Reverse parking for driving test

The move, implemented by the Department of the Environment, was due to come into effect from April 1 and meant ‘L’ drivers could be tested on their reverse parking ability.

However, in order to give all candidates a reasonable opportunity to practice the new manoeuvre, the Department had delayed its introduction until May 1.

The manoeuvre was designed to show the candidate was capable of reversing into, and parking, within a space twice the length of the vehicle being driven behind a stationary vehicle.

The new manoeuvre was an addition to the three-point turn and the reverse around a corner exercise, which were already part of the test.

Candidates sitting the test up to April 30 were to be tested on both those manoeuvres but from May 1 they were to be tested on the three-point turn plus either the new manoeuvre or the reverse around a corner exercise.