How to Make a Proper U-Turn

by Jim on August 23, 2022

Making a U-turn is one of the main driving maneuvers that every driver should acquaint themselves with. It’s not difficult to make a U-turn; you just need to put in lots of practice to master it to perfection.

Knowing the signs to watch out for before making a U-turn is also important. In this article, you’ll get a step-by-step guide on how to properly make a U-turn. So, how do you make a U-turn?

To make a U-turn, you must start the turn from the far-left lane and put on your left turn signal while watching for oncoming traffic or pedestrians. Reduce your speed and complete your left-handed 180-degree turn driving in the opposite direction in the right lane, traveling in the opposite direction from which you started.

What is a U-Turn

As the name implies, the term U-turn is derived from the u-shaped bend on the road where you make a turn to the opposite lane. It’s a 180-degree turn, where you turn your vehicle back to where you originally came from.

Things to Watch out for When Making a U-Turn

There are a few things you should look out for and do before doing U-turns. They include:

Check for oncoming traffic, which includes vehicles approaching and pedestrians.
Check that it’s legal to do a U-turn there, as doing an illegal U-turn may land you in trouble with the law. It’s as simple as looking out for a U-turn sign. There are places where U-turns are only allowed at intersections. Once there’s a no U-turn sign that indicates that U-turns are prohibited, don’t do it.
Check that the road is wide enough to accommodate your vehicle while doing a U-turn.
Put on your left turn signal so other vehicles know what you’re about to do.
Ensure that you’re in the far-left lane.

How Do I Know it’s Legal to Make a U-Turn

More extensive signs to watch out for aside from the precautions listed above are:

If there’s a green arrow pointing left, U-turns are allowed.
If you’re in a residential area with no vehicles approaching within at least 200 feet.
The center divider on a divided highway has an opening that’s not meant for emergency vehicles or the police.
The highway has two sets of double yellow lines, or you’re crossing a double yellow line.

Steps to Making a U-Turn

Let’s dive right into it. What are the steps to making a proper U-turn? You’ll find the tips in this article helpful, especially if you’re preparing for your driving test.

Step One: Turn your Signal on and Move to the Left Lane

After you check for oncoming traffic, turn on your indicator if you’re on the right side and turn your steering wheel all the way to the left. Accelerate slightly when the lanes are clear and let the wheel correct itself into a straight-forward position, then you make the left turn., Make sure that the nearest car is 200 meters away.

Also, check for oncoming traffic from the lane you’re about to turn into. Reduce your speed by keeping your foot on the brake and wait until the road is clear.

Step Two: Complete Your Turn in the Opposite Direction

Complete your U-turn by driving into the right lane and going in the opposite direction. Once the turn is completed, turn off your left turn signal. You can begin driving at normal speed once your car is in the opposite lane.

Common Mistakes to Avoid when Making a U-Turn

New drivers may make some of the common mistakes below while attempting U-turns. A few of them could put you in trouble with the law, so be careful.

Never attempt a U-turn from the right lane or a one-way street.
Don’t make U-turns in locations where they might be illegal. In business districts, intersections are usually the designated U-turn points.
While it’s fine to make a U-turn on a straight roadway, highways, and curved roads, it’s unsafe to attempt a U-turn without carefully observing traffic behind and in front of you.
To avoid a fender bender, you must do a 360-degree scan to ensure the coast is clear before making a U-turn.
If you’re going to do a U-turn at an intersection, you’ll need to signal to the right first, then make a stop to the extreme right to ensure you have ample space. As soon as traffic clears, signal left, then go ahead and make your U-turn.

Conclusion

Sometimes drivers hastily attempt to make U-turns in the wrong areas and end up doing it incorrectly. However, by following the steps above, you’ll find that U-turns are not just expeditious but also extremely safe. I hope this article helped you master this simple driving maneuver. Remember that lots of practice are helpful, especially for new drivers. You can search for videos on YouTube for more visual details. Also, remember to use a road with little traffic for practicing so that you don’t inconvenience other people.