Roadwise States Connecticut Driving lessons Turning and backing safely Connecticut driving lesson · Driving Behaviors & Space Cushion
Turning and backing safely A 3-minute lesson from the Connecticut course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Read time 3 minutes
Course unit Driving Behaviors & Space Cushion
Checkpoint questions 5
Source pages 25, 26 A good turn crosses the fewest lanes and never surprises anyone. Backing is even riskier because you can't see well behind you — Connecticut bans backing in travel lanes except for parking maneuvers.
Know the rule
Where no signs or markings control turning, turn from the lane closest to the direction you want to go and into the lane closest to the one you came from. Change lanes only after the turn, when safe, with a look and a signal.
Handbook p. 25 ↗ Know the rule
Right turns: avoid swinging wide to the left. Drivers behind may think you're turning left and pass on the right, and drivers in the far lane won't expect you.
Handbook p. 26 ↗ Know the rule
Left turns: don't cut the corner so sharply that you hit someone approaching from the left, but leave room for oncoming vehicles to turn left in front of you.
Handbook p. 26 ↗ Know the rule
Where signs or markings allow two or more turning lanes, stay in your lane during the turn.
Handbook p. 26 ↗ Know the rule
Never turn right immediately after passing a bicyclist, and yield to bicycles when turning as you would to any vehicle.
Handbook p. 26 ↗ Know the rule
Never back in any travel lane — it's illegal and unsafe — except to parallel park or make a three-point (K) turn. If you miss your turn or exit, go on to where you can safely turn around.
Handbook p. 26 ↗ Know the rule
Don't stop in travel lanes for any reason (confusion, breakdown, letting out a passenger). Keep moving until you can safely pull off the road.
Handbook p. 26 ↗ Backing safely: Check behind the vehicle before you get in — children and small objects can't be seen from the seat Look over your right shoulder directly through the rear window; don't rely on mirrors Back slowly — steering is harder in reverse Stop occasionally and check your mirrors Whenever possible, have a person outside help guide you Handbook p. 26 ↗ Know the rule
Do as little backing as possible; in a shopping center, choose a space you can drive through so you leave going forward.
Handbook p. 26 ↗ Put it into practice
You pass your highway exit by a few car lengths. Don't stop or back up on the ramp or shoulder — continue to the next exit and turn around there.
Check your understanding Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
When is backing a vehicle in a travel lane legal? Anytime traffic is light Never under any circumstance To parallel park or K-turn Only during daylight hours Answer: To parallel park or K-turn
It is illegal and unsafe to back in a travel lane, except to parallel park or perform a three-point or K turn.
Handbook p. 26 ↗ When backing a vehicle, why shouldn't you rely on your mirrors alone? Mirrors only work when moving forward Mirrors reverse left and right when backing A backup camera is required instead Mirrors can't show directly behind you Answer: Mirrors can't show directly behind you
Turn and look through the rear window; you cannot see directly behind your vehicle using mirrors alone.
Handbook p. 26 ↗ You miss your turn or highway exit. What should you do? Back up on the road to reach the turn Stop in the travel lane until traffic clears Make an immediate U-turn regardless of signs Keep going and turn around safely later Answer: Keep going and turn around safely later
If you miss your turn or exit, do not back up; continue to where you can safely turn around.
Handbook p. 26 ↗ When making a right turn, what mistake creates confusion for drivers behind you? Swinging wide left first Slowing down early Checking mirrors before turning Turning on the correct signal Answer: Swinging wide left first
If you swing wide left before a right turn, the driver behind may think you're changing lanes or turning left and try to pass on the right.
Handbook p. 26 ↗ It's illegal and unsafe to back your vehicle in a travel lane except to parallel park or perform a three-point/K turn. True False Answer: True
Backing in a travel lane is illegal and unsafe except to parallel park or perform a three-point or K turn.
Handbook p. 26 ↗ Previous lesson Changing lanes and passing Next lesson Seeing and being seen More in Driving Behaviors & Space Cushion About the source Roadwise’s Connecticut course uses the driver handbook edition supplied with this study pack. This lesson cites source pages 25, 26. The linked PDF is a third-party mirror of the handbook, rather than a government-hosted page.
Open the handbook source PDF · View the source edition
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