No Three Point Turn?

[Ignitionnet]

Given we seem to insist on sticking to manual transmissions when most of the rest of the world are using automatics I have no comment to make on the driving test.

[rhyds]

Originally Posted by Ignitionnet

Given we seem to insist on sticking to manual transmissions when most of the rest of the world are using automatics I have no comment to make on the driving test.

Its only really the US, Canada and Australia that go for autos, and that's because they traditionally used large, lazy engines that are well matched to lazy autoboxes.

---------- Post added at 08:10 ---------- Previous post was at 08:03 ----------

Originally Posted by 007stuart

Don't see why the major car manufacturers can't do the same as the parallel parking facility and get the car to do it.

Because a driver should be able to manoeuvre a car without automated assistance. While modern cars' massive windscreen pillars and stupid windows don't help, a driver who can't parallel park or do a turn in the road shouldn't really be driving.

[Russ]

Maybe they need more women drivers on the road?

I don't see the problem really .A 3 point turn is a combination of driving skills that will still be taught ,most drivers don't use that manoeuvre anyway they simply use a junction to turn around .Reversing into/out of a parking space and entering the flow of traffic from a slip road or layby are much more worthwhile things to be taught.The amount of people who don't know how to enter a carriageway is frightening

[papa smurf]

Originally Posted by Russ

Maybe they need more women drivers on the road?

i think if they did want more women on the road the test would include parking 5 foot from the curb -chewing up alloy wheels - scratching and denting other cars [especially in car parks ] putting on makeup at 70 mph- hitting gate posts [every dam week] and my favorite pretending you can't see the driver trying to join the road your on .

[Mr K]

How to text and drive safely is surely of more use these days?

[Ken W]

Originally Posted by papa smurf

i think if they did want more women on the road the test would include parking 5 foot from the curb -chewing up alloy wheels - scratching and denting other cars [especially in car parks ] putting on makeup at 70 mph- hitting gate posts [every dam week] and my favorite pretending you can't see the driver trying to join the road your on .

Don't forget putting on makeup while driving.

[Derek]

Still focusing on a single test rather than a graduated scheme that would do far more in improving driving ability and reducing deaths and serious injuries.

I cannot remember the last time I had to do a "3 point turn", its not really that common (or that difficult).

As I told my daughters, first you learn to pass the driving test, then you learn to drive.

[Hom3r]

They teach people not to drive in the middle or outside lanes on the motorway, NOT to use a mobile while driving, use lights in rain, and at night put on dipped lights not just sidelights.

---------- Post added at 20:20 ---------- Previous post was at 20:16 ----------

Originally Posted by Taf

"3 point turn"? I thought it was renamed "turn in the road" in case you had to do more than a 3 point manoeuvre?

Why would they want to dumb-down a perfectly good test?

26 years ago when I passed my test , it was called "Turning the vehicle around using the forward & reverse gears". As some road a 3 point turn in not possible.

[papa smurf]

Originally Posted by Hom3r

They teach people not to drive in the middle or outside lanes on the motorway, NOT to use a mobile while driving, use lights in rain, and at night put on dipped lights not just sidelights.

---------- Post added at 20:20 ---------- Previous post was at 20:16 ----------




26 years ago when I passed my test , it was called "Turning the vehicle around using the forward & reverse gears". As some road a 3 point turn in not possible.

now its called a doughnut

HOW TO DO A DOUGHNUT
You can perform a doughnut in two slightly different ways and you don't need to be too hard on the clutch to pull one off. You can either have a rolling start, or spin the wheels from a standstill...

1. Spin the wheels. It's slightly kinder to your car to have a rolling start, this will allow you to fully release the clutch before inducing wheel spin. Approach the area where you want to perform the doughnut in first gear at low speed, ensure you're completely off the clutch then turn in hard and apply full throttle rapidly.

2. If you have enough power you'll find the rear wheels start to spin. Keep the revs up high in the power band and apply a certain amount of steering lock . Alternatively you can spin the wheels from a standstill while applying some steering angle to have the same effect.

3. You should find that the rear wheels lose traction and begin to cause the car to rotate, keep the revs high (you can even remain on the limiter if fitted) and you should complete a doughnut. You can modify the direction by steering at different angles and altering the throttle.

4. If you want to drive away from a doughnut ensure you make the necessary counter-steering adjustments early as the car will have a tendency to oversteer.

In summary a doughnut is a relatively simple and dramatic technique to perform with the right car.

[AbyssUnderground]

Dropping it is a bad idea, how about making it an addition instead?