About Three-Point Turns

In the beginning, new drivers spend lots of time learning the different ways to maneuver a car. Parallel parking and three point turns are the two car moves that tend to scare new drivers the most. Lots of hours are spent practicing three point turns in school parking lots, between cones, yet the most important skills to learn are not the turn techniques, but when and where to execute three point turns.

Significance

  • Performing three point turns incorrectly is a common cause of accidents. Using the proper signals to indicate driving intentions is one of the simpler ways to communicate to other drivers and possibly prevent a fatal accident. When doing three point turns, a driver exposes himself and his passengers to broadside impacts when making the first and second turns and rear-side impacts when making the second and third turns. Whichever event a driver wishes to avoid, knowing when and where to do a proper three point turn is just as important as knowing how.

Identification

  • Three point turns require the use of the entire roadway and may include the shoulders. Drivers perform a three-point turn when there is a need to turn a car around and there are no side roads or driveways in which to back up. To make a three point turn, a driver pulls off to the side of the road, turns the wheel to the left and drives to the other side of the road in an arc. The driver shifts to reverse, turns the wheel in the opposite direction and backs up to the other side of the street. The driver then puts the car in forward and drives to the other side of the road, heading in the opposite direction.

Benefits

  • A three-point turn is normally a last resort. Often, the use of a three-point turn is the only way to turn around. Learning how to do a three-point turn well is a skill that could prove useful in future situations. In addition to learning about the turn, mastering a three-point turn also reinforces proper mirror use, accurate vehicle maneuverability and proper distancing between the car and other objects.

Considerations

  • Patient drivers do the best three point turns. Risky, impatient, slow and lead-footed drivers all have bad habits that show up when doing three point turns. They have the potential to turn on hills where oncoming traffic cannot see them or drop off roadsides into ditches because they misjudged the road. They could go off the road because it is too narrow, and should have made 10 points instead of three. The drivers normally out in blizzards and heavy fog conditions pose a threat to drivers and themselves. Regardless of the driver's type, consider all of these road conditions before attempting a three-point turn.

Time Frame

  • Complete the three-point turn when the conditions are right and safe. Watch for good road visibility between the driver and oncoming traffic. Allow far enough distance between the turn and the oncoming cars to complete the turn before the first vehicle is close. Compare the length of the car making the three-point turn and the width of the road to make sure the turn can be done at the chosen location. Complete the three-point turn in a safe and quick fashion so not to block traffic or cause accidents with oncoming cars.