Basic Maneuvers
Chapter 6
Red text book
• Visibility: Check traffic, traffic signals, signs, and road markings.
• Time: Be aware of speed limit and speed of other
vehicles.Evaluate if enough time to move into lane.
• Space:Check space in front and behind you. Determine whether
to make one smooth movement, or maneuver back and forth.
What is the Procedure for Steering to
the Curb?
• Visibility:
– Pick spot where you want to stop.
– Scan the scene.
– Use mirrors.
• Time:
– Note speed of traffic.
– Slow down to make move.
• Space:
– If needed, notice available space to move into another lane.
– Decide whether to directly park or parallel park.
Changing Lanes
• Maximum visibility
• Correct timing
• Safe space cushion
Preparing to make a right turn
Check
Check for signs and markings
that control your movement.
Communicate
Signal others by:
ASK YOURSELF
Tapping brake pedal to flash brake
lights
Are there traffic, yield, or stop
signs.
Use turn signal 3 to 4 seconds of at
least 100 ft in advance
Are turns allowed?
Choose
Choose and move into the
correct lane.
Make sure that it is clear,
reduce your speed.
Position the Vehicle
Position vehicle to right side of the lane 3
to 5 feet from curb or shoulder.
Slowly move up to point where you can
see cross traffic.
Remember to yield to pedestrians.
How do you execute a right turn?
When positioned correctly and signal your intentions:
Wait until there is an 8 to 11 second gap in traffic to your left. Before turning
search the intersection again to the left.
Look through the turn along your intended path, when the front bumper is
opposite the point where the curb begins to curve, begin the right turn
Follow curve of the curb as you turn, stay in the right lane
by looking through the turn along the intended path.
Complete the turn by reversing your steering
and straighten the car as you accelerate.
DON’T FORGET TO TURN YOUR SIGNAL OFF!!!
Preparing to a left turn
• Check - look at your
intended path, check for
traffic signs and signals and
make sure no one is about
to pass you on the left side.
• Choose the correct
lane - signal and move
into the correct lane (usually
the farthest left), keep
wheels straight, and stop at
the stop line if there is one.
• Communicate your
intentions - signal your turn
at least 100 feet in advance and
flash brake by tapping on the
brake pedal to slow down.
• Position the vehicle
for a left turn- position your
vehicle to the right of the center
line, signal and move into the
turn.
How do you execute a left turn?
Turning from a two way street onto a two way street
• Check for other vehicles and pedestrians.
• Find an 11 to 14 second gap to your right and an 8 to 11
second gap to your left.
• Keep your wheels straight, check traffic to the left, then
right, then again left. Check space ahead as well.
• Look at your path, begin to turn steering wheel just before
your front bumper reaches the center of the intersection.
• Follow path so you are in
lane to the right of the center line.
Complete the turn by reversing
your steering as you accelerate.
MAKE SURE YOUR
TURN SIGNAL IS OFF!
• There are four different
ways to make a turnabout.
Use the one that best suits
your situation.
• You can use a two-point
turn, a three-point turn, a Uturn, or go around the block.
There are 3 different two-point turns.
• Backing into a driveway. Signal and flash
the brake lights to alert drivers. Stop three
feet from curb. With foot on brake, shift into
reverse. Back up slowly, turning the wheel
fast all the way to the right. When you enter
the driveway, turn the wheel to the left, so
your car is in the center. Shift to drive or first
gear, signal, and leave the driveway.
• Heading into driveway on the
left. Signal a left turn. Flash you
brake lights. Turn into driveway as
close to right side as you can. Stop
with your front wheels straight. With
foot on brake, shift to Reverse gear.
Back up slowly. Turn car fast to
right. Keep car in first lane. Halfway
through turn, straighten wheel. Stop
when wheels are straight. Check
mirrors, signal, shift to drive, and
accelerate.
• Heading out of a driveway on right. This
is very dangerous because you must
back across at least two lanes of traffic
before moving forward. Make this turn
only in low-speed, low-traffic
residential areas. The basic steps are
the same, except signal a right turn,
look over left shoulder, and turn
steering wheel to the left as you begin
backing out.
• Stop as close to right edge of curb as possible.
• Signal left turn. Look over left shoulder in blind spot,
move car slowly while turning wheel fast to the left to
bring car into opposite lane. Hold position.
• When front wheels are almost to curb, (about 4 feet)
turn the wheel rapidly to right.
• Shift into reverse, and while backing slowly, turn wheel
to extreme right. Four feet from stopping, turn wheel
quickly to the left .
• Shift into drive. Signal and move into proper lane.
U-Turns:
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A wide street is needed to make this turn
Make sure the turn is legal
Stop the vehicle close to the right edge of the curb
Check for traffic and signal a left turn
Turn the steering wheel all the way to the left and slowly move the
vehicle until it is facing the opposite direction
• Straighten the wheel and proceed into the proper lane at normal
speed
• The fourth way to reverse direction is to
drive around the block. This is often the
easiest and safest to use.
How to prepare for and execute
a parking maneuver.
• To park quickly, easily, and safely, you must have
good control of your vehicle, accurate judgment
of space, a good understanding of steering, and
continuous practice.
• There are a few ways you can park and you
should know all of them. There is angle parking,
perpendicular parking, and parallel parking.
How do you angle park and
perpendicular park?
• When trying to angle park, you have very
little room to maneuver and cannot see
very well. You must be very careful when
entering and leaving angled and
perpendicular parking spaces.
Right or left angle parking
• Angled parking is found in parking lots
or on the streets of cities and towns.
These spaces are angled anywhere
from 30 to 90 degrees to the curb or
line.
Angle parking on the right
• Stay 5 to 6 feet from parked vehicles
to give yourself enough room to see
and move. Observe and be alert of
traffic around you. Signal for right
turn.
• Proceed until you can see along the
left side of the vehicle to the right of
the space you will enter. Steer
sharply right. Go straight at 3-5 mph
into space midway between lines.
As you straighten wheels, move up
until the front of car is aligned with
those on both sides.
Perpendicular Parking
• Stay 7 feet from cars. Signal for right turn. Slow to
3-5 mph. Turn right when you can look down the
right side of car parked to right of your chosen space.
Steer sharply right. Proceed slowly. As you
straighten wheels and center in space, move up
slowly and stop just short of curb.
Exiting an Angled or a
Perpendicular Parking Space
• To exit angled space on right, backing to the right, turn
wheel sharply right when front bumper will clear the rear of
car on left.
• When exiting from a perpendicular space, turn wheel
slightly right or left. Make sure front fender clears rear of
car opposite the direction in which you are turning. As car
enters traffic lane, quickly turn wheel in opposite direction
to straighten front wheels. Shift into drive, accelerate, and
move into traffic.
• Approach parking space. Signal in direction of curb
and flash your brake lights. Stop parallel to car in front
of the space, leaving 3 feet between cars. Stop when
center doorposts are even. Keep foot on brake and
shift into reverse. Back up steering sharply to right.
Align the back of the front seat with rear bumper of car
in front. Continue backing slowly, straightening your
front wheels. When your front bumper lines up with
the rear bumper of car in front of you, steer rapidly to
the left. Check rearview mirror, and stop before you
make contact with car in front of you. With foot on
brake, shift into drive. Move forward slowly, centering
your car in parking space. Stop and set parking
brake.
Parking On a Hill
When parking downhill with a curb:
• Turn the steering wheel sharply to the right and move
forward
• Stop the vehicle when the front right wheel touches the
curb (turn wheels towards the curb)
• Set the parking brake
When parking uphill with a curb:
• Turn the wheels sharply left, as far as they will go
• With your foot on the brake, allow the vehicle to roll back
slowly until the rear of the right front tire touches the curb
(turn wheels away from the curb)
• Set the parking brake
Parking Restrictions
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Bus stops
Loading zone
Across someone else’s driveway
In a fire zone
No stopping or standing
Too close to a fire hydrant
On a sidewalk
Passing Another Vehicle
• Conditions will help you decide whether or not you
should or should not pass?
• Before passing another vehicle on a road with one lane
of traffic in each direction, you need to know whether or
not it is legal.
• Warning signs and Pavement markings will tell
you whether or not passing is allowed in the area
you are driving
Passing another vehicle (cont.)
If passing is legal, you need to decide if it makes sense
to pass under the existing traffic, weather, and road
conditions.
• Bright sunlight, rain, snow, sleet, hail, and fog add to danger of
passing.
– If driving in these conditions, slow down, proceed with caution, and
perhaps avoid passing even if it is legal.
• Night time visibility and road surface conditions also add to the
dangers of passing.
– If you cannot see ahead to the place where you will reenter the
lane after passing, do not attempt to pass. If the road surface is
rough or in poor conditions, avoid passing.
How to Pass Another Vehicle
1.
Check the path ahead, behind
you, and the lane you want to
enter. Make sure no vehicles
are signaling to move into the
same lane. If you are on a twolane, two-way road, check that
there is no oncoming traffic. If
there is, make sure they are far
enough away to allow you to
complete the pass safely. Any
doubts? Do NOT pass.
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2. If the way is clear, signal your
intent, and use your left turn
signal.
3. Check over your left shoulder
for vehicles in your blind spot.
Adjust your speed as necessary
and steer smoothly into the
passing lane.
How to Pass Another Vehicle
(cont.)
• 4. Accelerate firmly. If you
are on a road with a single lane
in each direction, keep
watching for oncoming traffic.
• 5. Check your rearview
mirror quickly. When you
see both headlights of
the vehicle you’ve
passed in the rearview
mirror, signal your intent
to return to the right lane
and steer gradually in
that direction. Turn off
your turn signal, and
maintain an appropriate
speed.
What Should You Do If You Are
Being Passed?
• Drivers of vehicles that are passing assume responsibility for their
safety and yours, but you can often protect yourself by helping to
the passing driver
• By regularly checking your mirrors, you can remain aware of the
movement of vehicles behind and alongside of you
• When you see that you are being passed, stay to the right of your
lane
• Do not speed up, it is illegal to do so while being passed
• Remain aware of the traffic situation around you
• Sometimes a passing vehicle will decide to drop back rather than
complete the pass. Do not accelerate unless it is necessary to
give the vehicle more room to go back behind you