You’re driving a fully loaded estate car. Large boxes in the rear completely block your interior mirror, and you need to reverse out of a supermarket parking space into a busy access road. According to the Highway Code, what is the safest way to carry out this manoeuvre?

Explanation

Highway Code Rule 202 states that you must look carefully all around before you start reversing and continue to look all around while reversing. A heavy or high load that blocks the interior mirror increases blind spots, so you must use your door mirrors effectively and reverse very slowly, stopping if you are unsure what is behind you or if you lose sight of other road users or pedestrians. Relying on speed, hazard lights, a passenger alone, or ignoring your mirrors is unsafe and does not meet the careful observation required by Rule 202.