DRIVING TIP: Avoid Backing Up

JIM LUFF DRIVING GEM: The number one cause of minor accidents occurs right in our own garages and yards by careless backing. Even the LCT editor last month backed his left rear bumper into a golf maintenace cart, causing a minor dent and scrapes. The best way to avoid these minor collisions is to avoid backing up whenever possible or to use a second person to stand behind the vehicle and use hand signals while guiding you slowly. Try to park in places that avoid the need for backing up at all.

However, if you must backup and you have no one to assist you, get out of the car and visually inspect the area you are backing into and calculate the minimum space needed to back up and start your forward motion. If you don’t think you can do it without help, don’t try! Taking chances is what causes accidents to happen. — Jim Luff, LCT contributing editor