DRIVING GUIDE - IN ASSOCIATION WITH ROBOSOUL APPS

TURN IN THE ROAD

This manoeuvre should be carried out on a quiet road where you can see and be seen. Avoid junctions, parked vehicles, bends and anything else that could impede visibility.

STEP 1 (FORWARD) - POM

Prepare: Before doing anything else, take time to prepare the car. Select first gear, set the gas and find the biting point. Have your left hand on the handbrake ready to release it.

Observe: Once the car is ready to move off instantly, you must take effective all-round observations. Start by looking over your left shoulder and sweep your head around in a 360-degree arc, taking in all three mirrors, and finally looking over your right shoulder.

Move: If it’s safe to move, release the handbrake. Use clutch control to keep the car moving at a snail’s pace. Steer quickly to the right. Keep steering until the wheel will turn no further (full lock). As you crawl across the centre of the road, have a quick glance left and right.

Approaching the opposite side of the road, the camber may cause the car to pick up speed as it rolls downhill. If so, push the clutch to the floor and softly brake. As you get close to the kerb, turn the steering wheel back towards the left, straightening your wheels. Bring the car to a gentle stop just before you reach the kerb. Engage the handbrake.

STEP 2 (REVERSE) - POM

Prepare: Again, take time to prepare before doing anything else. Remember, the camber could cause you to roll towards the pavement, so the handbrake must be engaged at this point. Select neutral, then reverse gear. Set the gas and find the biting point. Your left hand should be ready on the handbrake.

Observe: Again, before moving you must make effective all-round observations. You should be looking out the rear window as you start to reverse, so begin by looking over your right shoulder and make a 360-degree sweep using all the mirrors and finishing by looking over your left shoulder. If it’s clear all around, keep looking back as you move on to the next step.

Move: Release the handbrake and start crawling slowly back. Steer quickly to the left until you reach full lock. Keep looking out the rear window. As you cross the centre of the road, sweep your head around 360-degrees until you are looking over your right shoulder towards the pavement behind you.

As you approach the kerb, straighten the wheels by steering back towards the right. If the car starts to roll, press the clutch to the floor and control the speed with the brake. While still looking back into your right blindspot, bring the car to a gentle stop just before you reach the kerb. Engage the handbrake.

STEP 3 (FORWARD) - POM

Prepare: Once again, take time to prepare the car. Your hands and feet should be ready so you can move off instantly after checking it’s safe.

Observe: Once again, you must observe all around before releasing the handbrake. You’ll be moving off towards the right, so start by checking over your left shoulder and make a 360-degree sweep towards the right. 

Move: If it’s safe, release the handbrake and move off, steering towards the right. If you can’t clear the kerb, repeat steps two and three until you can clear it.

Once you’ve completely cleared the kerb, straighten up and continue along the road. Check your mirrors to see what’s behind.