ANSWERS: 1
  • If you have never driven before, it can be a daunting prospect. As long as you know how to safely execute certain procedures, you will do fine. If you are learning how to turn your car, you need to know how to use your signals correctly, change lanes safely and turn at intersections. You will have to learn how to make a three-point turn and how to execute the hand-to-hand steering maneuver.

    Approaching and Turning at an Intersection

    Prepare ahead of time to turn at an intersection. Rather than trying to turn left from the farthest lane, which is dangerous and can cause accidents, plan your route ahead of time and know which streets you will be turning onto and in which direction--right or left. When you know you're approaching an intersection you need to turn onto, make sure you're in the correct lane. If not, signal for a lane change, look in the direction of the lane you need to turn into, and if you have sufficient space to change lanes, do so safely. Turn your signal indicator on approximately 100 feet before you reach your intersection, slow your car down, and if you are approaching a red light, come to a full stop. If you are driving in a state that does not allow you to turn right on the red light, wait until the light has turned green and the intersection has been cleared of cars, then make your turn. If you are approaching a stop sign, come to a full stop, look both ways and when the intersection is fully cleared, make your turn.

    Turning the Steering Wheel

    You want to make safe turns when you're driving, so you should use what is called the "hand-to-hand steering" method. You use this steering method when you're turning at an intersection. Instead of relying on only one hand to hold and turn the steering wheel in the direction you want to turn, it is much safer to use the hand-to-hand method. If you try to rely only on using one hand, you could lose your grip and end up driving your car outside your lane. Place your hands at the 7 o'clock and 4 o'clock positions on the steering wheel. If you want to turn right, your left hand will push the steering wheel to the right and your right hand will pull the wheel in this direction. As your right hand is pulling the steering wheel, your left hand will let go off the wheel and slide back to the 7 o'clock position and continue to push the steering wheel to the right until your car has made its full turn onto the right side of the intersection.

    Turning Around

    If you need to turn your car around on a street of average width--residential street--you need to know how to execute a three-point turn. You should signal that you will be stopping on the right side of the street at the curb, look in each direction, including to the rear and ahead of your car. Wait until all approaching traffic has cleared your area, then signal for a left turn and carefully move forward while turning your car. Do not hit the curb in front of you or use a driveway. When you have driven forward as far as you safely can, check for oncoming traffic again. Reverse your car and turn your steering wheel in the opposite direction (right) and drive back as far as you can without striking the curb. You should now have sufficient room to turn your steering wheel back to the left and drive off in the opposite direction.

    Source:

    Cars: The Road Test

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