subject: Turning The Car Around [print this page] This article explains how to do the three point turn.
Most driving schools do teach this early in your training.
Yo will start on wide quiet roads. They will talk to you about the manoeuvre and talk to you as you try it out for the first few times.
After a couple of driving lesson you will find that you can do the turn in the road quiet easily. Your driving instructor will take you to narrower roads, roads with cars about. You will be asked to do the exercise on roads with a clear camber. The camber is the way the road slopes to the kerb.
The secrets to the Turn in the Road
Look where you are going. As you reverse the car look over your left shoulder until the car starts to point the other way. Then look over your right shoulder and look for the kerb.
Do not use the mirrors - they will not give the true picture.
Use your clutch and brake for this exercise. Small foot movements will give the best control.
Start the manoeuvre from a parked position and make full use of the kern
Why do I need to know this?
Imagine that you have taken the wrong turning. You need to go back the way you came. There are no roundabouts, and you cannot drive round the block. The turn in the road is usually the safest way of turning the car round.
It used to be called the three point turn. The examiners are not worried about the number of points in the turn, as long as it right for the road.
How do I do this?
Before you start
Is it safe to do the manoeuvre here?
Is it legal to do the manoeuvre here?
Is it going to affect other road users if you do the manoeuvre here?
Is it possible to do the manoeuvre here?
Step 1
Start with the car in the normal parking position.
Prepare the car to move off as you normally would. Check all around you.
Left shoulder - each mirror - right shoulder. Move off very slowly.
Steer right fast. Stop just before you hit the kerb.
Just before you stop flick the wheel to the left.
Handbrake
Step 2
Prepare the car into reverse.
Look left and right
Look over your left shoulder - out of the back window.
Move off very slowly.
Steer left fast.
As the car starts to point to the right look over your right shoulder and look for the kerb.
Stop before you hit the kern.
Before you stop flick the wheel to the right.
Handbrake
Step 3
Prepare the car into first gear.
Look left and right.
Drive off slowly steering rapidly to the right.
As you reach your normal road position check it is safe and drive on.
Points to note
It is not a three point turn. Three is the minimum number of points that this manoeuvre takes.
If another car turns up complete the step that you are on and wait for them to decide.
What are the examiners looking for?
The examiner will tell you what they are looking for. The list includes:
