[Tabby]

My dad says I should use my mirrors when I back up. My mom says I should look over my shoulder when I back up. No matter what I do, I tend to go off the driveway, into the grass.

[Gomera]

Both are correct. You want to use your mirrors to check for things you can't see at other angles, and then turn around to check as you back. I go from mirrors to turning around.

[Angelinus]

Tabby it sounds like you are getting so much advice you're not having the chance to develop your own style! Some people find it hard to get into the groove with reversing, so all I can recommend is that you practice to find the best method for you.

[Kohn]

Angelinus is correct. Style means doing things your own way, all things considered --- the method of looking back, the speed of backing up and the critical hand-eye coordination.

[Tabby]

Originally Posted by Angelinus

Tabby it sounds like you are getting so much advice you're not having the chance to develop your own style!

That sounds exactly right! I drive SO much better alone than I do when anyone else is in the car. When Dad is in the car, I try to drive the way he wants me to, and when Mom is in the car, I try to drive the way she wants me to. I guess I just need to drive my own way and let them deal with it!

[Bridey]

I feel for you Tabby. I hate driving with people who try to 'teach' me as we are moving or I attempt something. I think it takes some time to develop that co-ordination between brain and hands, I know I had a lot of trouble learning to reverse into a tight space for that reason.

[FiveSpeed]

You don't say how old you are, but if you are an inexperienced driver, then I suggest you do both, mirrors and head. I've driven buses all my life, so turning around and looking wouldn't do me any good, so I learned to just use my outside mirrors. I very seldom even use my inside rear view mirror......but that's just me.

[jason]

You can learn to drive the way my mother did. Her father took her down a fire trail (a path cut in the woods for firetrucks to get to the brush fires), about two or three miles. Told her to back out of the trail. He said if you can drive backwards you can drive forwards. And those trails you do not want to go off of, or you end up in the brush.

But yes, you should use both, mirrors, and looking over shoulder. I have a camera I use too since a lot of my view is blocked.