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7- Turning around

Recommended minimum instructional time: 1 hour

Goal: Teach your teen the best ways to turn a vehicle around in various circumstances.

Location: Start on a quiet neighborhood street with accessible driveways. Please be respectful of neighbors and private property. Move to a multi-lane road for U-turns if legally allowed in your area.

☐ Skill one – turning around safely

Start by coaching your teen that the safest and easiest way to turn around is to drive around the block. The less backing up, the better! Since that’s not always possible, it’s important to practice other ways to turn around.

☐ Skill two – two-point turns

A two-point turn involves backing into a driveway to reverse direction. On a quiet street, have your teen identify an available driveway on the same side of the street as your car, at a point where they can see oncoming traffic clearly.

  • Pull just ahead of the driveway, making sure there is no traffic behind the car, and activate the right turn signal.
  • Make sure the road is clear behind the car and the driveway, put the car in reverse, and then back into the driveway.
  • Shift back into drive and check the road for approaching traffic from both directions.
  • When it’s clear, turn back onto the road.

☐ Skill three – three-point turns

This more challenging turn should only be done when there is no available driveway. Three-point turns block both sides of a two-lane road, so coach your teen to make absolutely sure that the traffic is clear in both directions:

  • Pull as far to the right as possible to maximize room to maneuver.
  • Turn sharply across the road until the car is perpendicular, facing the curb.
  • Continue checking for traffic in both directions.
  • Put the car in reverse and back up , turning sharply in the other direction into the original lane, facing the opposite direction.
  • Shift into drive and pull forward into the correct lane, driving straight ahead.

☐ Skill four – U-turns

First explain that U-turns can be very dangerous, and should only be done where they are legal.

  • To begin the U-turn pull to the far right and stop.
  • Be sure there is enough room to make the turn without hitting the curb or any parked cars.
  • Signal to indicate the direction of the turn, checking carefully for traffic in both directions.
  • Move forward, turning the wheel sharply to turn around.
  • Finish the U-turn in the opposite direction and accelerate to an appropriate speed.

Legal U-turns

U-turns are illegal in many locations. Make sure you and your teen only practice legal U-turns. They should never be made across a double yellow line or where a sign indicates that they are prohibited.