How Many Turns of the Steering Wheel for a 90-Degree Turn?
2 Answers
90-degree turn refers to the right-angle turn in the Subject 2 driving test, which requires turning the steering wheel to the full lock in the direction of the turn. That is, when the steering wheel is in the straight position, a left right-angle turn requires turning the wheel to the left by 1.3-1.5 turns to reach full lock, and similarly, a right right-angle turn requires turning the wheel to the right by 1.3-1.5 turns to reach full lock. Additional Information: If you want to make a tight turn, you should turn the steering wheel to full lock as much as possible and then gradually straighten the wheel after completing the turn. For a wide turn, you should turn the wheel slowly. Beginners often focus only on the top and not the bottom, or only on the left and not the right, leading to overlooking blind spots during the turn, which can result in hitting the curb or causing a scrape. Always check for obstacles below the rearview mirror, and if necessary, open the door to take a look before turning.
As a new driver who just got my license, I remember feeling particularly nervous the first time I encountered a 90-degree turn, trying to calculate how many turns of the steering wheel were needed. I looked it up online and found that it entirely depends on the car model, steering ratio, and driving speed. In regular passenger cars like my Honda Civic, a standard right-angle turn usually requires about half to one full turn of the steering wheel, but this isn’t a fixed number. At higher speeds, you might turn less, while slower speeds may require more. The steering ratio refers to the relationship between the steering wheel’s rotation angle and the wheels’ turning angle—typically around 15:1. So, for the wheels to turn 90 degrees, the steering wheel needs to rotate over 1,350 degrees, which is close to four full turns. However, in practice, I gradually learned to rely on feel rather than counting turns, as that could be dangerous. When turning, don’t overthink the math—just focus on smoothly turning the wheel and controlling your speed. Safety always comes first, so I always slow down in advance and keep my eyes on the exit of the turn. Practicing in open spaces a few times helps adapt to different turns. By the way, cars with power steering make it easier and reduce fatigue. Ultimately, don’t let counting turns become a burden—confidence is key.
