Road Test Tips & Tricks: The Three Point Turn

The road test is a stressful event for any teen. After months of practicing, taking driver education courses, and learning a substantial amount about driving and it's dynamics - this is the ultimate test, and the only test standing between you and an unrestricted license, and ultimate freedom (for transportative means at least).

The three point turn isn't nearly as tricky as the parallel park (see my article here on tips and tricks for parallel parking), but it's still one of the more difficult parts of the road test itself - especially when doing the three point turn correctly, which means including every directional signal, checking every angle, and properly maneuvering your vehicle to the three point turn's standards.

Please take note that this article deals with my experiences with the road test standards for the state of New York. Other states may be different, but the general ideologies of safe driving is a universal matter. Always check your blind spots, use directionals, and follow correct driving procedure and laws.

Here is the procedure to doing a three point turn during your road test:

First, as your driving the testing instructor will tell you to do a three point turn at random. They will also generally tell you where to do it specifically. When you get to that location turn on your right directional and pull all the way over to the right side of the road and come to a complete stop.

Second - As your vehicle has come to a complete stop and you're ready to move onto the next portion, turn on your left directional to signal that you're going to be pulling your vehicle out into the road. Before you move your car into the road, however, you must check your mirrors - this includes your rear and sidew view mirrors, and check your blind spot as well. Also, check to make sure there is no opposing traffic coming from the other way, assuming that you're on a two way street. Once you've checked all of these spots and you can say that you're ready to go, with your directional still on, pull your car so it is perpendicular with the road's traffic flow. Essentially you want to try and make a "T" with your car and the curb's direction.

Third - At this point in time you'll be perpendicular with the road. Check your windows to ensure that no vehicles are coming at this point in time. My best advice is to make it completely obvious to the testing instructor that you're checking your surroundings, as this is generally a big part of the test, and it shows that you're cautious and safe on the road. Once you know that it is safe, put your car into reverse. As your car is going in reverse (make sure to go slow) look out of the rear window rather than looking in the rearview mirror. While you're in reverse you can also swing the back of your vehicle slightly so your right (so that the front of your car is point slightly left - the way you're going to be exiting the three point turn) to make it easier to pull out of the three point turn.

Fourth - Put your car into drive, briefly check your surroundings to ensure that it is safe, and pull out of the three point turn and continue the rest of your road test.

As I said before, the three point turn isn't as tricky as the parallel park, but it's still generally harder than the rest of the road test. Also, take note that the three point turn is also known as the "K-Turn". Make sure to practice this maneuver a few times prior to your road test just to get the basic steps down.