Steps in making R/L turns
1. Position vehicle in correct lane for turn, for left turn be in lane closest
to center line. For right turn be to far right assuming there are no parked
cars parked on the side.
2. Brake early to reduce speed
3. Use visual search pattern to check front zones for vehicles,
pedestrians or bikes.
4. Slow to about 10 mph right before crosswalk
5. For right turn look left again then look in direction of turn. Begin
turning wheel when front bumper is even with curbline.
6. For left turn, look left, then right, then left again . Begin turning
steering wheel just before your front bumper gets to center of
intersection.
7. Check blind spots and other zones quickly as you begin to turn.
Accelerate about half way through the turn and begin returning wheel to
straight position.
Steps in changing lanes
1. Check traffic in front and left front zones. Check rear zones through
rearview mirror.
2. Signal and make blind spot check over your left shoulder to see if a
vehicle is about to pass you.
3. Increase speed slightly as you begin to smoothly steer into next lane
if clear.
4. Cancel signal and adjust speed.
Which way do you turn the wheel when backing to R/L?
Turn wheel in same direction you want your car to travel backwards in. Turn to
right if backing up to the right, left if backing up to the left.
Steps in Steering Straight Backwards
1. Hold brake down and shift into reverse.
2. Turn body to the right and put right arm over passenger seat. Look
back through rear mirror.
3. Put hand on top of steering wheel (12 o’ clock position)
4. Release pressure if break just enough to allow vehicle to creep slowly
backwards.
5. While looking back through the back window, move the top of the
steering wheel towards the direction you want the back of the vehicle
to go.
6. Keep foot over brake pedal while moving backwards. Glance quickly
to front and sides to check for traffic. Continue to look backwards
until you brake to a stop.
Define:
Over-steering – turning the steering wheel too much
Under-steering – not turning the steering wheel enough to keep vehicle on
desired path.
Hand over Hand steering – Pulling the steering wheel down with one hand
while your other hand crosses over to pull the wheel further down.
Push-Pull steering – pushing the steering wheel up with one hand and down
with the other.
Hand Positioning on Steering Wheel 9-3
Hand Signals
Left Arm upright in a perpendicular position = right turn
Left Arm Straight out to the side =left turn
Left Arm downward in a perpendicular position = stop or slow
Turnabouts – when should they be used? Which is the safest and most
dangerous? What are the benefits of each?
1. Midblock U-Turn
2. Back into Driveway on the Right - SAFEST
3. Pull into Driveway on the Left Side
4. Pull into Driveway on the Right Side
5. 3 Pt. Turn – MOST DANGEROUS
Parking
What is the difference between Angle/Perpendicular/Parallel parking ?
Angle – Used to park your vehicle diagonally to the curb
Perpendicular – Used to park your vehicle at a right angle to the curb.
Parallel – Used to park your vehicle parallel to the curb. (Needs to be
demonstrated during road test)
Which way do you turn your wheels when parking uphill/downhill and
with and without a curb.
Uphill with curb: wheels turned AWAY from curb.
Uphill without curb: wheels turned TOWARDS edge of road (would be curb)
Downhill with curb: wheels turned TOWARDS curb
Downhill without curb: wheels turned TOWARDS edge of road (would be
curb)