Turnabout: Different Types, How to Perform It, Requirements, and More

Losing your signal and GPS can lead to driving into random streets and dead ends. When this happens, some drivers tough it out and back their cars up until there’s enough space to turn around. However, you can use an easier technique in this scenario called the turnabout.

What Is a Turnabout?

A turnabout, also known as a police U-turn, is a driving maneuver for turning your car within a confined space or on busy roads. Turnabouts let drivers turn on a narrow two-lane road or return to the proper lane.

Types of Turnabouts

There are three types of turnabouts: a police U-turn, a three-point turn, and a driveway/street-assisted turn.

Police U-Turn

As the name suggests, a U-turn is a 180-degree turn to enter the opposite road/lane. It’s a type of turnabout you should only do if you have enough space. When performing a U-turn, you should signal your intent using your blinkers or the hazard lights, as it’s a dangerous move to perform if you’re in heavy traffic.

Three-Point Turn

A three-point turn is a type of turnabout that requires you to stop, compared to a U-turn that consists of a single turn. Three-point turns are done if the road isn’t wide enough to perform a U-turn. The maneuver got its name because you must take at least three turns to face the opposite direction.

Driveway/Street-Assisted Turn

You can also pull or back into a driveway or side street on either side of the road to create the space needed to turn your vehicle around. Do note that this method poses more dangers than U-turns and three-point turns because you’ll be backing into the travel lane (if you pull on the left side). As such, you should communicate your intent by using your signal and hazard lights.

When and Where to Perform a Turnabout

As mentioned, you should perform a turnabout on narrow two-lane roads, when approaching a dead end, and to get back into the proper lane.

Two-Lane Roads

You can perform a turnabout on two-lane roads, specifically a three-point turn since these roads tend to be narrow. Two downsides to turning on two-point roads are the innate difficulty of maneuvering on a narrow space and the fact that you’ll completely block the flow of traffic during the turn.

Approaching a Dead End

Performing a turnabout on a dead-end street is often necessary because there are no other ways to turn your vehicle around. Dead ends typically don’t have enough room for a U-turn, making a three-point turn the better option. It’s also safer and more efficient to turnabout rather than reversing for a long distance.

To Get Back Into the Proper Lane

You’re likely to perform a turnabout because you’re on the wrong side of the road/lane. Turnabouts let you legally get back into the proper lane as long as you know when and where you can perform the maneuver.

When Is It Illegal to Perform a Turnabout?

Note that certain situations may prevent you from performing a turnabout. For example, a “No U-Turn” sign prohibits you from using the maneuver. As such, brushing up on common road signs and warnings is a good idea.

While it’s not illegal, you should also avoid attempting turnabouts near a hill/curve or during heavy traffic.

Performing a turnabout with limited sight distance could be tricky and dangerous, as you could fall off the cliff or have a vehicle run into you during a curve. In these scenarios, reversing or waiting for a proper U-turn slot is better.

Meanwhile, performing a turnabout in heavy traffic is difficult because you won’t have enough space, and there’s a chance other drivers won’t clear space for you.

Requirements to Perform a Turnabout

A turnabout is a simple maneuver, but there are specific technical characteristics needed before performing the move. Your vehicle can do a turnabout if it has the following characteristics:

• The engine should be in the nose, while the trunk should be emptied to shift the vehicle’s center of gravity to the front.
• It’s easier to perform a turnabout if your car is front-wheel or all-wheel drive. You can police U-turn with rear-wheel drive, but it’s more difficult to do so.
• Turn off the dynamic stabilization system and the ABS to prevent them from blocking the wheels.
• Lastly, the parking and foot brake should be properly working, while the tires should be new.

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How to Perform a Turnabout

Generally, a turnabout is simply turning your vehicle 180 degrees to face the opposite direction. And while there are different methods, you can perform a turnabout by following the steps below:

• Step 1: Turn the steering wheel in the direction of the U-turn.
• Step 2: Move towards a selected point (anything on the curb, a tree, etc.) until you’re close to it and stop.
• Step 3: Turn the steering wheel to the opposite direction and switch to the reverse gear.
• Step 4: Reverse until there’s enough space ahead.
• Step 5: Drive forward.

How to Perform a Three-Point Turn

If you want to perform a three-point turn on a highway, follow the steps below:

• Step 1: Signal and pull over to the right side of the road and wait until traffic is clear and you have enough room in both directions.
• Step 2: Signal left and turn the steering wheel to the left. Then, turn left across the road to the curb on the other side.
• Step 3: Turn the steering wheel to the right before reversing until you reach the curb.
• Step 4: Turn the steering wheel to the left and straighten your vehicle by driving forward and moving into the other lane.

The same technique is used if you want to back into a driveway/side street first. The only difference is you’ll have more space when reversing since you’ll back up into a driveway/street instead of getting close to a curb first.