3 point turns

Waterloo Sunset

My car has no power steering and I'm finding them a bit rough. Are you allowed turn the wheels of the car before you set off because this would make it so much easier!

litmus paper

yes u are allowed to do that. it will be advisable to do it before u set off.

Jax Teller

I was always told when learning never to turn the steering wheel unless your moving .

keysersoze_88

keysersoze_88 wrote: »

I was always told when learning never to turn the steering wheel unless your moving .

:eek:
Turn it all the way before moving!

DriveSkill

Hi,

Yes, in the driving test you are allowed to turn the steering without the car moving - in fact it is specifically called out in the Marking Guidelines that you will not be faulted for this. Its called 'Dry Steering' or 'Dead Steering'.

But (there's always a but! ) - Its not good driving practice and all ADIs should be teaching that you only turn the steering with the car moving. Turning the steering while the car is stationary puts a lot of stress on the steering linkages and is also not very good for your tyres - they are not designed to be twisted like that without rolling forward. That being said doing it once or twice is not going to do any major damage but try avoid it if possible.

The key to the turnabout is to keep the car moving VERY SLOWLY and turn the steering wheel quickly - definitely easier with power steering but possible without.

Good luck with it.

sentient_6

DriveSkill wrote: »

The key to the turnabout....

Exactly, technically no such thing as a 3 point turn anymore. & nowadays you can use as many movements as necessary to complete the manouver, i.e your not limited to 3. But if you lock the wheel before moving you'll probably get it in 3 anyway.

xCiViCx

sentient_6 wrote: »

Exactly, technically no such thing as a 3 point turn anymore. & nowadays you can use as many movements as necessary to complete the manouver, i.e your not limited to 3. But if you lock the wheel before moving you'll probably get it in 3 anyway.

Exactly, it can be done in 3,5, or 7 turns.

DriveSkill

xCiViCx wrote: »

Exactly, it can be done in 3,5, or 7 turns.

You need to be a little careful on this. True, its not a 3-point turn but if you are driving a small car and asked to do it in a wide road and took 7 turns you will most likely pick up a fault under 'Competently'.

Most cars should be able to do it in 3 and the 5 or 7 turns is really for long wheel base cars on narrower roads (which are usually not used).

seamus

Remember that millions of people passed the test before power steering was invented, so it's far from impossible

As others have said, it's good practice to not steer when the car is dead, as it creates wear on the tyres, but you won't fail for it.

As Driveskill says:

The key to the turnabout is to keep the car moving VERY SLOWLY and turn the steering wheel quickly - definitely easier with power steering but possible without.

Another trick is that when you're in the middle of the manouver and just about to stop, take half a second to turn the wheel as much as you can in the opposite direction before stopping.

That is, you pull out to the right and as you are just about to stop at the kerb on the other side of the road, spin the wheel quickly to the left. Same again when you reverse back; spin the wheel quickly to the right just before you stop.

DrivingTestTips: Brian

Hi Guys

This will help you understand:
http://www.drivingtesttips.ie/vpfile/Turnabout-3point-Turn.php

SEE full list of Tutorials on www.DrivingTestTips.ie
Don't forget to get the help of an ADI Qualified Driving Instructor.

Mint Sauce

Waterloo Sunset wrote: »

My car has no power steering and I'm finding them a bit rough. Are you allowed turn the wheels of the car before you set off because this would make it so much easier!

yes, sometimes the road may be narrower, and you are allowed to turn the wheel to full lock before each manover if required, also to add, you are being tested on a turn the road, in some cases it may require more than 3, touching the kerb can and likely to result in a fail, so use an additional manover if required or if you fell you cannot make the turn in 3

take your time, manover slowly and reach full look as quick as possible if moving, yes, unnessary turning on a stationary road can cause wear, but you wont be failed for it.

**Timbuk2**

Don't turn the wheel when stopped - it is bad for the wheels, although it is acceptable in the test.

In my first test, I did a three-point turn in 5 turns that could have been realistically done in 3 (I was being over-careful) and I got a Grade 2 fault for this. The second time, I did it in 3 and got no faults for it.

If you go slow with the car, but quick with the wheel - you will be able to get it. If you don't have power-steering, it will be even easier to move the wheel while the car is moving rather than if you move if while stopped.

Max Power1

irish-stew wrote: »

yes, sometimes the road may be narrower, and you are allowed to turn the wheel to full lock before each manover if required, also to add, you are being tested on a turn the road, in some cases it may require more than 3, touching the kerb can and likely to result in a fail, so use an additional manover if required or if you fell you cannot make the turn in 3

take your time, manover slowly and reach full look as quick as possible if moving, yes, unnessary turning on a stationary road can cause wear, but you wont be failed for it.

No. That is incorrect.

Touching the kerb gently is a grade 1 or 2 fault (subjective to tester). Touching hard into the kerb without mounting is a grade 2.

Only actually mounting the kerb is a grade 3 (fail)

J_R

Waterloo Sunset wrote: »

My car has no power steering and I'm finding them a bit rough. Are you allowed turn the wheels of the car before you set off because this would make it so much easier!

Hi,

The turnabout is an exercise used to check that you are competent in controlling, manoeuvring the car in a tight situation.

How, up to you. Hence no problem in turning the wheel whilst stationary. However normally there is no need to do so and should be avoided for reasons given by few posters above.

Here a video I made

http://www.drivingschoolireland.com/Turnabout.html