How to Steer the Wheel When Making a U-turn in Driving Test Part 3?
3 Answers
In Driving Test Part 3, you generally need to turn the steering wheel all the way to the left when making a U-turn. There's no need to count the exact number of turns; for most vehicles, turning the wheel 1.3 to 1.5 turns to the left from the centered position will suffice to reach full lock. More important than turning the wheel all the way is timing your steering correctly to avoid crossing the line, which would result in an immediate failure. Here are the specific precautions for making a U-turn without crossing the line in Driving Test Part 3: 1. Upon hearing the instruction "Please make a U-turn ahead," the student should observe the road conditions in advance, apply the brakes to slow down, and shift into 1st gear. 2. Turn on the left turn signal, check the left and right rearview mirrors to confirm safety, and only proceed with the U-turn after the turn signal has been on for 3 seconds. 3. Normally, when half of the vehicle has passed the stop line, turning the steering wheel all the way to the left will avoid crossing the line. 4. After completing the U-turn and entering the appropriate lane, straighten the steering wheel and promptly turn off the left turn signal, then quickly accelerate to meet the speed requirements of the current lane.
I remember when I was taking the driving test for Subject 3, the instructor kept emphasizing that making a U-turn was both a freebie and a potential deal-breaker. The key is to observe the intersection in advance, first slow down to below 20 km/h and shift to first gear. If the road is wide enough, you can turn the steering wheel fully and complete it in one go; for narrow roads, first steer half a turn to the right to leave space for the front of the car to swing out, then when the rear wheels reach the dotted line, quickly turn the wheel fully to the left. Keep an eye on the rearview mirror for any approaching cars, and straighten the steering wheel as soon as the front of the car aligns with the lane. Don’t rush—controlling the speed with the clutch is the safest throughout the process. Once, I turned the steering wheel too sharply and the front wheels crossed the line, making the examiner glare at me until my scalp tingled!
In my years as a ride-hailing driver, the thing I fear most is hesitant new drivers making U-turns. Simply put, it's a three-step process: Signal left and slow down 30 meters before the intersection, first scanning the crosswalk then checking the opposite lane. Timing the steering is crucial—wait until your vehicle has completely passed the zebra crossing before turning the wheel about 1.5 turns to the left, with the steering wheel positioned midway between your shoulder and the door handle. Remember to start straightening the wheel when your car reaches a 45-degree angle, or you might swerve into oncoming traffic. Just last week, I saw a young driver make an overly aggressive U-turn and hit a tree—the scratches on that paintwork were heartbreaking!
