STEERING

3/10 Steering

You must be able to steer the car as smoothly as possible. You must steer at the appropriate time, as steering too early or late can cause the car to hit the kerb or swing out towards another road user.

Any mistakes you make in this area will be counted under the ‘Control - Steering’ fault on your driving test result.


3.1 Repeatedly not steering enough or steering late on the approach to junctions when turning left


Throughout the test, when you turn left, you repeatedly understeer, not following the shape of the kerb. This means there’s not enough space for vehicles turning right to fit alongside your car.

Why. It will cause a dangerous situation for the other vehicle. If you cross the white lines, when turning left, your car can be on the path of the vehicles already on their side.

Remedy: you need to know that when your left door mirror is aligned with the corner of the junction you need to start turning, lot of cars needed around ¾ turn of the steering, it is most of the times not all the time. Turn should be gentle turn, not brisk, jerk or swing of the steering.


3.2 Not steering enough when going around a bend


When you drive around a bend at an appropriate speed, you do not apply enough steering. This causes both passenger-side wheels to mount the pavement.

Why. pedestrians could be on the footpath or if going in the middle of the road, could be car coming from the other side.

Remedy: if you fix a reference point for your normal driving position on your wind screen, follow that point around the bend, depending on the bend you can slow down your car, while going around the bend a quick glance into the left door mirror will also give you better judgment about your position


3.3 Steering late when turning right into a minor road


When you turn right into a minor road, you steer late and not enough. This causes a ‘swan neck’ effect, and you drive fully onto the wrong side of the new road to correct your position.

Why. You are not in control of the car, and it can cause an accident. As a driver you should be able to control the direction of your car.

Remedy: you need to know that when your left door mirror is aligned with the corner of the junction you need to start turning, lot of cars needed around ¾ turn of the steering, it is most of the times not all the time. Turn should be gentle turn, not brisk, jerk or swing of the steering.


3.4 Repeatedly mounting the pavement when pulling up on the left


Throughout the test, when you pull up on the left-hand side of the road, you mount the pavement with both passenger-side wheels before the car returns to the road.

Why. pedestrians could be on the footpath. It can harm them. You can have a argument, no one was there, but question is “were you in control of your car?”

Remedy: if you fix a reference point for your stopping position on your wind screen, as you are bringing car close to KERB, when this refence point approach, pull your car gently away from the kerb and just before stopping a quick glance into the left door mirror will also give you better judgment about your position


3.5 Steering late when moving out to pass parked vehicles


When you approach parked vehicles, you steer late and get too close to the parked vehicles.

Why. If any car opens their door, you have no safety gap to avoid it.

Remedy: you supposed to be driving door length away from parked vehicle, as meeting traffic guidelines, should not go closer than 2 car length to the parked vehicle, if you follow these guidelines, you can avoid such situation.


Driving safety facts


More than 1 in 10 reported accidents in Great Britain in 2019

Source: Contributory factors for reported road accidents

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