Ch. 4: Performing Basic Vehicle Maneuvers

Backing Left & Right Check traffic, turn your head towards the direction you are backing. Use hand-over-hand steering. -Pull the wheel to the left when backing left (right when right). Back slowly as you enter the turn. -Make quick glances to the front and sides

Turning the Vehicle Around A TURNABOUT is a maneuver for turning your vehicle around. HIGH-RISK!!!! Take these precautions: Make sure it’s legal At least 500 feet of visibility in each direction No hills, curves or within 200 feet of an intersection Never attempt in heavy traffic Check continually in all zones.

Midblock U-Turn ***Need a wide space*** Check traffic front & back, signal right. Signal left, check all zones & blind spot. Turn sharply left and begin to move. DO NOT STOP & straighten wheels while you accelerate gently into the proper lane.

Back into Driveway on Right *Choose this if a clear driveway is on the right & there is no close traffic in rear zone. Check traffic to rear, slow & stop about 3 feet from the curb with rear bumper just past driveway Check traffic again, back slowly to the right. Stop when completely in driveway Signal left & check traffic When clear, exit left

Pull into Driveway on Left *Choose if oncoming traffic is light Check traffic, signal left & make correct left-turn into driveway ending with wheels straight and completely off the road Check traffic again, back slowly to the right, stop with wheels straight -Try to back into your new right lane without crossing over the center line Accelerate gently forward

Pull into Driveway on Right *Avoid whenever possible Check traffic, signal and turn right, stop when completely off street Check traffic again, back slowly left across street, stopping with the wheels straight -Try to back into your new right lane without ending up in the left, oncoming lane. Accelerate gently forward

Three-Point Turnabout Check traffic, signal right & stop close to the curb. Check traffic again, signal and turn sharply left before hitting the curb. Check traffic again, sharply turn wheels & back right -Back only as far as you must 4. Check traffic again, signal and move left into your new lane, adjusting lane position

Parking Parking requires speed control, steering control & accurate judgment. Use reference points when executing parking maneuvers. Consider these: Try to find spaces with ample room Avoid spaces at the end of parking lanes, near large vehicles, & next to poorly parked vehicles.

Reference Points 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. Helpful when parking A STANDARD REFERENCE POINT is the point on the vehicle that is typical for most drivers. Sideview mirror, hood ornament. PERSONAL REFERENCE POINTS are adaptations of a standard reference point for one’s own vehicle. Wiper blades, door handles, rearview mirrors

Angle Parking *Diagonally to the curb Check traffic, signal right & begin braking. *POSITION YOURSELF AT LEAST 6 FEET FROM THE ROW OF PARKED VEHICLES Check right blind spot. Creep forward until you can see the center of the space, begin turning, slowly enter. Straighten wheel when you are centered in the stall. Make sure your rear bumper is out of the roadway & in the stall.

Perpendicular Parking *At a right angle with the curb Position vehicle AT LEAST 8 FEET from the row of parked vehicles or as far to the left as possible. Signal right, check blind spot, and begin to brake. Determine personal reference point to know when your front bumper passes the left rear taillight of the vehicle to the right of the empty stall. Turn wheels sharply right, slowly enter the stall. Check right-rear fender for clearance, straighten wheels when centered, make sure rear bumper is out of the roadway.

Leaving an Angle or Perpendicular Space *View will often be blocked. Creep STRAIGHT back slowly When your front bumper is even with the rear bumper of the vehicle on your left, begin to back right. Back into the nearest lane & stop with the wheels straight, shift to drive and exit.

Parallel Parking *Select a space that is 5 -6 feet longer than your vehicle. Signal right, stop 2-3 feet away from the front vehicle with both rear bumpers even. Shift to reverse, check traffic, look over right shoulder, back slowly as you turn right. -Aim toward the right-rear corner When the back of your seat is even with the rear bumper of the front vehicle, straighten wheels. Slowly back straight. When front bumper is even with front vehicle’s back bumper, turn wheels sharply left & back slowly. When vehicle is parallel to the curb, straighten wheels & stop before you touch the vehicle behind you. Slowly pull forward & center yourself in the space.

Uphill Parking with a Curb Position vehicle close to the curb & turn your wheels sharply to the LEFT. Shift to NEUTRAL & creep back slowly until the back of the right-front tire gently touches the curb. Shift to PARK Set the parking brake.

Uphill Parking with No Curb Pull as far off the road as possible & turn your wheels sharply to the RIGHT. Shift to PARK Set the parking brake

Downhill Parking with a Curb Position vehicle close to the curb & stop. Let the vehicle creep forward slowly while turning the wheels sharply to the RIGHT until the right-front tire rests gently on the curb. Shift to PARK Set the parking brake.

Downhill Parking with No Curb Position vehicle close to the curb & stop. Let the vehicle creep forward slowly while turning the wheels sharply to the RIGHT. Shift to PARK Set the parking brake.