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The Turn In The Road
"I would like you to turn the car round in the road, trying not to
touch the kerbs. Ignore any driveways, treat them as a normal kerb. When you are ready, drive on." Make sure you're close to the kerbcheck all around, is anyone nearby?... Don't move yet Prepare to move forwards All round observations Move forwards Select DRIVE SLOW car, BRISK steering, fully to the right Keep your head moving all the time…looking for hazards Look where you are going check where the car is compared to the kerb what's happening in your blind-spot, and everywhere else Look for the kerb, don't touch it. Don't forget, the front right wheel is just in-front of your right foot. Stop the car. Into REVERSE. Apply the handbrake. Move Backwards Set enough gas, make sure you have found the biting point Check all around, in reverse order because you are driving in reverse Release the handbrake, ensure you are driving backwards, not rolling anywhere SLOW car, BRISK steering, fully to the left Look where you are going, keep looking all around RADAR head Look for the kerb.. Don't touch it. Don't forget, the rear wheel is just behind the back seat rest Stop the car. Into DRIVE. Apply the handbrake. RADAR head Move forwards Set enough gas, make sure you have found the biting point Check all around, in normal order because you are driving forward RADAR head Release the handbrake, ensure you are driving forwards, not rolling anywhere SLOW car, BRISK steering, fully to the right RADAR head Straighten up to follow the road You may need to repeat the forward & reverse sections if the road is narrow You can use "counter-steering", where you steer the other way just as you approach the kerb, but... If you counter-steer too early, you will undo all the steering you have just done, and may have to... Do the turn in 5 moves, rather than 3, though this does not mean you have failed the Test The Test examiners just want you to do it safely, and in as few moves as possible. When it all goes wrong.. RADAR head STOP!! Look around.. is it safe ? OK, now.. How are you going to get where you want to, safely? Is that the best & safest way? Ok then … do it SAFELY ! If traffic, or pedestrians, or cyclists, or horse-riders get close, work out what is the safest way to get them past you, or will they have to wait for you to finish the manoeuvre? It would be kind if you thank them for their patience |