too close can cause problems.
5. Once stopped, select reverse gear, carry out effective observations and when safe, reverse two car length down the road, keeping reasonably close to the kerb.
6. Ensuring throughout the manoeuvre that you are not causing any road user (including pedestrians and cyclists) to take evasive action.
7. If at any stage during the manoeuvre an oncoming vehicle appears that would have to stop because of you, then you stop first and allow them to continue with their journey without you affecting them.
Do this for each and every vehicle that may arrive in the time it takes you to perform the manoeuvre.
If you wouldn't affect them by continuing then it would be ok to carry on.
8. Once you have travelled two car lengths in reverse, bring the vehicle to a stop. Select first gear, carry out effective observations (usually starting from the right hand side of the car and finishing at the left rear blind spot), place on a signal indicator to the left, and when safe, re-join the left hand side of the road and continue the journey.
One thing to consider!
At night time, once you have pulled up on the right, switch your dipped beam lights to sidelights. This is to avoid dazzling oncoming cars. Once you are ready to move off again then switch on your dipped beam lights and rejoin the left hand side of the road.
By keeping on your dipped beam lights it can make it extremely hard for oncoming vehicles to see past your car and could mask items on the opposite side of the road as they overtake you.
Look at the pictures below to see the difference of a car with dipped beam lights on or sidelights on.
