4.2 Reversing, U-Turns & Parking

Reversing, Turning Round, and Parking as Exam Themes

Part Two of the Nigeria Highway Code moves from takeoff and braking into three high-risk manoeuvres: reversing, U-turns, and parking. They share one theme: you create the risk, so you own the duty of care. Persons reversing are liable for any obstruction or accident they cause. Drivers who park badly can be booked for obstruction (for example FRSC-related road obstruction concepts such as ROB in offence tables). Drivers who U-turn on a brow of a hill put unseen oncoming traffic into a head-on conflict.

Remember Nigeria's right-hand traffic: when you reverse or park, the "near side" edge of the road you normally hug is the right edge unless one-way rules say otherwise. Mental models imported from left-hand-drive countries will put you on the wrong side of the carriageway.

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Safe Reversing

Before you reverse — observation first

Before selecting reverse:

• Make sure there are no pedestrians, particularly children or physically challenged persons, and no physical obstructions on the road behind you.
• Be especially careful about the "blind area" behind you — the part of the road you cannot see from the driving seat either through the mirror or by looking backwards.
• Use mirrors and direct observation (turn your body / head) because mirrors alone never show everything at kerb height.

If you cannot see clearly behind, get someone to guide you. Otherwise do not reverse. Pride is not a safety system.

Absolute rule: never reverse onto a major road

The Highway Code is blunt: NEVER reverse from a side road into a major road. Reverse within the minor road or property if needed, turn using a safer method, and re-enter the major road forwards with full observation and correct right-of-way behaviour.

Why this appears on the CBT: major-road speeds are higher; drivers on the major road do not expect a vehicle emerging backwards; your blind area faces the highest threat stream.

While reversing

• Move slowly; keep scanning left, right, and behind.
• Be ready to stop for anyone who enters your path — children can appear in the blind area in a second.
• You remain liable for obstruction or crashes you cause while reversing.

Night reversing

At night the Code's practical advice is:

• Put headlights off while reversing (so you do not dazzle or create confusing glare patterns for others while manoeuvring at low speed in reverse).
• Ensure your reverse light is working so others see you are reversing.
• You may switch on hazard lights to warn surrounding traffic.

Scenario trap: reversing out of a dark compound onto a busy dual carriageway with only the interior mirror. Correct decision: stop, get a guide or wait until the path is clear and you can exit forward via a safer route — never "hope the major road yields."

Where to turn around instead of long reverse runs

When you need to change direction, reverse is only one tool. The Code notes you may turn around only where traffic is low — examples include parking garages, side roads, petrol stations, private driveways, and designated areas. Long reverse manoeuvres along a public carriageway are high-risk and often unnecessary.

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U-Turns

When a U-turn may be allowed

You may make U-turns unless road traffic signals or signs indicate otherwise, including at controlled intersections when you are given the right of way to turn left (in right-hand traffic, the left turn is the turn across the opposing or circulating flow depending on layout — always follow signals, markings, and local lane arrows).

Safer alternative the Code emphasises: whenever you must turn round, it is often safer to keep moving forward, turn left or right at a suitable place, and re-enter the desired traffic stream rather than force a U-turn in place.

Where you must NOT make a U-turn

You must not make U-turns at or near:

1. Crest or brow of a hill (oncoming drivers cannot see you in time).
2. Bends or corners (sight distance collapses).
3. Where a No U-turn sign is posted.
4. Busy streets, highways, or expressways.
5. Any place where other drivers cannot see your vehicle from at least 120 metres.

Remember: do not make a U-turn anywhere it is unsafe, even if a sign is missing. Visibility and traffic density are part of the legal-safety judgement the CBT expects.

Three-point turn (narrow roads)

The three-point turn (described as a four-step manoeuvre in the Code text) is the standard method for turning on a narrow road where U-turns are permitted.

Step pattern (Code-aligned):

1. Move to the extreme right edge of the road and stop. Turn the wheels fully to the left.
2. Check traffic from behind and front. When safe, signal left, then move out to take a full turn toward the opposite side. Use look–signal–move.
3. Look out for traffic again; turn the wheels fully to the right; if safe, signal right and reverse, keeping as close as you can to the right edge. Give priority to other traffic if needed.
4. Check traffic again; give priority if necessary; straighten the wheels and re-enter traffic in the opposite direction.

Always allow enough time for approaching traffic and show consideration — a three-point turn is not a right-of-way grab.

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Parking

Before you park

• Check your mirror and look out for other road users.
• Signal your intention to stop.
• Use look–signal–move.
• Stop as close as you can to the edge of the road (without mounting the walkway illegally).

Before leaving the vehicle

• Switch off the engine.
• Ensure the parking brake (handbrake) is on.
• Always lock the vehicle.
• Do not leave valuables on display; use anti-theft devices if fitted.
• At night, switch off headlamps when parked (unless legally required lighting for a breakdown situation applies — do not leave full beams blazing at parked kerbside).

Where not to park (Highway Code highlights)

You must not park wherever a No Parking sign applies, or wherever your vehicle obstructs views or creates danger, including at or near:

• Road junctions
• Bends or corners
• Brow or crest of a hill
• Narrow bridges
• Level crossings
• Bus stops
• Pedestrian crossings (or either side of a crossing)
• School entrances or other entrances
• Footpath, pavement, or cycle path
• The left-hand side of the road at night (except in a one-way street) — note: in RH traffic the normal parking edge is typically the right; parking on the "wrong" side at night confuses others and is specifically warned against

Also do not park in ways that block traffic flow or hide signs:

• On a narrow road
• On flyovers, in tunnels, or underpasses (unless signs allow)
• On expressways (except the hard shoulder in a true emergency)
• On a single-track road or in a passing place
• Outside a private vehicle entrance

Emergency access — 15 metres rule

Do not park so as to block, or within 15 metres of, entrances used by emergency or critical services, including near:

• Hospitals and roadside clinics
• Road Safety stations
• Fire stations and fire hydrants
• Police stations
• Markets (as listed in Code parking cautions)

Avoid making the road too narrow

Do not park opposite traffic islands, alongside another parked vehicle in a way that creates a bottleneck, opposite another vehicle if the remaining width is less than two vehicles (double parking squeeze), or near road works that already narrow the carriageway.

Code mindset: walk a few more metres rather than cause a crash or obstruction.

Parking on a slope

Always apply the handbrake / parking brake. Wheel direction rules:

Roads with kerbs (Code):

• Facing uphill with a kerb to your right: turn wheels as much as possible to the left so the kerb can catch the vehicle if it rolls back.
• Facing downhill: turn wheels fully to the right so a roll forward is stopped by the kerb rather than into traffic.

Roads without kerbs:

• Whichever way you face, turn wheels toward the near edge of the road so a roll takes the vehicle off the live carriageway, not into traffic.

Leaving the car in gear may help in extreme cases but is not usually recommended as standard practice in the Code note — the parking brake and wheel position are the primary controls.

Parking between vehicles and space discipline

Reverse parking into a space is a standard competence test skill. Leave enough room for your vehicle and others to exit. Park within half a metre from the edge of the road, but not on the edge/walkway. Do not open the door on the traffic side carelessly — dooring risk is real for other vehicles and riders.

Exam traps for this section

1. Reversing from a compound straight onto a major dual carriageway because "there was a small gap."
2. U-turning at a crest because "no sign said no."
3. Parking on a zebra approach "for five minutes only."
4. Leaving the car in neutral on a slope with a weak handbrake.
5. Opening the traffic-side door without checking for okadas.

Master observation, prohibition lists, and the look–signal–move habit and you will handle both the CBT and the kerbside realities of Nigerian cities.