How Should You Prepare to Make a Turnabout?

As in all maneuvers you make with your car, careful preparation is a key to managing risk. Before you make a turnabout, consider the following:

• Are there signs that prohibit the turnabout?
• Are there specific laws that prohibit the turnabout when there are no signs?
• Is there at least 500 feet of visibility in each direction? 
• Are you near hills, curves, or within 200 feet of an intersection?
• Is there heavy traffic?
• Do you have enough space to complete the maneuver?
• Are there traffic and pedestrians in your path?

How Can You Make a Turnabout?

Make a turnabout in one of the four ways below using the method that best suits traffic conditions, the street, and local traffic laws. 

• Two Point Turns 

Either head into or back into a driveway to reverse direction. 

• Back into a driveway 

Back into a driveway when there is no traffic close behind you in your lane and there is a clear driveway on your right.

1. Signal early. Flash your brake light to alert the following drivers. Check for objects or children in the driveway as you drive past.
2. Stop 3 feet from the curb with your rear bumper just beyond the driveway you will enter. With your foot on the brake, shift into Reverse. Check again for obstacles in your intended path. 
3. When it is clear, look over your right shoulder. Back up slowly, turning the wheel rapidly all the way to the right. As the rear of the car enters the driveway, turn the wheel to the left, centering the car in the driveway. Stop when the front of the car is clear of the curb.
4. Shift to Drive or First gear, signal, check traffic, and leave the driveway when it is safe to do so. 

• Heading into a driveway on the the left

When you head into a driveway, you will have to go back into the street. Select a driveway on the left that affords good visibility. Make sure there are no hedges along the driveway that will obscure your view of the road. 

1. Signal a left turn. Check for traffic, flash your brake lights, and stop if necessary. When the driveway is clear, turn into it as close to the right side as you can. This allows more room for the front of the car to swing left as you back out to the right. 
2. When the rear bumper clears the edge of the roadway, stop with your front wheels straight. With your foot on the brake, shift into Reverse gear.
3. Look in all directions for pedestrians and over your right shoulder for traffic in your planned path. Back up slowly, rechecking traffic and stop before crossing the curb.
4. Turn the wheel quickly all the way to the right. Keep your car to the first lane of traffic.
5.  Stop when the front wheels are straight. Check mirrors and over the shoulder, signal shift to Drive or First gear, and accelerate to traffic speed. 

• Heading into a driveway on the right. 

Heading into a driveway on the right in order to make a turnabout is very dangerous because a driver must back across at least two lanes of traffic before moving forward.

• Three Point Turns

To minimize risk, make a three point turn only when the street is narrow, there are no driveways to turn into, you have very good visibility, traffic is very light, and you can’t drive around the block. To make a three point turn, follow these steps:

1. Stop as close to the right edge of the curb as possible. Check for traffic in both directions. Wait until you have a 20-30 second gap to complete the turn. 
2. Signal a left turn. Look over your left shoulder for any cars in your blind spot. Then move the car slowly while turning the steering wheel to the left to bring the car into the opposite lane. 
3. When the front wheels are almost to the curb turn the wheel to the right. Stop the car just short of the curb.
4. Check traffic to your left, then over your right shoulder. Shift into Reverse and while backing slowly, turn the wheel to the right position. Stop and turn the wheel to the left. Keep looking back until the car comes to a complete stop. 
5. Shift into Drive or First Gear. Check traffic, signal and accelerate to normal speed. 

• U Turns

To make a U-turn, you do not back up, and therefore you need a wide street in which to make the turn. U-turns are illegal in some places. Here is how to make a U-turn on a two-lane road after first making sure the turn is legal. 

1. Stop your car close to the right edge of the curb. Check for traffic in both directions. Signal a left turn. Check over your left shoulder again before starting the turn. Do not start the turn if you will interfere with traffic.
2. Turn the steering wheel rapidly all the way to the left, moving the car slowly until it is facing in the opposite direction. 
3. When the turn is almost completed, straighten the wheels, and proceed in the proper lane at normal speed.

• Around the Block

The fourth way to reverse direction is to drive around the block. This method is often the easiest and safest to use.