"Pull up on the left just before the side road. What I would like you to do now is the Left Reverse Exercise. If you would like to drive forward & pull up on the left just after the side road. Then I would like you to reverse into the side road, keeping reasonably close to the kerb and for a safe distance".

• The reason for being asked to pull up before the side road is to give you the chance to assess the corner and decide if it is sweeping (which most are) or sharp.

• Once the examiner has given you his instructions and you have pulled off it is your responsibility to look into the side road and make sure it is safe to carry out the manoeuvre. You need to be able to reverse for a safe distance - two car lengths. If you feel you don't have the space ask the examiner if it is safe to continue.

• Once you have pulled up, into reverse, have a good look round - including your right blind spot and then if it's safe, creep the car back, looking over your left shoulder at the green dot in the small window.

• When the green dot is just at the edge of the kerb, but still on the pavement, stop. This is your point of turn. Have another good look up and down the road. You must also include a right blind spot check here.

• When it's safe, creep the car back, simultaneously steering one circle to the left.

In the following image I have placed the car in 4 different positions to try to break down this tricky bit of the manoeuvre. 

• Position 1 - Once you have your one circle of steering on and you are waiting for the car to slowly creep back into the side road, have a quick look over your right shoulder for any other traffic. If there is any you must stop and let it pass or wait for it to come to a stop to allow you to continue. Use your left door mirror to assess the gap between the end of the car and the kerb. Once it looks like it's down to about an inch  take all of the steering off.

• Position 2 -  Allow the car to continue creeping back past the apex of the corner. Whilst you wait have another look around. As soon as the gap between the end of the car and the kerb starts to get bigger you need to feed enough steering back on to keep the car alongside the kerb. This amount of steering will differ with every corner as they are all slightly different.

• Position 3 -  As the car gets further into the side road the kerb will start to straighten up, again you need to feed the steering back off as the car becomes parallel.

• Position 4 - Once you are parallel with the kerb you need to reverse back for a safe distance - at least 2 car lengths, making sure you look out of the back window as you go.

• Remember - one of the most common reasons for failing on this manoeuvre is over use of the door mirror. You MUST keep checking over your right shoulder and out of the back window for other traffic - it's not just about you but how you affect others too!