Turns in permit test study guide
If you have already started to study for your permit test, you might notice that there is quite poor information about passing sharp turns though almost each state study guide for permit test contains a chapter about turns. In most cases the permit test handbooks cover regular traffic rules and safe driving practices like signals a driver has to show prior to turning or a position a vehicle must take before making the maneuver. Though the manuals for DMV test vary a little from state to state, it is unlikely that you will find useful recommendations on passing sharp turns during your study for written exam. That’s why we collect some practical suggestions given by experienced drivers – they go a bit further than a standard permit test manual does.
Recommendations on passing a sharp turn
- When you are passing a turn, centrifugal force affects your vehicle running in the opposite direction from the center. The sharper the turn, the stronger the force, so to avoid diverging and getting off a road, try to hold your vehicle as close to the inner line of the turn as possible.
- Suspension elasticity and tires lateral grip usually prevent skidding while you are making the turning maneuver. But in this regard, you should remember that correctly chosen speed is the key factor for passing turns safely regardless of their angles. Start to reduce your speed in advance using the regular brakes. If you are skilled enough to brake by switching the transmission down or even by using brakes and engine at the same time, do it in order to slow your car down while keeping control over the vehicle.
- Don’t lose sight of those factors that can affect your car motion during passing a turn like heavy stuff placed in the car trunk, low visibility or moisture on the road surface. All these factors should encourage you to take additional actions and to reduce the vehicle speed even more than it is suggested by steering angle.
- Once inside a turn, monitor the turning path and possible changes in the inertia force that tends to push your car out of road. The main method of preventing this is to choose gear correctly, to release the clutch pedal and to press the gas pedal lightly.
- When getting out of turn, try to make maximum use of the entire width of the road. While entering into a turn, you need to get closer to the outer edge of your lane, when getting out of the turn, you should be as close to the inner edge of your lane as possible. At the same time, keep in mind what is told about crossing lanes in your permit test study guide and do not enter the oncoming traffic lane to avoid the risk of collision with a car moving in the opposite direction.
- All your actions related to the choice of speed, switching the gearbox or braking should be made in advance, before you enter a sharp turn. It is very dangerous to make the maneuvers when you are inside the turn, especially if you make sudden and sharp movements. Make smooth movements and don’t forget to hold the steering wheel with both hands, since you need quite serious efforts to hold and control your car when passing a sharp turn.
- As for the speed choice, try to keep to the following rule: reduce the speed before entering a sharp turn, keep it unchanged while passing the turn and slightly increase the speed when getting out of the turn.
- Don’t ignore road signs telling you that there is a sharp turn ahead and specifying the recommended speed limit. When you start to practice for the DMV permit test, you are sure to stumble across exam questions related to road signs indicating road condition including turns.
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