No Three Point Turn?

[MovedGoalPosts]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-30249249

Potential plans to the driving test may drop the three point turn, reverse round a corner, etc in favour of things like rejoining traffic from a side road, or use of sat nav.

Yes we should reflect changing dependence on technology like sat nav instead of the traditional a-z. But what happens when you get your navigation wrong and need to turn round?

That these are traditional manoeuvres that seem to cause fear amongst learners is not a reason to drop them.

[Gary L]

Sounds like the kind of thing you'd do to get more drivers on the road.

to join all the other drivers on the road that are dumb, stupid, haven't got a licence. or have got a licence but it's not valid in the UK.

Which are you?

[Gary L]

All of them.

[heero_yuy]

Originally Posted by Gary L

All of them.

Figured that.

To many basic driving skills are being neglected just because there's some techno fix available.

[Taf]

"3 point turn"? I thought it was renamed "turn in the road" in case you had to do more than a 3 point manoeuvre?

Why would they want to dumb-down a perfectly good test?

[Osem]

I agree, if anything more emphasis ought to be placed on manoeuvring and generally handling the car on today's heavily congested roads. Given what I see almost daily, I'm wondering how some people passed their tests when they don't seem to have a clue.

[Taf]

I was taught to pass my driving test by the RAF, and THEN I was taught how to drive properly by the same instructor, including night driving, motorway driving, skid control and basic maintenance. 35 years of no-fault driving since.

[MovedGoalPosts]

Originally Posted by Taf

I was taught to pass my driving test by the RAF, and THEN I was taught how to drive properly by the same instructor, including night driving, motorway driving, skid control and basic maintenance. 35 years of no-fault driving since.

But what about the carnage you leave behind you

[Ken W]

Originally Posted by Taf

"3 point turn"? I thought it was renamed "turn in the road" in case you had to do more than a 3 point manoeuvre?

Why would they want to dumb-down a perfectly good test?

When I passed my car test "turn in the road".

The road used by the tester was on a narrow road which it was impossible to do a tree point turn.

[dave6x]

Originally Posted by Ken W

When I passed my car test "turn in the road".

The road used by the tester was on a narrow road which it was impossible to do a tree point turn.

I took my driving test over 40 years ago and I'm sure the Tester's request was to "turn the vehicle around using forward and reverse gears" and although ideally that would be a 3 point turn I believe you were judged on how competently you completed the manoeuvre.

I live in a quiet residential road regularly used by driving schools for pupils to practice three-point turns and reverse parking. An absolute p.i.t.a when you're wanting to get out in the car but I suppose they have to do it somewhere!

[Osem]

Originally Posted by Ken W

When I passed my car test "turn in the road".

The road used by the tester was on a narrow road which it was impossible to do a tree point turn.

I should hope so!

[Ken W]

Originally Posted by Osem

I should hope so!

Opps, I meant it was impossible to do a three point turn.

[007stuart]

Don't see why the major car manufacturers can't do the same as the parallel parking facility and get the car to do it.

[Osem]

I think people need to be able to manoeuvre their cars and if they rely on the vehicles to do stuff like this then they're not likely to develop those skills or the special awareness, timing, co-ordination etc. that driving demands.