Turn In The Road

(Turn In The Road - AKA 3-point turn)

In this manoevure, you turn the vehicle around, using forward and reverse gears, so that it ends up facing the opposite way down the road. You would usually use this manoevure when no convenient side road is available to reverse into.

Before starting you should select a suitable place - it should not cause too much inconvience to other road users, so avoid busy high streets! Make sure that it is legal so don't do it in a one-way street for example. You should also make sure that you have sufficient room to carry out the manoevure, and that there are no obstructions on the road (ie. parked cars) or on the pavement (ie. trees,lamposts, etc.). Finally be sure that it is safe and that you have a clearview up and down the road for a good distance.

The key to carrying out this manoevure successfully is to keep the car moving slowly (using good clutch control), at walking speed or less, but to steer briskly. You should also be aware that some roads have a camber (they bow up in the middle) which will require preparing for a hill start when moving off, and dipping the clutch whilst controlling speed with the footbrake as you approach the kerb. Thorough observation should be carried out throughout the manoevure, and the car should be stopped before approaching vehicles arrive until they have either passed or you are certain that they will wait. The manoevure will be carried out in 3 or more phases:

1.You should start the manoevure on the left, reasonably close to the kerb as if parked. Put the car into 1st gear and prepare the car to move, you should then perform a 6-point observational check (left blind-spot and door mirror, road ahead, rear-view mirror, right door mirror and right blind-spot) and when it is clear with no approaching vehicles or pedestrians move slowly forward whilst steering briskly to the right as far as the wheel will turn. As the car approaches the opposite kerb slow it down, steer a bit to the left just before stopping near the kerb.

2.Engage the handbrake, then reverse gear, prepare the car to move and carry out a 6-point check as before, when safe start reversing looking out the rear window over your left shoulder whilst steering all the way to the left, about halfway across the road look over your right shoulder to see the approaching kerb, just before reaching the kerb steer right a bit and stop.

3.Finally, engage the handbrake and first gear, prepare the car, 6-point check and move off when safe, steering to the right and continue down the road. If it is not possible to continue without hitting the kerb, stop just before the kerb having steered left and repeat phases 2 & 3 above.