Living with your car: perfecting the three-point turn
Previously, we showed you how to perfect that most dreaded of all driving test manoeuvres, the parallel park. It proved so popular that we thought we'd tackle another one: the three-point turn.
It's a seemingly innocuous move, at least compared to the parallel park - so you might be wondering why we're bothering with it. Well, for a start it's an absolutely essential bit of the driving test, and there are a couple of little common slip ups that at best will have your instructor frowning and at worst get you a big fat fail.
So, "turn your car around and face the opposite way," says the bearded man in the passenger seat with the clipboard. Here goes then...
Step one: Turn in
The phrase 'three-point turn" is actually a misleading one because you're allowed to make more than three points, so to speak, during the driving test if need be. Five is ok, and although seven might raise your tester's eyebrows, you're still unlikely to fail unless you've done something really silly (like mounting the pavement or mowing down an elderly person).
Anyway, step one is to pull up safely at the left side of the road, indicating as you do so. When it's clear, signal right, turn the wheel full lock to the right and gently move forward. The key is to look around at all times to make sure there's no traffic coming in either direction that you could obstruct. Once you're close to the opposite kerb, stop perpendicular to it. Gently brushing it with the front tyres isn't a disaster, but don't strike the pavement hard (or drive onto it) whatever you do.
Some will advise you to prepare for the next step by turning the wheel back the opposite way as you're coming to a stop.
Step two: Reverse
So, you're at more or less a 90-degree angle with the kerb now. Keep looking left and right for traffic. Put the car in reverse, turn the wheel full lock to the left and gently begin to crawl backwards. Again, go back as far as you can but avoid touching the kerb with the rear tyres if possible. Before you start to reverse it's actually legal to remove your seatbelt if it helps visibility, but in reality that probably won't help and will just hinder you when you have to put it back on.
Again, it's possible to ease the steering effort required by reversing the lock as you come to a stop.
Step three: Turn out
Back to full lock to the right (or as much as you need to get in lane) and begin to move forward again. If the road is particularly thin you might need to move forwards and backwards again before facing the way you want to, but it's essential to remember to keep looking all around for traffic coming in both directions. You should always be in control, driving smoothly and slowly, and if you've taken your seatbelt off, make sure you put it back on again before setting off; imagine making the perfect three-point turn then failing your test for merrily meandering off without your belt on?
Living with your car: Overcome parallel parking
