DAY 51: Stage 2 Practical Lesson 2.06 U-turn and Roundabout

Today’s lesson was on U turn and Roundabout U turn. After having no lesson for 2 weeks due to work commitment, I started to forget the things I have learnt previously. Luckily it all came back after a while of driving round the circuit. Today’s vehicle was type C (the one that start engine with a red button). We drove to Hillview where there is a roundabout. The idea of U-turn at a roundabout is to keep to the right lane when entering the roundabout (signal right) and after ¾ of the round signal left before exit. By the way roundabout U-turn will not be tested.

Then we moved on to do U-turn along Bukit Batok Road, Choa Chu Kang Road and also Bukit Batok Central. The one at Bukit Batok Road and Choa Chu Kang Road are in some of the test routes. Always remember to U-turn to the 3rd ‘lane’. Thick kerb is considered as one lane. So for the U-turn at Bukit Batok Road and Choa Chu Kang Road, U-turn to the right most lane since the middle kerb is a thick one.

Things to take note:

• Maximum speed at Bukit Batok Road is 70km/hr so try to keep close to it. Should go to gear 4. 
• Use engine brake to reduce speed if you see red light and you are still far away. Using too much of foot brake will wear off its effectiveness esp when emergency braking.
• If you reach a green traffic light in gear 4 (~70km/hr) cover break do not lower gear (or reduce speed) suddenly near the traffic light unless need to emergency brake.
• After right turn (to right lane) immediately maintain lane discipline and signal left and try to move to the left lane.
• For U turn, from left lane (assume in gear 3-4), check rear and side mirrors for clearance, then signal right, check blind spot and change to right-most lane (repeat the mirror checking in each lane). When you enter the deceleration lane (keeping left signal and check blind spot), brake, change to gear 2 and slow down. For thick curb U turn, turn to the right most lane (check blind spot before turn). Try to keep the car about 1m distance from the curb during turning. After turn, signal left, change to gear 2-3 maintain lane discipline and change to left most lane (check mirror and blind spot while changing lane).
• U turn is a slow process, make sure the incoming cars are far far away.

Expenditure

Practical              $68.48
Total cost so far:  $1077.81