Tips For Executing A Turn In The Road

Once you have taken a number of driving lessons and have become a little more comfortable behind the wheel, particularly in regards to your use of the clutch and gearstick, it is likely that your driving instructor will look to start showing you the manoeuvres that you need to know to pass your driving tests. Making sure that you are able to execute each of these processes correctly is crucial if you want to stand the best chance of passing your test, as you will face a random choice from the selection of manoeuvres on the big day.

One of the most popular and recognized is the turn in the road, often mistakenly called the three-point turn. If you are getting ready to practice this manoeuvre, try to keep all of the following in mind.

Take It Slow

While your first attempts at the turn in the road will likely be done on a road that is nice and wide, it is possible that you will have to execute it on a fairly narrow road during your test. As such, it is important that you take your time and don’t try to rush through the manoeuvre. Instead, take it nice and slow to ensure you don’t lose control of the vehicle and end up bumping a curb or accelerating to quickly in one direction. Your instructor will be looking for quality of execution, rather than speed.

Always Observe

You should not let your guard down at any point during the execution of the manoeuvre, so make sure you observe everything around you at all times. Prepare properly before you start by looking around at all of the road to ensure that no vehicles are heading in your direction. This observations should not stop when you start executing the turn either. Instead, make sure that you’re constantly looking around so that you can spot any hazards before they develop. This is particularly important when you start reversing, so make use of your mirrors and windows effectively, while also remembering to check your blind spot.

Beware the Camber

Many roads have a camber in the middle, which essentially makes them seem like very small hills to the learner driver. While this will have little effect on your general driving, it is important to keep this in mind when executing a turn in the road. Misjudging the road’s camber could lead to you moving too quickly, leading to a bump against the curb. Again, take it slow and always be ready to slowly apply the brakes if you feel that the car is picking up too much speed.

Be Confident

If you approach the turn in the road feeling nervous, it is more likely that you will start to make mistakes. Remember that the turn doesn’t ask anything of you that your regular driving doesn’t in terms of the skills that you need to execute it. Just take a deep breath and remember what you have been taught to stand the best chance for success.