Hello Beep Beep

Backing Skills

Your Basic Control Skills test will include the following exercises, either off-road or somewhere on the street during the Road Test:
• Step 1 – Forward Stop,
• Step 2 – Straight-Line Backing,
• Step 3 – Forward Offset Tracking, and
• Step 4 – Reverse Offset Backing

TERMINOLOGY

Pull Ups

Pulling forward on a backing exercise to clear an encroachment or to get a better position is scored as a “pull-up.” These exercises include Exercise 2 – Straight-Line Backing and Exercise 4 – Reverse Offset Backing. The examiner will scorethe number of times you pull-up. Stopping without changing direction does not count as a pull-up. You will not be penalized for initial pull-ups. However, an excessive numberof pull-ups, will count as errors. Your examiner will cover “pull-ups” when giving instructions for these exercises.

Back Ups

Backing up on a forward moving exercise to clear an encroachment or to get a better position is scored as a “back-up.” “Back-ups” will be scored on Exercise 3 – Forward Offset Tracking. The examiner will score the number of times you back-up.

Encroachments

Crossing over or touching exercise boundary lines or cones with any portion of your vehicle, other than the vehicle’s mirrors (door or fender) or other unique vehicle parts at door mirror height or higher, such as a bucket truck, is scored as an encroachment. Unique parts below door mirror height are counted as an “encroachment.” If you have encroached, the examiner will stop you and you must return the vehicle within the exercise boundaries. You must stop immediately when signaled by the examiner. The examiner will score the number of times you touch or cross over an exercise boundary line or cone. Each encroachment will count as an error.

Looks

Exiting the vehicle while performing an exercise to check the vehicle’s position while backing. You may be permitted to safely stop and exit the vehicle to check the external position of the vehicle (look). When doing so, you must set the parking brake(s) and place the vehicle in neutral. Then, when exiting/entering the vehicle, you must do so safely by facing the vehicle and maintaining three (3) points of contact with the vehicle at all times (when exiting/ entering a bus, you may face forward and maintain a firm grasp on the handrail). If you do not safely secure the vehicle or safely exit/enter the vehicle, it may result in an automatic failure for an unsafe act. If you open your door or move from a seated position, it will count as a "look.” If you open your door while the vehicle is moving (not in neutral and park), it may result in an automatic failure for an unsafe act. On a bus, if you walk to the back of the bus to get a better view, it will count as a “look.” You may be allowed a maximum of one (1) free look on Exercise 2 – Straight-line Backing, and two (2) free looks on Exercise 4 – Reverse Offset Backing, to check the position of your vehicle. Your examiner will cover “looks” when giving instructions for these exercises.

Final Position

The final position of the vehicle for backing exercises. You will be scored for final vehicle position on Exercise 2 – Straight-Line Backing and on Exercise 4 – Reverse Offset Backing. It is important that you finish each exercise exactly as the examiner has instructed. Your vehicle must be within final exercise boundaries (other than mirrors and unique vehicle parts higher than the door mirrors, such as a bucket truck). If you do not maneuver the vehicle into its final position as described by the examiner, you will be penalized and will fail the Basic Control Skills test. You MUST complete the exercises as directed.