Three-point Turn - Wikipedia

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• 1 Process
• 2 Naming
• 3 Notes
• 4 References
• 5 Further reading

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Appearance move to sidebar hide From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Method of turning vehicles around in a limited space "Turn in the road" redirects here. For the film, see The Turn in the Road. This article is about the vehicle manoeuvre. For the skating term, see 3 turn.

The three-point turn (sometimes called a Y-turn, K-turn, or broken U-turn) is the standard method of turning a vehicle around to face the opposite direction in a limited space, using forward and reverse gears. This is typically done when the road is too narrow for a U-turn, and there are no driveways or sideroads that are conducive to a two-point turn. Three-point turns are dangerous because they make the driver vulnerable to oncoming traffic for an extended period of time. For this reason, they are generally recommended to be used only as a last resort.[1] This manoeuvre is a common requirement in driving tests.

Process

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The basic manoeuvre consists of driving across the road turning towards the offside kerb, reversing across the road to the original nearside kerb while turning, and driving forward towards the original offside kerb, now the nearside.[2] In a narrow road or with a longer vehicle, more than three legs may be required to achieve a full 180 degree rotation.

Naming

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"Three point turn" is the most common name in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and many regions of the United States.[3][2][4][5][6][7][8] Less common terms are: "Y-turn",[9] "K-turn",[10] and Broken U-turn[11] In the UK the official name is "Turning in the road (using forward and reverse gears)",[12] and in Ireland it is called a "turnabout",[13] because an acceptable turn may include more than three points.[14]

Notes

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1. ^ Scotti, Anthony J. (27 March 2007). Professional Driving Techniques. Photographics Publishing. p. 195.
2. ^ a b MTO 2009.
3. ^ vicroads 2012.
4. ^ NZTA Road Code: http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/roadcode/driving-skill-syllabus/lesson-18.html
5. ^ New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. "Driver's Manual - Chapter 5". October 2011. Retrieved on 20 July 2013.
6. ^ Arizona Department of Transportation. "Non-Commercial Driver License Examiner Manual". 1 April 2010, pp. 22-24. Retrieved on 20 July 2013.
7. ^ North Carolina Department of Transportation. "North Carolina Driver's Handbook". January 2012, p. 9. Retrieved on 20 July 2013.
8. ^ "Manoeuvre Guide: Turn In The Road". www.passmefast.co.uk. Retrieved 9 October 2025. With most drivers able to complete the manoeuvre in three moves, it is also commonly referred to as a "three point turn".
9. ^ wiscroads 2012.
10. ^ Moore, Greg. "School district sued over fatal crash" (News release). Idaho Transportation Department, 5 October 2011. Retrieved on 20 July 2013.
11. ^ Mallozzi, Vincent M. "Now, Don't Hit That Cone". New York Times, 11 September 2005. Retrieved on 20 July 2013.
12. ^ "Driving and transport: Teaching people to drive", www.gov.uk/
13. ^ "Rules of the Road" (7th revision, 2019), Road Safety Authority
14. ^ DfT 1991, p. 212.

References

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• Department for Transport (1991). Driving. HMSO. ISBN 978-0-11-550355-9.
• Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (2009). "Three-Point Turn". The Official MTO Driver's Handbook.
• "Vicroads, How your driving is assessed". Archived from the original on 29 March 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
• "Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Class D road test study guide".

Further reading

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• Driving Standards Agency (2010). "Turning in the Road". The official DSA guide to driving: the essential skills (7th ed.). The Stationery Office. pp. 192–193. ISBN 978-0-11-553134-7.

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