How can you turn left at a very tight left corner without touching the kerb?

Britbloke

Good question. Mounting the kerb is a test fail in the UK. As a contributor above said, the problem is the rear wheels take a different line to the front ones, so with tight turns, if you turn at the usual point, the rear wheel mounts the kerb as you turn in.

Here's how to do it for an approach and turn.

First of all, do 'not' swing out on approach to change the angle - this can cause a danger to traffic coming in the opposite direction as well as any vehicles who may be overtaking you having seen your signal left.

Do your normal approach routine, keeping the car in the usual position about a metre from the kerb. Slow right down and select first gear. Clutch up. As you approach, look into the junction and make sure it is clear. If it is, keeping the car very slow, turn slightly later than normal - with practise, you will find this ensures the rear wheels will avoid mounting the kerb.

The problem is that doing this means you swing out a little wide as you are turning the corner and can be an obstruction to vehicles approaching the junction from the minor road. This is why you have to look in before you turn in - if vehicles are approaching, you must stop and wait for them to leave the junction before turning in. If the approaching vehicles are sensible, however, they will see you are about to turn in and will stop short of the junction to give you room - unfortunately, though, not everyone is that thoughtful.

If you click the following link, you will find a video lesson which deals with this very issue:

http://www.drivinghelp.com/junctions_tight_junctions/

Hope this makes sense. Good luck.

Superleague32

Hi, I am an ex driving instructor and can help you. The most important thing to remember when turning left is that the rear wheels of the car take a shorter route than the front wheels. If you turn too early that is the reason while you are mounting the kerb. The best thing you can do is to take the turn slower for the first couple of attempts so you have more time to think about it and concentrate on turning just a little later than usual. This should put it right. Also if the corner is very tight then it may be worth slowing down and attempting to take it in first gear. Have a go at all the options I have covered. Depending on the turn what i have said should help. Good luck.

Babz

Take it slowly and a bit wider but not wide enough to be a danger to anyone on the other side of the road, it'll come with practice keep on trying.

rufusj2008

take a wider berth.

WelshLad

Slow down.

Gareth B

obviously what you need is more lessons

Jason B

Take your turn wider. Some turns are so sharp that you have to take the turn a little wider. Curve out and then come back in. Remember: Practice Makes Perfect!!

Tedward

Already answered re turning and how the wheels act in a turn. But could I add I have demonstrated this to someone with a similar problem using a toy car, small ones do not lend themselves well. It was a cheap radio controlled one but doing it by hand not remote. Laugh if you want but it got the basics across.

focus

If you see that it is sharp turn then approach wide from the kerb, slow right down to allow yourself time to turn the wheel so that you can take the turn without hitting the kerb.

Jonny C

just buy a back weel drive car and drift round the corner

UCANTCME

Start your turn earlier....

jumbobret

The word is ''Curb" people.

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