LetsDrive - Dane Tyghe school of motoring in Wexford>

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The first thing to do here is a full 360 degree look about. So look out of all your windows. Then you put the car into first gear and indicate your intention to move out. Check your three mirrors from left to right and over your right shoulder. Let down the handbrake and drive slowly but steer fast, in a clockwise motion, towards the kerb on the other side of the road. As you pass the centre of the road give a quick look left and right. As you approach the kerb steer the opposite direction (anti-clockwise) in order to straighten the wheels. Be careful not to hit the kerb.

Once you have stopped you may put on the handbrake (the use of the handbrake is not essential here) and go into the gear you want to which will be reverse at this stage. It’s very important to have a good look around every time you stop on the turnabout.

Then you reverse slowly but steering quickly (anti-clockwise) and again have a quick look left and right as you pass the centre of the road. Look out your back window and glance left and right halfway between both kerbs, but remember you must look out your back window the vast majority of the time while you are reversing. Stop before the back wheels hit the kerb and try and steer clockwise towards the end in order to straighten the wheels. Again you may apply the handbrake, especially if you are on a slight hill, then go into first gear, have a good look around and finish the manoeuvre. Try and do it in three points but you don’t have to do it in three. However if it’s safe then just do it in three. Follow the tester’s instructions, he may get you to keep driving or to pull in on the left again.

I find a lot of people can become worried and get flustered if one or more other cars have arrived and so have to wait for you to finish your turnabout. Try not to let this bother you and do the turnabout as if there were no other cars waiting. Almost all the time the other road users will patiently wait and let you finish. The turnabout is a reasonably quick manoeuvre and you shouldn’t be holding anyone up too long. Remember you passing your test is more important than someone else getting home a few seconds quicker.

Quick Tip 1  Get the full lock on the wheel as soon as possible for each part of the turnabout.  The full lock should be done before the front wheels are halfway accross the road.  However try not to steer when the Car is stopped as this is bad for the tyres, only steer when the Car is moving.

Quick Tip 2  Multitask.  Each time you stop do your look around at the same time as changing gear.  The turnabout should be done promptly and efficiently.

Quick Tip 3  You must be comfortable moving the car forward and back at a very slow speed using clutch control.  It's quite likely you may not have to lift the clutch fully at all on your turnabout.  Remember there is no such thing as Coasting when in First or Reverse gear.

 

One good turn deserves another