Agony Uncle on Alley Docking Question
Dear Agony Uncle,
I’m doing my driver’s test on Friday, and used to do my alley docking perfectly. I know there are a lot of techniques, but lately I struggle to reverse the car straight and end up touching the solid line. Please advise which technique is the best. I practise with a Toyota Tazz.
Dear Anonymous,
I’ve just been discharged from hospital, so I hope I still manage to make it in time to be of assistance. Huge apologies for the delay.
The permutations of the answers I can give you will boggle any mind. There is just so much that could be going wrong.
You don’t mention what technique you were using when alley docking used to work perfectly for you and you don’t mention whether you have changed your technique.
Some things that may be going wrong are:
- missing your marker (a delayed blind spot will make you pre-empt / delay and turn at the wrong time)
- you may be going too fast, so your marker surprises you and warps the whole exercise
- when you have it your marker spot-on, you may be turning too slowly (the effect will be a vehicle placement disappointment)
- when you have hit your marker spot-on, you may not be stopping in time when the vehicle is lined up straight
- when reversing the car, you may fixate on one mirror alone, leaving the other side’s spacing to get out of control
- when reversing the car, you may attempt to fix your angle of approach too late
- when reversing the car, you may be steering in the wrong direction (even momentarily, your placement is affected)
Irrespective of technique, you could have started stressing about your alley docking and literally been worsening your results. There could be so much more that influence you…
It sounds like your vehicle placement is off right in the beginning and then the angle of approach just gets worse over distance. It also sounds like you’ve tried more than one technique. Any technique is just as good as the results. Results are just as good as the foundation laid by the instructor.
Without physically observing your actions, it is extremely difficult to make a fair judgement or give accurate advice.
I’m sorry I couldn’t be of more assistance, given the limited information.
Good luck on your test!
Should, God forbid you fail, please contact Trudi to diagnose and fix the issue for you – she’s EXCELLENT at that!!!
Agony Uncle
