Driving: Basic Maneuvers and Lane Changes

Basic Maneuvers

• Drivers need to perform basic maneuvers or vehicle movements.
• These include changes in speed, direction, and/or position.
• This chapter emphasizes skills, methods, and laws for changing lanes, turning, and parking.

Changing Lanes

• Changing lanes involves moving the vehicle's position to the left or right.
• Changing lanes may also involve a change in speed.
• You are legally required to signal your intentions to other drivers.
• Effective communication reduces risk.
• Being certain that the lane drivers wish to move into is open and available.
• Ask if anyone is already in the lane, if any vehicle near will attempt the same lane, and if anyone is approaching rapidly.

Steps to Safely Change Lanes

• Search ahead, to the sides, and behind for a safe gap in traffic.
• Signal to move left or right.
• Recheck blind zones in the intended direction.
• When there's enough space, gently steer into the new lane and adjust speed accordingly.
• Once safely in the new lane, cancel the turn signal and recheck speed and position.

Common Situations for Lane Changes

• Entering traffic.
• Leaving traffic and parking along a curb.
• Leaving traffic near intersections.
• Driving on multiple-lane streets.

Entering Traffic from a Parking Lane

• Yield the right-of-way to vehicles in travel lanes.
• In city/town environments, enter traffic when approaching vehicles are at least one-half block away.
• Search at least one block ahead along the intended path of travel.
• Increase this distance when traffic is moving at faster speeds.
• Steer into the nearest travel lane and accelerate smoothly to match the speed of traffic.

Leaving Traffic and Parking Along a Curb

• Decide in advance when and where to leave traffic when moving from a travel lane to a parking lane.
• Position your vehicle parallel and close to a curb for precise steering.
• Slowly signal and slow the vehicle down gradually.
• Tap the brake pedal a few times to flash the brake lights.
• When traffic is heavy, use the "Stop" hand signal.

Leaving Traffic Near Intersections

• Take extra care when moving from a travel lane to a parking lane near an intersection.
• If parking before the intersection, rapidly tap the brake pedal before signaling.
• If parking beyond the intersection, time the signal so other drivers don't think you are turning at the intersection.

Multiple-Lane Streets

• Drivers change lanes due to a turning vehicle ahead, an ending lane, or a lane restricted for slow-moving vehicles.
• Right-of-way rules apply.
• The driver in the blocked lane must yield to oncoming vehicles and vehicles in the same lane traveling in the same direction.

Common Errors in Lane Changing

• Failure to signal
• Premature movement toward or into the new lane while neglecting the steering wheel
• Decreasing vehicle speed
• Excessive steering wheel movement
• Moving too close to the vehicle ahead
• Forgetting to cancel the turn signal

Signaling

• Turn signals cancel automatically during full turns, but not always when changing lanes.
• Some vehicles have a feature that flashes turn signals three times by slightly nudging the turn signal lever.
• Feature useful in high-speed traffic for preventing extended turn signals.

Turning

• Turning requires speed control, steering skills, and spatial judgment.
• Consider the direction and sharpness of planned turns.
• Identify the best and least risky path.

Speed During Turns

• Adjust speed appropriately before turning.
• It's generally best to proceed slowly in turns.
• Front tires are responsible for turning the vehicle.
• Safer to drive too slow than too fast when approaching a turn.

Communicating and Positioning While Turning

• Signal appropriately and tap the brake pedal to alert other drivers.
• Urban areas require signaling at least 100 feet before turning.
• On rural roads, signal several hundred feet before turning.
• Avoid signaling too early to prevent misinterpretation.
• Slow to the appropriate speed by braking in a straight line.
• Maintain a constant speed as turning; then accelerate back to driving straight.
• Sharper turns require slower speeds.

Visual Search During Turns

• Search as far ahead as possible and identify a target area.
• Continue searching for hazards.
• Avoid fixating on one specific target.
• Direct focus on the intended path of travel.

Turning Radius

• Turning too late or too soon, or failing to control speed can lead to traffic problems or crashes.
• Vehicle's rear wheels turn tighter than the front wheels.

Entering the Proper Lane When Turning

• Arrows on the pavement show required driver actions at some intersections.
• Position the vehicle in the proper lane before arriving at an intersection.
• Multiple-lane streets have dedicated left-turn lanes at intersections.
• If in an incorrect lane, do not block traffic by changing lanes, continue ahead as directed.

Steps for Turning Right

• Be in the correct lane, and prepare 500 feet or one city block ahead.
• Signal right for the turn within the appropriate time.
• Reduce speed and tap brake.
• Where there is a curb, steer right until the right side of your vehicle is 3-5 feet from the curb.
• Check all directions, and yield right-of-way to anyone in a crosswalk.
• Move forward, and search through the turn along your intended path of travel.
• Turn the steering wheel smoothly.
• Stay in the right lane, and complete the turn by unwinding the steering wheel.
• Check mirrors, cancel the signal, and adjust your speed.

Steps for Turning Left

• Yield right-of-way to other traffic.
• Be in the correct lane, and prepare 500 feet or one city block ahead.
• Move into the far-left lane, and signal left for the turn within the appropriate time.
• Tap your brake pedal, and check all directions (traffic, road users, crosswalks).
• Move forward and search along your path before smoothly turning the steering wheel.
• Follow the turning path that you are turning from as you enter, and adjust your speed

Reversing Direction

• Maneuvers to turn vehicle around involve traveling around a block, two-point turning, U-turning, and three-point turning.
• When you decide to reverse, consider traffic density and speed, visibility, street layout, traffic laws, and local ordinances.
• Driving around the block is often the best option.
• Driving around the block involves turning right multiple times then across oncoming traffic, or turning left across oncoming and then turning right several times.

Two-Point Turnabouts

• These are used to adjust routes by reversing direction.
• Two-point turnaround is a maneuver used to turn your vehicle backing up or pulling forward into a driveway.
• Ways to perform a two-point turnabout include backing right, backing left, and turning right. Each method has progressively higher levels of risk.

Backing Right

• Performing a two-point turnabout by stopping in your travel lane and you can see in all directions
• Select a driveway or alley on your right side.
• Check the traffic and signal, and make sure there is no one in your path.
• Stop parallel to the curb and shift to reverse.
• When the path is clear, look over your right shoulder and back the vehicle into the driveway while turning the steering wheel .
• As rear of your vehicle enters, turn the wheel so your vehicle is centered
• Stop, shift to drive, search, and enter traffic when safe.

Pulling into the Left

• Turn your vehicle by backing left, this is riskier than right.
• In this maneuver, pull forward into a driveway on the left side and then back into the street.
• Enter Reverse here.
• Select a driveway on your left.
• Check traffic, tap brake pedal, and position the vehicle to turn left.
• Make sure there are no pedestrians, shift, and search.
• Turn your vehicle left into the driveway.
• Stop straight, signal right and search for traffic.
• Look over shoulder, steer to be in travel lane
• Cancel signal, and accelerate

Pulling into the Right

• Turning into right is another way to two-point but is more risky.
• You must back across the near-side travel lane and into the far-side travel lane.

Using Driveways

• Some new drivers are reluctant to use a private driveway for turning around.

U-Turns

• U-turns are a method of around at an intersection or mid-block.
• U-turns must be followed per local laws and traffic signs.
• Some intersections have signs for U-turning and cannot block intersections.
• You must yield when you go do a U-turn on the road.
• Select a place that is safely away from pedestrians.
• Tap pedal, stop, and check for traffic.
• Steer and straighten the wheels, until you travel towards the left on the road.

Three-Point Turnabout

• Should only be used when its the lightest of traffic and no other way to turn around
• Should never be used by curves or hills.
• Steps for three-point: search and make sure you check brake pedal and alert drivers and turn on your left-turn.
• Move forward and left until tire is at side , shift to reverse and turn sharp right.
• Check traffic one more time before continuing.

Parking

• Parking is a challenge for most drivers.
• Some types of parking are curbside, angle, perpendicular, and parallel.

Curbside Parking and Reference Points

• Parking alongside the road can be risky, and is required to be 12 inches from curb.
• Reasons to park in the area is to make sure there is no disruption to traffic.

Right-Side Curb

• To make sure a point is good distance, use sight lines and find point in the middle of car to line with road, and it should be 6 inches from the curb.

Left-Side Curb

• You must identify a sight line to the corner and that should be 6 inches from you.

Parking at an Angle

• Angled parking is usually located 45/60 degrees to the road to create one way parking. In parking lots can be one or two way which allows driving both ways. Exiting requires the driver to go in the save direction the vehicle came from.
• Monitor for the traffic, identify spots, and use brake to alert others.
• Vehicle position at lead 5 feet when backing out of parked cars.

Leaving an Angled Parking Space

• Search for traffic backing out, signal and use brake lights.
• See both side mirror and blind spot, put foot on brake for reverse straight.
• When corner is cleared, turn the wheel to side that the wheel is trying to go to.
• Put it in drive and then exit.

Perpendicular Parking

• Perpendicular can be harder with little room.
• Position and be at least 8/9 feet distance away from the space you wish to maneuver to at an angle.

Left Side and Right Side

• The best spaces are the best spaces as these a positions to turn and make the space. You can sight traffic better with the correct positioning.

Entering The Space

• Check traffic, use brakes and turn signal. Put vehicle so you can angle in and turn wheel. Allow vehicle To center itself and move slowly with traffic.

Exiting The Space

• Search for traffic and back in slow and check mirrors and blind spots. When windshield lines with other parked sides, make sure traffic is safe to slowly go in the intended space

Parallel Parking

• Useful for curbside, but no curb for front first. Rear wheels are what make it hard to make sure a space is parallel. Like lane change but reversible. Parking space to be one and half times vehicle.

Right-Side Parking

• Find Parking Spot, check traffic, signal, position the vehicle in order to back without hitting. After, center point of vehicle stops, and steer fast and hard right until the point is cleared. Glance at front wheel and stop when its is the vehicle.

General Parking Information

• Distances can be 6 to 18 inches from the max distance, from the curb.
• Do not stop, park, leave on roadway until it is avoided, at least 200 visible on each side.
• Cross walking and bus stops are illegal.
• Best to have the position of front wheels straight.
• Many vehicles need to be turned three times both way so position yourself from knowing the wheel lock.

Parking Hills and Slopes

• Is important and is used for un attended property, must set the parking brake.
• Curbs are use to help your car park, but where there is no curb, have the wheels point where it would roll off the road.
• For downgrades, position vehicle parallel by 6 inches moving toward wheel and setting brake shift.
• To exit from there, just use reverse away to get out of that space.
• Upgrades is opposite moving away, while doing neutral so you can slowly roll onto side and make sure brake is set up.
• Also position your vehicle, so roll will be towards, do not have cars bump.