Positioning during turning...

af_thefragile

Apparently this is my biggest problem lately. So i was wondering what you guys have to say about it.

When I'm driving on a straight road I drive so that my seat (me) is in the center of my lane. When I turn left, I move a bit to the left but I don't move a lot cuz I wouldn't wanna be too close to the curb (same at a roundabout). And while turning right I do move right but I don't go too far right I guess again cuz I don't wanna be too close to the center line.

Well, I was wondering if you guys could give me any tips about positioning the car in the right place for turning left/right and how I could improve my technique. Got 3 weeks to sharpen up my driving skills before my test to make sure I pass it first time!

Thanks.

cloneslad

af_thefragile wrote: »

Apparently this is my biggest problem lately. So i was wondering what you guys have to say about it.

When I'm driving on a straight road I drive so that my seat (me) is in the center of my lane. When I turn left, I move a bit to the left but I don't move a lot cuz I wouldn't wanna be too close to the curb (same at a roundabout). And while turning right I do move right but I don't go too far right I guess again cuz I don't wanna be too close to the center line.

Well, I was wondering if you guys could give me any tips about positioning the car in the right place for turning left/right and how I could improve my technique. Got 3 weeks to sharpen up my driving skills before my test to make sure I pass it first time!

Thanks.

when on the straight have a look in your left wing mirror and you should be able to see what sort of space you have from your car to the kerb. nake sure you can see a small amount of the road but not too much, you need to be close to the left side to allow faster moving vehicles to pass you safely.

When turning left just slow down, look in rear view mirror, indicate, then left wing mirror, and rear view again, be in 2nd gear going around the corner. Then turn around the left corner quite tight, start turning close to the corner and you should be sure to keep the entire car in your own lane.

For turning right it's quite similar, slow down rear view, indicate, right mirror, rear view again, again be in 2nd gear. When turning, don't turn too soon, you should get close to the white line in the middle of the road (if there is no line then imagine where one would be). Only start turning immediately prior to approaching the white line and then straighten the car up after you take the turn.

hope this helps, it's not easy to describe it through text. I don't claim to be the great know all driver, (so I may be condradicted by some of the more knowledgable posters here, and there are quite a few) it's just that I only did my test last thursday so all my lessons are still fresh in my mind.

MascotDec85

cloneslad's advice is pretty good.


Are you taking lessons from an ADI? If not it's probably a good idea to go for a few lessons in the few weeks before your test.

Position on the straight you should be about a metre from the kerb. So when you are looking in your left mirror, the kerb or yellow line should be roughly in the centre of the mirror.

When turning left, try and maintain that distance as much as possible. Too tight and you may clip the kerb. If you have carried out a reverse around the corner you stop and observe at the start of the corner - "the point of turn" i.e. when the back of your car is in line with the start of the kerb.

Turning left is similar. You start your turn, steering gently to the left when your front wheels reach "the point of turn" where the kerb/line starts to bend around the corner.

Turning right. After carrying out your observations and signals you start you break gently. As you are doing so gently steer the car close to the centre of the road/white line. Your point of turn this time is when the front of your car draws levels with the centre line of the road you are about to turn into. You may complete this turn in 2nd gear if it is safe to complete the turn however if there is oncoming traffic or an obstruction in the new road you'll have to stop and pull off in 1st. Once you have completed your turn establish your position for driving on the straight (1m) from the kerb/line unless conditions mean you can't.

Hope that helps

MascotDec85

Have a look at the last video on this RSA webpage. You'll see what I mean about position turning right

http://www.rotr.ie/videos.html

ADI34722

af_thefragile wrote: »

Apparently this is my biggest problem lately. So i was wondering what you guys have to say about it.

When I'm driving on a straight road I drive so that my seat (me) is in the center of my lane. When I turn left, I move a bit to the left but I don't move a lot cuz I wouldn't wanna be too close to the curb (same at a roundabout). And while turning right I do move right but I don't go too far right I guess again cuz I don't wanna be too close to the center line.

Well, I was wondering if you guys could give me any tips about positioning the car in the right place for turning left/right and how I could improve my technique. Got 3 weeks to sharpen up my driving skills before my test to make sure I pass it first time!

Thanks.

Your road position on the straight system is one used just about everywhere by ADI's but before you start you need to know where the road starts and ends.

The road goes from the line in the centre to what ever line is on the left. Double or single yellow, Hard Shoulder, or a cycle lane. Put your seat in the centre between the lines. If there is no lines on the left then it goes to the kerb.

When turning left you should leave about 18 inches between you and the kerb. Rather than guessing how big 18 inches actually is and trying to apply on the fly try this. When ever your going to turn left leave enough room for double yellow lines on the inside of the car. If you turn in too soon you could pull the back wheel in to close so turn with the kerb. This should be everytime you turn left.

As for the right turns these will always be in second gear if you dont have to stop. Keep close to the white line and try to make your turn about 90 degrees. If you look to the right before you get to the junction you will see the stop line for cars coming from the right. About 2 foot before the edge of the stopline in the center of the road is your correct point to turn in.

If your speed is right and the turn in is right then you will see you only have to turn the wheel once. Dont clip the stop line on your right.

If you have to turn it once and then turn it again then your driving around the line which is wrong.

If you have to turn it alot and back again then you have swan necked it.

Remember this is only advice and as most turns are slightly different you should try a couple of different turning ideas and see which is best for you.

af_thefragile

Thanks guys. I think my driving has improved slightly since I posted this.
I think my main mistake was that I was staying in the middle of the road for the right and left turns and not really moving much to the right or left of the road while making the turn... Now I think i'm doing it better...

Well, its exactly two weeks for the test now... Wanna really make sure I manage to pass it. I really need a car to be able to drive to and from college cuz it takes forever in the bus (have to take 2 buses and takes 2hrs while its only 30mins in car!).

MascotDec85

af_thefragile wrote: »

Thanks guys. I think my driving has improved slightly since I posted this.
I think my main mistake was that I was staying in the middle of the road for the right and left turns and not really moving much to the right or left of the road while making the turn... Now I think i'm doing it better...

Well, its exactly two weeks for the test now... Wanna really make sure I manage to pass it. I really need a car to be able to drive to and from college cuz it takes forever in the bus (have to take 2 buses and takes 2hrs while its only 30mins in car!).

Good luck!!

cosmic

MascotDec85 wrote: »

Position on the straight you should be about a metre from the kerb. So when you are looking in your left mirror, the kerb or yellow line should be roughly in the centre of the mirror.

Great advice! I'm having difficulty keeping my car straight, I find it hard to guage how close I am to the kerb/centre line so I tend to let it veer left or right after a while (I'm still only very new to driving) I'm going to test the mirror/kirb thing this evening.

brian076

cosmic wrote: »

Great advice! I'm having difficulty keeping my car straight, I find it hard to guage how close I am to the kerb/centre line so I tend to let it veer left or right after a while (I'm still only very new to driving) I'm going to test the mirror/kirb thing this evening.

Another method which is quite useful, is to find a quiet road with no parked cars. Take up a position about 1 metre from the kerb and stop. Look across at the kerb and see where it comes to in your windscreen. This is your reference point, and the kerb or edge of road should be at this point for normal driving.
If passing parked cars, their outside wheels become your new reference point, assuming the road is wide enough, and this will give you a doors length clearance.
When pulling in to stop at the side of the road, bring the kerb in towards the centre of your windscreen, this will ensure that you're nott stopping too far from the kerb or too close tht you might hit it.

MascotDec85

brian076 wrote: »

Another method which is quite useful, is to find a quiet road with no parked cars. Take up a position about 1 metre from the kerb and stop. Look across at the kerb and see where it comes to in your windscreen. This is your reference point, and the kerb or edge of road should be at this point for normal driving.
If passing parked cars, their outside wheels become your new reference point, assuming the road is wide enough, and this will give you a doors length clearance.
When pulling in to stop at the side of the road, bring the kerb in towards the centre of your windscreen, this will ensure that you're nott stopping too far from the kerb or too close tht you might hit it.

I had trouble putting that into words that would be understood clearly on here I gave up after deleting 3 times

af_thefragile

brian076 wrote: »

Another method which is quite useful, is to find a quiet road with no parked cars. Take up a position about 1 metre from the kerb and stop. Look across at the kerb and see where it comes to in your windscreen. This is your reference point, and the kerb or edge of road should be at this point for normal driving.
If passing parked cars, their outside wheels become your new reference point, assuming the road is wide enough, and this will give you a doors length clearance.
When pulling in to stop at the side of the road, bring the kerb in towards the centre of your windscreen, this will ensure that you're nott stopping too far from the kerb or too close tht you might hit it.

That looks like a great way!!
I take the whole "my seat in the center of the road" as a reference point.
But I'll try out this way, seems to be much useful while overtaking parked cars as a lot of time I end up too close or too far away from parked cars while overtaking them...

cosmic

brian076 wrote: »

Another method which is quite useful...

This is a great idea! Thanks so much

DrivingTestTips: Brian

af_thefragile wrote: »

That looks like a great way!!
I take the whole "my seat in the center of the road" as a reference point.
But I'll try out this way, seems to be much useful while overtaking parked cars as a lot of time I end up too close or too far away from parked cars while overtaking them...

Don't forget you can be closer than doorspace/one meter from parked cars, if you need to get closer you need to slow down first.

When you are using the seat in the centre of the lane you are more likely to look where you are going and not ta the ground so don't forget this when you reference the kerb or parked car wheels (make sure your looking ahead). Look ahead so that you know what is coming.