Ch. 6 Performing Basic Vehicle Maneuvers

What is hand over hand steering?

pulling the steering wheel down with one hand while your other hand crosses over to pull the wheel farther down

Which way should you turn your wheels when parked uphill & why?

Away from the curb ------------------- your car will roll back and hit the curb if your brakes fail. This can help prevent your car from rolling into traffic.

What is the safest type of turnabout & why?

Backing into a driveway or alley on the right side. This allows you to enter traffic forward

When might a driver pull into a driveway on the left side?

If oncoming traffic is light (minimal) & a driveway on the left is available

How do you back left & right (not straight)?

Left 1. Before backing, check for traffic, pedestrians, parked vehicles, & any stationary objects in front, around, & behind you 2. Turn your head toward the direction you will be backing 3. Keep both hands on the steering wheel Pull the wheel to the left to back left Pull the wheel to the right to back right 4. Look back toward the direction you want the vehicle to go 5. Back slowly as you enter the turn. Make quick glances to the front & sides to be sure no one is near. 6. Begin to unwind the steering wheel to finish the turn in a straight position. *when backing right leave a wide space on the left side* *when backing left leave a wide space on the right side*

How do you execute the five turnabout maneuvers, & which is the safest to use?

Midblock U-Turn *you need a wide space* 1. Check traffic ahead & to the rear & then signal right. 2. Pull to the far right & stop. 3. Check your front & left-rear zones. 4. Check your left blind spot *do not stop if you have enough space to complete the turn* 4. Move slowly. Check all zones. Straighten the wheels while you accelerate gently into the proper lane.

How should you leave a Downhill parking space with & without a curb?

[With a curb]: 1. Check traffic. 2. While backing a short distance, straighten the wheels. 3. Signal & check traffic again. 4. Shift to DRIVE (FIRST in a stick shift vehicle) 5. Accelerate into traffic. -------------------- [Without a curb]: 1. Make sure you have enough space to enter traffic safely. (check traffic) 2. While backing a short distance, straighten the wheels. 3. Signal & check traffic again. 4. Shift to DRIVE (FIRST in a stick shift vehicle) 5. Accelerate into traffic.

What are the steps for backing into the driveway on the right side?

STEPS *choose this turnabout if a clear drive way is on the right & there is no close traffic in your rear zones* *this turn about allows you to reenter traffic facing forward* 1. Check traffic to the rear. 2. Begin to slow as you proceed beyond the driveway 3. Stop about 3 ft from the curb with your rear bumper just beyond the driveway 4. Check traffic & back slowly to the right. Signal a left turn. 5. Stop when your vehicle is completely off the street 6. Check traffic if clear, proceed

What is the procedure for "Angle Parking" ?

STEPS 1. Check for traffic & pedestrians 2. Position your vehicle @ least 6 feet from the row of parked vehicles 3. Signal the direction you want to turn 4. Check traffic to the rear & begin braking 5. Check "the direction you're going in" blind spot & continue braking 6. Creep forward until you can see the center of the space without your line of sight cutting across the parking line (reference point) 7. Turn your wheels sharply in the direction you are going 8. Slowly enter the parking space 9. Straighten the wheels when you are centered in the space 10. Determine your forward reference point to place the front of the bumper even with curb or parking line

What are the steps for pulling into a driveway on the Left Side?

STEPS 1. Check traffic in front & rear zones 2. Signal a left turn 3. Check left, right, left 4. When clear, turn left 5. Stay as close to the right side as possible 6. Stop with your wheels straight when your vehicle is completely off the street 7. Check traffic again (especially from the right) 8. Back slowly to the right 9. Look to the right rear & side while backing 10. Stop with the wheels straight 11. Accelerate gently, scanning all zones as you drive forward

What are the steps for pulling into a driveway on the right side?

STEPS 1. Check traffic in front & rear zones 2. Signal a right turn 3. When clear, turn right 4. Check traffic again from both directions 5. Back slowly across the street, turning left *Look to the left rear & side when backing* 6. Glance to the front, then continue looking back while stopping with wheels straight. 7. Accelerate gently, & drive forward

What is the procedure for "Leaving an Angle or Perpendicular Space" ?

STEPS 1. Look to the rear and to the sides as you search for other roadway users & pedestrians

What is the procedure for perpendicular parking?

STEPS 1. Position your vehicle @ least 8 feet from the row of parked vehicles OR as far to the left of the lane as possible 2. Flash your brake lights (tap) & signal a right turn 3. Check your right blind spot & begin to brake 4. Check traffic to the rear & continue braking 5. Determine your personal reference point to know when the front bumper of your vehicle passes the left rear tail-light of the vehicle to the right of the empty parking space. 6. Turn the wheel sharply right; slowly enter the stall 7. Check your right rear fender for clearance 8. Straighten the wheels when you are centered in the space (use a forward reference point) -> like the driver's side-view mirror to stop before the wheels strike the curb

What is the procedure for parallel parking?

STEPS 1. Select a space that is 5-6 feet longer than your vehicle 2. Check over left shoulder to make sure left is clear 3. Flash brake lights, & signal a right turn 4. Stop 2-3 feet away from the front vehicle with the two rear bumpers even 5. Shift to REVERSE; check traffic (look back over your right shoulder) 6. Back slowly as you turn right. (aim toward the right rear corner of the space) 7. Control speed w/ your foot brake (clutch @ friction point in a stick shift vehicle) 8. When the back of your seat is even with the rear bumper of the front vehicle, straighten the wheels 9. Determine your personal reference point for this position. 10. Slowly back straight; look over your shoulder through the rear window 11. When your front bumper is even with the front vehicle's back bumper, turn your wheels sharply left. 12. Back slowly; look out the rear window 13. When your vehicle is parallel to the curb, straighten wheels & stop before you touch the vehicle behind. (develop reference points to know your distance from the curb & from the vehicle behind you) 14. Slowly pull forward to center your vehicle in the space

How should you leave an Uphill parking space with & without a curb?

[With curb]: 1. Signal 2. Check traffic 3. Accelerate gently into the lane of traffic (correct lane) ------------------- [Without a curb]: 1. While letting the vehicle slowly creep backward, straighten the wheels. 2. Signal & check traffic 3. Shift to DRIVE (FIRST in a stick shift vehicle) & accelerate gently into traffic

What is the disadvantage for pulling into a driveway on the Left Side?

a driver must back into traffic before moving forward *dangerous if performed improperly / untimely*

What are reference points?

some part of the outside or inside of the vehicle that relates to some part of the roadway

What is a standard reference point?

the point on the vehicle that is typical for most drivers

How do you start an Automatic Transmission Vehicle from an uphill parking space without rolling backward?

[Automatic transmission vehicle]: 1. Using your left foot, hold the foot brake down 2. While still holding the foot brake down with your left foot, accelerate gradually until the engine starts to pull 3. Release the foot brake gently as you increase acceleration to move forward

What is a "personal reference point" ?

an adaption of a standard reference point for one's own vehicle

Why is a "U-Turn" so risky?

because a driver must cross several lanes of traffic to execute it

How do you back a stick - shift vehicle?

by carefully controlling your use of the clutch pedal @ the friction point ------------------- STEPS: 1. Push the brake & clutch pedals down. 2. Shift to REVERSE 3. Release the brake, & let the clutch come out slowly to the friction point

How does a driver use reference points?

by lining up these points with parts of other vehicles to help execute maneuvers

When should you signal?

every time you plan to turn, change lanes, slow, or stop ------------------- *signal well in advance*

What is the purpose of holding the clutch @ the friction point when backing?

it allows you to back the vehicle at a slow, controlled speed

What are the 3 hand signals? And how do you perform them?

*ALL left arm* ------------------- [Right] - up [Left] - straight out [Slow or Stop] - down

What are the steps for executing a Three-Point Turnabout?

*hazardous* *you not only cross traffic lanes, but your vehicle is stopped across a traffic lane* 1. Check front & rear zones 2. Signal right & stop close to the curb 3. Check traffic ahead, to the rear, & over your left shoulder 4. Signal a left turn. 5. Search front & rear zones as you turn sharply left 6. Move, stop before hitting the curb. *Make sure your wheels are straight* 7. Check all traffic again 8. Turn wheels sharply right while backing slowly. *back only as far as necessary to complete the maneuver (without hitting the curb) 9. Stop with wheels straight 10. Check traffic again & signal left 11. Move slowly forward while steering left. 12. When safe, accelerate gently

When should you use a 3-point turnabout?

*should RARELY be used* when you are on a dead-end street or on a rural roadway with no driveways

What is the procedure for "Leaving a Parallel Parking Space" ?

*yield to all traffic* 1. Back straight slowly until your rear bumper almost touches the vehicle behind 2. Turn wheels sharply left as you stop 3. Signal a left turn; check your left blind spot 4. Move forward slowly. 5. Check the right-front corner of your vehicle for clearance. 6. Once you are 1/2 way out of the parking space, turn your wheels slowly to the right 7. Scan front zones 8. Once you enter / center your vehicle in the traffic lane, accelerate

What might be some reasons for changing lanes?

- To increase your sight distance & get a broader view of the traffic (remove blind spot) -Possibly before a right or left turn

How do you use hand signals correctly & when should you use them?

- Use your right hand to maintain steering control -Make all hand signals well in advance -Return your left hand to the steering wheel before you begin to execute the turn?

What factors should you consider when deciding which turnabout to use?

- legality of the turnabout - amount of traffic -types of driveways available -whether you need to enter traffic lanes forward or backward -amount of space - # of traffic lanes to cross

How do you steer straight forward?

-Use a comfortable hand position -Aim far ahead into your intended path (with your visual search) *Avoid looking down at your hands or feet*

How do you start a Stick shift Vehicle from an uphill parking space without rolling backward?

1. Be sure the emergency / parking brake is set. 2. Shift to FIRST. 3. Use one hand to hold the steering wheel. 4. Hold the parking brake, release with the other hand. 5. Accelerate to a fast idle. 6. Let the clutch out to the friction point. 7. When you feel the engine begin to pull, release the parking brake slowly 8. As your vehicle begins to move forward, increase pressure on the accelerator & let the clutch all the way up. Completely release the parking brake.

What are the proper steps for changing lanes?

1. Check traffic in the front & left-front zones. 2. Check rear zones through the rearview mirrors. 3. Signal and make a blind-spot check over your left shoulder to see if any vehicle is about to pass you. 3. If lane is clear, increase your speed slightly as you steer smoothly 4. Cancel your signal and adjust your speed.

How do you stop backing when driving a Stick shift vehicle?

1. Keep your right foot over the brake pedal. 2. Push the clutch pedal down & brake to a smooth stop. 3. Continue to look back until the vehicle is completely stopped.

How do you steer straight backward when driving an automatic transmission vehicle?

1. Make sure your rear zones are clear 2. Hold the brake pedal down & shift to REVERSE 3. Put your left hand at the top of the wheel (@ the 12 o' clock position) 4. Release pressure on the brake just enough to allow the vehicle to creep backward slowly 5. While looking back through the rear window, move the top of the steering wheel toward the direction you want the back of the vehicle to go **Keep your foot over the brake pedal while your vehicle is moving backward ** 6. Glance quickly to the front & sides to check traffic 7. Continue to look back through the rear window as you brake to a stop.

What are the steps for making a right & left turn?

1. Position your vehicle in the correct lane for the turn 2. Signal about half a block before the turn 3. Use visual search pattern to check front zones for vehicles, pedestrians, & bicyclists 4. Slow to about 10 mph just before the crosswalk ------------------- Right Turn 1. Signal 100 feet before turn 2. Check to the left before turning 3. Begin turning when your vehicle's front wheel is even with the curb line ------------------- Left Turn Check traffic to the left, then right, then left again. 2. Turn the steering wheel just before the front of your vehicle reaches the center of the intersection. 3. Continue looking left into the lane you will enter 4. As you begin your turn, make a quick blind-spot check through the right side window 5. Check front & rear zones 6. If the intersection is clear, turn into the nearest lane of traffic going in your direction 7. Accelerate about 1/2 way through the turn as you return the wheel to the straight - ahead position

Which way should you turn your wheels when parked downhill & why?

Towards the curb. -------------------- that way your vehicle will roll away from traffic

How do you park uphill with & without a curb?

UPHILL [w/ a curb:] 1. Using personal reference points, position your vehicle close to the curb. 2. Just before stopping, turn the steering wheel sharply left. 3. Shift to NEUTRAL. Let the vehicle creep back slowly until the back of the right - front tire gently touches the curb 4. Shift to PARK (FIRST in a stick shift vehicle) & set the emergency parking brake -------------------- [without a curb]: 1. Pull as far off of the roadway as possible. 2. Just before you stop, turn the steering wheel sharply right 3. Shift to PARK (FIRST in a stick shift vehicle) & set the emergency parking brake ------------------- DOWNHILL [w/ a curb]: 1. Position your vehicle close to the curb & stop. 2. While letting the vehicle creep forward slowly, turn the steering wheel sharply right 3. Let the right front tire rest gently against the curb. 4. Shift to PARK (REVERSE in a stick shift vehicle) & set the emergency parking brake -------------------- [without a curb]: 1. Position your vehicle close to the curb & stop. 2. While letting the vehicle creep as near to the shoulder as possible, turn the steering wheel sharply right 3. Let the right front tire rest gently against the curb. 4. Shift to PARK (REVERSE in a stick shift vehicle) & set the emergency parking brake

What is the friction point?

where you feel the engine take hold and the car moves