For driving instructors or those thinking about becoming a driving instructor.
DorWey
Driving School -
The Turn in the Road
Turn in the Road
Key Points:
All the reverse manoeuvres rely on slow speeds and this is especially true of the Turn in the Road - slow speeds, fast steering and accuracy.
Please note that 'OBS' = Observation
Routine:
First leg - Move to position 1 - Green Route (see diagram)
- OBS - then slowly moving forwards and applying full right lock as soon as possible (ASAP)!
- When about 1 metre from the kerb apply some opposite steering - the more the better.
- Clutch down - stop car - apply handbrake.
Second leg -Reverse to position 2 - Red Route
- Engage reverse gear, carry out 'reverse' OBS finishing off looking through rear window and then move slowly backwards.
- As soon as car is on the move apply full left lock ASAP!
- Half way across road switch gaze to right shoulder to find kerb
- When about 1 metre from the kerb apply some opposite steering - the more the better. Clutch down - stop car - apply handbrake.
Third leg - Move to position 3 - Blue Route
- Engage first gear, carry out OBS and if clear move forwards applying full right lock ASAP and then tidy up to adopt your safety line as you head up the road.
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If you do this you will get one minor driving fault rather than a fail! |
Running
out of room!
Mistakes that are generally made on this manoeuvre:
Observation - Driver gets so absorbed with the task that other road users are forgotten. You must keep a good lookout and stop the car if there are any problems. Safety - as in all driving - is the main issue.
If you do wait for an approaching vehicle make sure that you are in the correct gear, hand on handbrake and ready to go. If drivers do stop for you they will expect you to get moving rather than fiddling around in the car.
Steering - Driver doesn't turn the wheel quickly enough and ends up in the wrong position. It is vital that as soon as the car is moving full steering lock is applied. Look at it this way - if 'dry steering' wasn't a problem we could apply all the steering before moving off on each leg. The manoeuvre would then be a piece of cake. We shouldn't do it this way because of the damage that this can cause to the steering components and tyres but we should endeavour to get as close as possible to this ideal situation. As soon as the car is rolling apply FULL LOCK - QUICKLY! Don't use small fiddly and fussy movements on the steering wheel, use big top-to-bottom movements - show it who's boss!
Speed - Driver goes too fast. In extreme cases this can mean that the car is half way across the road before there has been any chance to apply steering. The problem is usually not intentional; it is just that the driver has the clutch pedal too high and as a result the car moves too quickly when the brake is released. The clutch should be just-just-just at bite point when you release the brake.
If the car moves slowly forwards when you release the brake, leave the clutch pedal where it is. If you start slowing to a stop lift the pedal very slightly. If it goes too fast press it down. Bear in mind that at these speeds it is the clutch, which controls things. Pressing it down will slow the car, whilst raising it will speed it up. Remember - clutch pedal movement is in millimetres not centimetres!
Mechanical conflict - Driver attempts to slow the car down with the brake without pressing the clutch down first. You then have a situation where the engine is trying to force the car, forwards or backwards, against the brakes. The clue to this is the car vibrating and 'grunting' - be sensitive to what is happening to the car and listen to what it is trying to tell you. If you feel and hear it complaining in this way - press the clutch down.
If you need to slow the car down, don't use the brake in the first instance; press the clutch down a little. You will be travelling so slow that, unless you are moving down a slope, the car will respond to this and slow down almost immediately. If you are moving downhill you may have to use the brake - but make sure the clutch is below bite point before doing so. Remember that at these speeds we are measuring clutch movement in millimetres and not centimetres!
Position - Driver stops too far from the kerbs or hits them. Judging the position of the car takes quite a lot of practice. The problem isn't helped by the design of modern cars where the driver can't see where the front of the car starts. All I can say is that after a period of time you will be able to pick up on the visual clues and you will become more successful.
Rolling onto the kerb – Driver allows car to roll onto the kerb. This will happen if the road is cambered and the brake is released before bite point is established.
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Copyright Information - January 2002. The copyright of this web site and the downloads found within (apart from third party material) belongs to its author, Paul Pearson ADI - DorWey Driving School. Material may not be reproduced or used in any form or by any means, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from the author. The diagrams and information found on this page are for the exclusive use of DorWey Driving School clients. If any driving instructor or driving school wishes to use any of the material found on this page they must first contact DorWey Driving School.
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