How To Do A Turn In The Road (3 Point Turn)

The content of this page is copyright of CDT (author) February 2012. Please DO NOT copy or reproduce elsewhere either in print or online.

The advice given on this page has been written by fully qualified Driving Standards Agency Approved Driving Instructors (DSA ADIs) and is intended only for UK drivers and those taking the UK Practical Driving Test.

Please be aware that road traffic legislation and what is considered good driving practice varies throughout the world!

Let's start with a quick summarised list of what's required for the turn in the road manoeuvre.

I'll be expanding on this list and explaining each step in more detail further down the page, but you may find it helpful to use this list as a memory jogger (aide memoire) - you can print it out if you need to using the "Printable Version" link underneath the instructions!

For those who prefer instructions given visually, there are some tutorial videos further down the page - some with an audio commentary for those who like to listen to what they need to do!

On your driving test, the examiner will ask you to stop on the left several times - sometimes this will be prior to asking you to perform one of the manoeuvres and sometimes it will be to test your judgement in selecting a safe and suitable place to stop and your control and observation when moving off again. During your driving lessons your driving instructor will be able to help you gain experience in selecting suitable places to stop, but in general you need to be looking for a safe place , where there is good visibility, plenty of room and where there are no obstructions on the road (e.g. parked vehicles, rubbish skips etc nearby) or on the pavement (e.g. lamp posts, post boxes, rubbish bins etc). You must also make sure that you are not obstructing other road users by parking across roads, driveways, opposite entrances etc.

When you have stopped, the examiner will ask you to turn the car around in the road to face the opposite direction using forward and reverse gears.

Prepare to move off by depressing the clutch, selecting first gear, setting the gas and finding the biting point.

You must now OBSERVE thoroughly all around you - check your drivers mirror (rear view mirror), both door mirrors, look over your right shoulder to check your blind spot, check in front of the car and lastly check your drivers mirror again. If there is oncoming traffic from either direction, or pedestrians who may be crossing the road (or about to cross it), then wait.

Back to turn in the road index

Release the handbrake and using clutch control (balancing the clutch and the gas to move the car at a low speed), start to move forwards SLOWLY whilst turning the steering wheel QUICKLY to the RIGHT. Get the steering wheel onto full right lock as soon as you can, so that ideally the car should end up at a right angle across the road.

You must be looking and listening for other road users throughout the manoeuvre and be prepared to stop and let them proceed if necessary.

As you approach the kerb on the opposite side of the road (about 1 metre away), turn the steering wheel briskly to the LEFT. As the front wheels get near to the kerb, put the clutch right down and use your footbrake to stop.

Apply the handbrake.

Back to turn in the road index

Prepare to move off again by pressing the clutch down, selecting REVERSE gear, setting the gas and finding the biting point.

OBSERVE again to make sure the way is clear in all directions and look over your left shoulder before you begin to reverse. If clear release your handbrake.

As the car starts to move, turn the steering wheel as far to the LEFT as it will go.

As before, constantly check for other road users and be prepared to stop if needed.

When you are about half-way across the road, change to looking over your right shoulder so that you can see the kerb as you get nearer to it.

As you approach the kerb on the opposite side of the road (about 1 metre away), turn the steering wheel briskly to the RIGHT. As the front wheels get near to the kerb, put the clutch right down and use your footbrake to stop.

Apply the handbrake.

Back to turn in the road index

Prepare to move off again by pressing the clutch down, selecting FIRST gear, setting the gas and finding the biting point.

OBSERVE again to make sure the way is clear in all directions. If clear release your handbrake.

Drive slowly forward, turning the wheel to the right if necessary to straighten up on the left hand side of the road, then once straight proceed as normal.

Back to turn in the road index

It's sometimes easier to actually see something done, rather than just read a set of instructions!

The following videos will give you visual instructions to help you learn how to do the turn in the road manoeuvre.

All the videos are presented in a different format - two are animated and two are "real-life" driving lessons presented by a fully qualified DSA Approved Driving Instructor.

Back to turn in the road index

Back to turn in the road index

Poor co-ordination of controls
Mounting the pavement or kerb
Stalling
Turning the wheel the wrong way
Taking an excessively long time to complete the manoeuvre
No blind spot checks
Not looking to the left or right before reversing or pulling forwards
Not looking directly behind
Not reacting to passing or approaching vehicles
Not reacting to pedestrians
Waiting unnecessarily for other road users

*source - retired driving examiner David Joberns (used with permission)

Back to turn in the road index

Back to turn in the road index

Driving Test Success All Tests 2012 Edition (PC)

Driving Test Success All Tests 2012 Edition (PC)
by Focus Multimedia Ltd

"The best and most comprehensive learner driver product on the market." - Approved Driving Instructor News

* THEORY TEST - all the OFFICIAL DSA revision questions, explanations and practise questions
* HAZARD PERCEPTION TEST - practice hazard perception video clips
* PRACTICAL TEST - 50+ video tutorials
* MOCK DRIVING TEST - watch a mock driving test from inside the car
* ROAD SIGNS TEST- test yourself on road signs
* The Highway Code
* Learn anywhere on your iPod, mobile phone or portable music player

Back to turn in the road index

Driving Test Success All Tests DVD 2012 Edition (Interactive DVD)

Driving Test Success All Tests DVD 2012 Edition (Interactive DVD)
by Focus Multimedia Ltd

For those who don't have access to a computer, this interactive DVD is invaluable. It will run on a DVD player or DVD compatible games console and enables those without a PC to get useful visual help and practice for both the Theory and Practical tests.

DVD 1 - THEORY TEST
DVD 2 - HAZARD PERCEPTION TEST
DVD 3 - PRACTICAL TEST
Gain the confidence and knowledge you need to pass your Driving Test using this fully comprehensive DVD.
Includes more than 50 video driving lessons and tutorials for all the manoeuvres required on your driving test.

Back to turn in the road index

The Official DSA Guide to Driving: the essential skills (Paperback)

The Official DSA Guide to Driving: the essential skills
by the Driving Standards Agency

This book has been written by the Driving Standards Agency - the people who set the driving test!

This book explains clearly and precisely all the skills you need to show the examiner during your driving test and how to achieve them.

If you drive to the standard outlined in this book, not only should you pass your driving test, but you will be a safe and considerate driver after you pass.

Back to turn in the road index

Right click the links below to open in a new tab or window

More Information About The UK Theory Test
Theory and Hazard Perception Test
Traffic Signs Quiz

Preparing For Your Driving Test
Learning To Drive A Car
How To Find A Driving Instructor
How To Beat Driving Test Nerves

How To Pass Your Driving Test
Driving Test Manoeuvres
How To Reverse Around a Corner
How To Bay Park
How To Parallel Park
How To Do An Emergency Stop

What Happens During The Practical Driving Test
Practical Driving Test (Cars)

Study Aids For Learner Drivers
Recommended Books For Learner Drivers
Best DVDs For Learner Drivers
Gift Ideas For Learner Drivers

Foreign Language Translations For The UK Driving Theory Test
Theory Test In Punjabi
Theory Test In Urdu
Theory Test In Polish

Back to turn in the road index

Back to turn in the road index