How to do a Three Point Turn, With Diagrams

This will most likely be the last driving manoeuvre article, since I've already covered the parallel park and the alley dock. Now I'll discuss how to do a three point turn. Diagrams are accompanied with the hub to better illustrate what I'm writing about.

You start off in the bay allocated for you on the yard. For the first explanation, let's assume that you are on the left of the bay and you want to reverse in (look at the diagram). For anyone who lives in a country where you drive on the right hand side of the road, the instructions will follow later (it's not just America).

1. Mirror, blind spot right and indicate right.

2. Do your full observation; mirror, right blind spot, mirror, left blind spot, and mirror.

3. Start moving forward for a bit, slowly.

4. Start turning the wheel full lock to the right.

5. Before you reach the kerb, turn the steering wheel back one and half or two turns to straighten up, stop and put the handbrake on.

6. Mirror, blind spot left and indicate left.

7. Do your full observation; mirror, right blind spot, mirror, left blind spot, and mirror.

8. Start reversing and put the wheel on full lock to the left.

9. Before you reach the kerb, turn the wheel back to straighten up again, then stop and put the handbrake on.

10. Mirror, blind spot right and indicate right.

11. Do your full observation; mirror, right blind spot, mirror, left blind spot, and mirror.

12. Start moving forward for a bit, slowly.

13. Once the front of the car crosses the line in the middle, you can start turning.

14. Make sure the whole car is over the line, so you end up on the other side completely.

15. Stop the car behind the white line ahead.

For other countries where you drive on the right and pass on the left, the instructions are as follows:

1. Mirror, blind spot left and indicate left.

2. Do your full observation; mirror, right blind spot, mirror, left blind spot, and mirror.

3. Start moving forward for a bit, slowly.

4. Start turning the wheel full lock to the left.

5. Before you reach the kerb, turn the steering wheel back one and half or two turns to straighten up, stop and put the handbrake on.

6. Mirror, blind spot right and indicate right.

7. Do your full observation; mirror, right blind spot, mirror, left blind spot, and mirror.

8. Start reversing and put the wheel on full lock to the right.

9. Before you reach the kerb, turn the wheel back to straighten up again, then stop and put the handbrake on.

10. Mirror, blind spot left and indicate left.

11. Do your full observation; mirror, right blind spot, mirror, left blind spot, and mirror.

12. Start moving forward for a bit, slowly.

13. Once the front of the car crosses the line in the middle, you can start turning.

14. Make sure the whole car is over the line, so you end up on the other side completely.

15. Stop the car behind the white line ahead.

The dimensions of the bay you start off in are about 5m (197 in) long and 2,5m (98, 5 in) wide. The entire area is 12m (472,4 in) and 9m(354 in) wide. You mustn't knock the kerbs at any time. You must end up on the other side of the dividing line when you finish the 3 point turn otherwise you'll fail. It may seem easy, but you don't have any poles as markers for this manoeuvre and so it's all about judgment and watching the kerbs closely. Remember to go slowly, and turn fast so that you have more time to react and adjust if necessary.

All of this information is accurate if you're in South Africa and happen to be reading this, although if you're in a different country, like the states, the dimensions might be different. I've tried my best to convert the dimensions into Yankish (imperial).

"The best car safety device is a rear-view mirror with a cop in it." -Dudley Moore

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