reversing around a corner

[GTP-814]

hi all
I have tried researching the NSW road rules but have come upblank.

A lady reversed around a corner into another street and reversed into my daughters car who was stationery. The damage was minor.

Is it legal (i know it wasnt safe) to reverse round a corner into another road?

thanks
simon

[xxx000]

only if it's safe to do so

the old handbook used to state that 'you must take extreme care when reversing'

the reversing driver will be at fault in the situation you describe. Report it to Police and do a letter of demand to the other driver

[GTP-814]

thanks, yes she reported to police but they just said that it is a civil matter, but all is ok as only a broken headlight on her car

[Full Noise]

Originally Posted by GTP-814

thanks, yes she reported to police but they just said that it is a civil matter.

Yeah, coppers tend to say that a lot.

The other well known line from VicPol is “there’s nothing we can do about it”.

I had a copper give me a really strange look when I was at the counter of a police station once enquiring about a similar thing. They trotted out the old line, it’s a civil matter.

So I said to the constable who was standing next to the sargent, well it isn’t going to be a civil matter when I go around to their house after leaving here and beat the ***k out of him.

Then will it be a police matter? I said.

Also, it wouldn’t be a civil matter if she backed into the copper’s car. They’d make sure that it was followed through the proper channels.

******* hypocrites.

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

Originally Posted by Full Noise

I had a copper give me a really strange look when I was at the counter of a police station once enquiring about a similar thing. They trotted out the old line, it’s a civil matter.

That's because it is

Cops don't make the rules/laws they just do their best to enforce them.

[Vesper Martini]

Originally Posted by Full Noise

I had a copper give me a really strange look when I was at the counter of a police station once enquiring about a similar thing. They trotted out the old line, it’s a civil matter. .

What did you want them to do? it is a Civil matter for insurance to sort out

Originally Posted by Full Noise

So I said to the constable who was standing next to the sargent, well it isn’t going to be a civil matter when I go around to their house after leaving here and beat the ***k out of him. .

That would have gone down really well

Originally Posted by Full Noise

Also, it wouldn’t be a civil matter if she backed into the copper’s car. They’d make sure that it was followed through the proper channels.
.

The difference is the Cop would have been there, so may have issued a ticket for dangerous driving at worst.
Damage to the Police car would then become a civil matter between insurance companies

[MarkAW]

Unless the laws in NSW have changed in the past few years, reversing around a corner is NOT illegal.
I presume this as I was required to reverese around a corner for my heavy vehicle license (the old class 3 - now called HR) some years ago as part of the test.

[Crazy Dazz]

Originally Posted by GTP-814

thanks, yes she reported to police but they just said that it is a civil matter

Really? Traffic infringements are now a civil matter?

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

Really? Traffic infringements are now a civil matter?

What infringements?? It's a minor traffic crash, no infringements get issued, has always been like that, has never really changed in the last 20 or 30 years.

How would police issue an infringement without having witnessed the incident?? Minor non injury crashes where both vehicle are drivable do not get investigated by police, and police do not allocate fault, it is not a police matter, requires no police involvement and police have no interest in getting involved as they can't do anything about it, as they have no legislation to deal with it.

Fatal crashes, injury crashes and major crashes where one or more vehicles get towed will be investigated and if possible the at fault driver will be fined or charged depending on the outcome of the investigation. This still does not guarantee that the insurance company will agree with the police investigation and any damages and repairs and costs involved are again not a police matter. Police investigate crimes and beaches of the law, not financial compensation and losses. Anything outside that scope is a civil matter between the persons involved in the incident.

[Crazy Dazz]

Originally Posted by XB GS 351 Coupe

What infringements?? It's a minor traffic crash,

Gees your cops are slack.
In WA we MUST report all traffic accidents where damage exceeds a fairly low value, and you can still report even for less.

Granted though, if the ONLY damage was a headlight, it doesn't sound like much of a bingle.

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

No need to report a minor crash in NSW.

You can report it and the cops will make a record of it or you can go to police station and complete the self reporting form and submit it.

However police do not allocate fault as it would be impossible to do without getting witness statements, and going to the scene of the crash.

This is where dash cameras would be handy, as it would prove that she reversed into the stationary car, rather that the other driver driving into the back of it.

[Vesper Martini]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

Gees your cops are slack.
In WA we MUST report all traffic accidents where damage exceeds a fairly low value, and you can still report even for less.

Granted though, if the ONLY damage was a headlight, it doesn't sound like much of a bingle.

There is a joint initiative between the Insurance commission WA & WA Police to capture all information of a vehicle Crash.

But that's all they will do,

[Itsme]

When reversing you must give away to all vehicles, the lady is at fault.

[Bossxr8]

How far did she reverse. I remember that you can be charged with reversing an unreasonable distance, or something to that effect.

[bangm001]

As part of getting my licence here in SA around 10 years ago, part of the log book that had to be signed was a reverse around a corner manouvre. I thought it was stupid but did as I was told.

[hawkgirl]

i had a stupid p plater chick reverse into me some time ago.

My insurer told me even if I had parked in the middle of the highway, the car that hits a parked car is At Fault, as they are supposed to be in control of their own vehicle enough to avoid you.

the other driver is still liable for the cost of the headlight at least

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

There is an offence in NSW which is 'reverse further than necessary', this could apply, but really makes no difference to the outcome, as the police do not collect your debts, it's a civil matter, that the insurance companies need to work out.

Weather she pays for the damage or not has nothing to do with police, and since it is a minor accident where no vehicle was towed or no person was injured, it falls back into the civil courts as no fines get issued, has always been like that as long as I can remember, so basically in is not a police matter, and police do not get involved as they have no legislative power to do so.

Civilly the driver reversing is still responsible, so her insurance accompany needs to pay out if she is not insured report it to your insurance company pass on the other drivers details and get your car fixed, up to your insurance accompany to chase it up, that's what you pay insurance for. If you have no insurance, then a lesson has been learned and time to move on.

[aussiblue]

NSW Road Rules 2008

http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/n...13j2008595.pdf

296 Driving a vehicle in reverse
(1) The driver of a vehicle must not reverse the vehicle unless the driver can
do so safely.
Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units.
(2) The driver of a vehicle must not reverse the vehicle further than is
reasonable in the circumstances.
Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units

[turboclown]

if its just a headlight long term its probably cheaper to fix it yourself then pay extra insurance premiums for the next few years after making a claim.

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

Originally Posted by turboclown

if its just a headlight long term its probably cheaper to fix it yourself then pay extra insurance premiums for the next few years after making a claim.

It is not her fault, so there should be no extra premium.

[turboclown]

Originally Posted by XB GS 351 Coupe

It is not her fault, so there should be no extra premium.

sadly as far as insurance goes if you have a not at fault claim, you are 80% more likely to have an at fault claim within the next two years and that is factored into your risk and your premium.

People get all obsessive about NCB etc and don't realise that even though they may keep their discount the actual risk and premium before the discount applies can and will change.

[XC50077]

I always believed in NSW that it is illegal to reverse around a corner but I got my licence in 1966 so maybe things have changed. Irrespective, the vehicle that hits a stationary vehicle is at fault.

[11ford11]

police are not involved anymore if both vehicles drivable - no one injured etc.reversing/moving vehicle at fault- not illegal -if within reasonable distance(what is a reasonable distance is the question) if to far your driving on wrong side of road - get a fair quote and hand her the bill.

[Itsme]

I don't why some here talking insurance as the question was asked.....
Is it legal (i know it wasnt safe) to reverse round a corner into another road?

Cheers

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

Originally Posted by trublu

I don't why some here talking insurance as the question was asked.....
Is it legal (i know it wasnt safe) to reverse round a corner into another road?

Cheers

Yes it is.

No law that states otherwise exists, unless it falls into the ones mentioned earlier.

[GasoLane]

Aussieblue had it right (post 11)
http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/fr...ithintitle=yes

If you can do it safely it's fine, obviously the lady in the OP's post didn't do it safely.

[Gaz]

^ as above, HR license in WA you gotta reverse around a corner.

IIRC I was told for HC/MC you have to reserve about 200m with the trailers staying straight?

[GREGL]

She was using the popular reversing by braille method , commonly applied by thousands of woollies/coles shoppers who have turned it into an art form , she just forgot she not in a carpark .

[LTDHO]

She back into a stationary car. Pretty simple really. No need to look for a law she broke?

Why would you want to involve the police for?
They have more important matters to attend to.

[GTP-814]

hi all, thanks for your comments, they have helped.
For safety & prob legal reasons & replaced the broken headlight ($45) from a wrecker. The ongoing sage is that the other woman is trying to claim for damages outside of her insurance co. Legal aid cant help my daughter as she has more than $5k in the bank. Our insurance co has said that seeing that neither party is accepting liability, if claims are lodged then they would tell each party to fix their own, which is a good outcome. The other party are trying other means so far to get my daughter to pay, which may end up using lawyers. I'll keep you posted as its an interesting scenario
cheers