Driver’s Education
Performing Basic Vehicle Maneuvers
Steering Straight Forward
⚫ The adjustments you need
to make to drive in a
straight line are small but
critical.
⚫ Oversteering – turning
the wheel to much. Will
weave from side to side.
⚫ Understeering – do not
turn the wheel enough to
keep vehicle on planned
path.
Steering Straight Backward
⚫ Turn body to the right
and put your right
arm over the back of
the passenger seat
⚫ Put left hand on top
of steering wheel.(12
o’clock)
⚫ Glance quickly to the
front and side to
check traffic.
Steering
⚫ Hand-Over-Hand
Steering – pull the
wheel down with one
hand while the other
hand crosses over to
pull the wheel down.
⚫ Push-Pull Steering
– push the wheel up
with one hand and
pull it down with the
other.
Making a Turn
⚫ Look for pedestrians and
oncoming vehicles.
⚫ Plan turn well in advance.
Be in the correct lane.
⚫ Obey all traffic signs,
signals, and roadway
markings.
⚫ When turning left your
must yield to oncoming
traffic.
⚫
Making a Turn
Shared Left Turn Lane
⚫ Some left turns into
business areas can
be made in mid
block from a center
lane.
⚫ This type of left turn
can be very
hazardous.
Backing to the Left and Right
⚫ Backing to the left, look
over the left shoulder.
⚫ Backing to the right look
over the right shoulder.
⚫ Keep both hands on the
steering wheel, use
hand-over-hand steering.
⚫ When backing to the
right or left, leave a wide
space on either side.
The front wheels will
swing out past the rear
wheels.
⚫ K-Turn– a maneuver for turning your vehicle
around to go in the opposite direction.
⚫ Make sure local law permits the K-Turn.
⚫ Select a site with at least 500 feet of visibility in
each direction.
⚫ Do not make a turnabout near hills, curves, or
intersections.
⚫ Never attempt a turnabout in heavy traffic or at
high speeds.
Turn the Vehicle Around
Three Point Turnabout/ K-Turn
⚫ Check traffic and put on
right turn signal and come
to a stop as close to the
curb as possible.
⚫ Left turn signal and turn
wheels all the way to the
left.
⚫ Check Traffic and pull across
the road.
⚫ Stop right before hitting the
curb.
⚫ Turn the wheels all the way
to the right.
Mid Block U-Turn
⚫ Check traffic to the front
and rear, pull to the far
right and stop.
⚫ Signal left, check traffic to
the front and back.
⚫ Check blind spot then turn
wheels sharply left while
moving across roadway.
⚫ Accelerate gently and
straighten the wheels going
in the opposite direction.
Deciding Which Turnabout to
Use
⚫ Legality of turnabout
⚫ Amount of traffic
⚫ Types of driveways
available
⚫ Ample space to enter
traffic
⚫ Number of traffic lanes to
cross
⚫ Backing into a driveway on
the right is the safest
because you enter traffic
forward.
Parking
⚫ Try to find spaces with ample room for entering and
exiting easily.
⚫ Avoid spaces with poorly parked vehicles on either
side.
⚫ It is illegal to park more than 6 inches from the curb
⚫ Reference Points – is some part of the outside or
inside of the vehicle, as viewed from the driver’s
seat, that relates to some part of the roadway.
⚫ Standard Reference Point – is a point that is
typical for most drivers.(mirror, center of hood)
⚫ Personal Reference Point – is an adaptation of
standard reference point for your own vehicle.
Angle Parking
⚫ This is parking your
vehicle diagonally to the
curb.
⚫ Position your vehicle at
least six feet from the row
of parked vehicles.
⚫ When you can see the
center of the space
without the parking line
crossing your line of sight,
this will be your reference
point to turn into the spot.
Perpendicular Parking
⚫ Parking your vehicle at a
right angle to the curb.
⚫ Eight feet from row of
parked cars.
⚫ When front bumper hits
first line start turning
into the spot.
⚫ Straighten wheels as you
pull into the spot.
Leaving Parking Space
⚫ Creep straight back
while riding the
brake.
⚫ When front bumper
is even with rear
wheels of the
vehicles next to you,
start to turn your
wheels.
⚫ When your front bumper
is even with the vehicles
back bumper turn the
wheels sharply to the
left.
⚫ When the vehicle is
parallel to the curb,
straighten the wheels
and center the vehicle in
the space.
Parallel Parking
Parking on Hills
⚫ Uphill parking with
a curb
⚫ Turn wheels sharply
to the left
⚫ Let the vehicle creep
backward until the
back of the right front
wheel gently touches
the curb.
Parking on Hills
⚫ Uphill parking with no
curb – turn wheels
sharply to the right.
⚫ Downhill parking with
a curb – turn the wheels
sharply to the right. Let
the right front wheel rest
gently against the curb.
⚫ Downhill no curb –
turn wheels to the right.
You must know
Nice to know…… these………
⚫ On an interstate highway ⚫ Within 10 feet of a fire
⚫ In a handicapped space hydrant
⚫ Within 25 feet of a
unless you are permitted
crosswalk or intersection
to do so. ⚫ Between a safety zone for
⚫ In front of a pedestrians or 20 feet
public/private driveway from the end of a safety
zone
Do not Park……….