Driving Class B (Light Vehicle)
Course ContentReversing
Habari Mwanafunzi! Welcome to the Art of Reversing!
Forget everything you think you know about driving forward. Today, we are learning the superpower of all great Kenyan drivers: Reversing. You might think it's just "going backwards," but it's a skill, a dance! It's how you'll get out of that tight parking spot at Naivas, how you'll navigate a narrow estate road when a boda boda appears from nowhere, and how you'll look like a real pro. So, clutch in, take a deep breath, and let's go back... literally!
The Foundation: Your 360° 'Kichwa-Turn' Check
Before you even think of selecting 'R' for Reverse, you must become a human periscope. Your car is surrounded by blind spots – areas you cannot see using your mirrors alone. The biggest mistake a beginner makes is trusting only the mirrors. We don't do that here! You must perform the 360° Kichwa-Turn (Head-Turn) check.
- Look Left: Turn your head and look out the left passenger windows. Is there a child? A stray dog? A ditch?
- Look Behind: Turn your whole body to look directly out the rear windshield. This is your primary view!
- Look Right: Turn your head and look over your right shoulder through the windows.
- Check Your Mirrors: NOW, you can quickly glance at your three mirrors to confirm what you saw.
Only when you are 100% sure the path is clear can you proceed. Safety first, always!
Making Sense of Your Mirrors & The Dreaded Blind Spot
Your mirrors are your assistants, not your boss. They help you, but they don't tell the whole story. Imagine you are sitting in your Toyota Vitz. This is what your mirrors DON'T show you:
YOUR VIEW (Looking Forward)
+-----------------------------------------+
| |
| <-- Left Mirror View |
| |
+-----------------------------------------+
| [ YOUR CAR ] |
| |
+----[BLIND SPOT]----o----[BLIND SPOT]-----+
| |
| A whole boda boda could hide here! |
+-----------------------------------------+
Real-Life Story: My cousin Jamo was reversing out of his plot in Donholm. He checked his mirrors and saw nothing. Just as he started moving, he heard a loud "Woooii!". A neighbour had left a wheelbarrow right in his blind spot. Luckily, only the wheelbarrow was damaged! He never forgot to do his 'Kichwa-Turn' after that.
Image Suggestion: A clear, top-down infographic of a popular Kenyan car like a Toyota Fielder. The image shows the cones of vision from the rearview mirror, and the two side mirrors highlighted in light blue. The large blind spots on the rear left and rear right of the car are highlighted in a cautionary red colour, with a silhouette of a person or a small child standing inside the red zone to emphasize the danger.
The Surprising Secret of Steering in Reverse
Here is where your brain might feel a little funny at first. It's simple, but you must remember it:
When reversing, the back of the car goes in the same direction you turn the steering wheel.
- Want the back of the car to go RIGHT? Turn the steering wheel to the RIGHT (clockwise).
- Want the back of the car to go LEFT? Turn the steering wheel to the LEFT (anti-clockwise).
Think of your hand at the top of the steering wheel (12 o'clock position). Push your hand to the right, and the car's rear follows. Easy, sawa?
Diagram: Steering to the Right
Initial Position:
[ Car ]
Turn Steering Wheel RIGHT -->
The back of the car will swing out to the right.
Resulting Path:
/
/
[ Car ]
Your First Challenge: The Straight Line Reverse
Okay, let's put it all together. We will now reverse in a straight line for about 20 metres. Pole pole (slowly) is the name of the game.
- Positioning: Sit comfortably. Place your left hand at the 12 o'clock position on the steering wheel. Place your right arm on the back of the passenger seat.
- The 'Kichwa-Turn': Twist your body so you can look comfortably and clearly out of the rear windshield.
- Engage Gear: Press the clutch all the way down, select Reverse (R).
- Find the Bite: Slowly, slowly release the clutch until you feel the car just wanting to move. That's the biting point.
- Control the Speed: Use ONLY your clutch to control the speed. Do not touch the accelerator! The car will move at a slow walking pace. This is your reversing speed.
- Stay Straight: Pick a point far behind you (like a tree or a post) and keep it in the center of your rear windshield. If the car drifts, make very small, gentle corrections with the steering wheel. A tiny turn is all you need.
The Simple Math of Safe Reversing
Before you reverse into a space, you need to know if you'll fit! Here is a simple "formula" to keep in mind.
Is The Space Enough?
Your Judgement = (Length of Space) - (Length of Your Car)
If Result > 1.5 Metres: Good to go! (This is your 'Margin ya Kosa')
If Result < 1.5 Metres: Be very careful! It's tight!
The 'Margin ya Kosa' is your "Margin for Error." It's the extra space that gives you peace of mind. A seasoned driver might need less, but as a beginner, always look for a generous margin!
Putting It All Together: The "Parking at Tuskys" Manoeuvre
This is the classic 90-degree reverse into a parking bay. You see it everywhere, from Garden City Mall to your local church.
Image Suggestion: A series of 3 top-down diagrams. Style: Simple, clear, like a driving manual. 1. A car positioned parallel to parking bays, about one and a half spaces away. An arrow shows it driving past the target bay. 2. The car has stopped, its rear bumper aligned with the line of the parking bay next to the target one. An arrow shows the wheels turned fully towards the bay and the car beginning to reverse in an arc. 3. The car is now almost straight inside the bay, with an arrow showing the driver straightening the wheels to finish the manoeuvre.
Step 1: Approach
Drive past your empty parking spot. Stop when your car's rear is about halfway past the NEXT parking spot.
[ Parked Car ] [ EMPTY SPOT ] [ Parked Car ]
^
|
[ YOUR CAR ] Stops here
Step 2: Turn & Reverse
Turn your steering wheel FULLY towards the empty spot. Reverse slowly. Look at your side mirror on the side of the turn.
[ Parked Car ] [ \ ] [ Parked Car ]
[ Parked Car ] [ \ ] [ Parked Car ]
[ Parked Car ] [ \ ] [ Parked Car ]
[ YOUR CAR ]
Step 3: Straighten Up
As your car becomes straight inside the bay, quickly turn the steering wheel the other way to straighten your front wheels. Continue back slowly until you are safely inside.
[ Parked Car ] [ [YOUR CAR] ] [ Parked Car ]
[ Parked Car ] [ ] [ Parked Car ]
[ Parked Car ] [ ] [ Parked Car ]
PERFECT!
You've Got This! (Uko Sawa!)
Reversing feels strange at first, but I promise you, it will become second nature. Remember the golden rules:
- Always do your 360° 'Kichwa-Turn'.
- Speed is your enemy. Use the clutch, go pole pole.
- Steer in the direction you want the BACK of the car to go.
Now, let's get out on the training ground and practice. No fear! Every pro was once a beginner. Sawa Sawa?
Pro Tip
Take your own short notes while going through the topics.
