A 3-minute lesson from the Rhode Island course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
A turnabout turns your car around to go the opposite way. You may be asked to do one on your road test. There are four types; choose the one that is safest for the traffic and the street you're on.
Before any turnabout, make sure:
No sign prohibits it (such as No U Turn), and local rules allow it
You won't cross a solid yellow line—you can't at any time
You can see 500 feet in each direction
No hills or curves nearby block your view
You're at least 200 feet from an intersection
There's room to finish, traffic is light, and no pedestrians are in your path
Pulling into a street or driveway on the left and backing out is more hazardous, because you back into the travel lane. Choose one with clear visibility both ways.
On a narrow residential street with good visibility 500 feet each way and the nearest intersection 300 feet back, you can use a three-point turn. If the street had a hill blocking your view, pick another spot.
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.
How much clear visibility in each direction do you need before attempting a turnabout?
200 feet
100 feet
500 feet
1,000 feet
Answer: 500 feet
Before a turnabout, you need clear visibility in each direction for a distance of 500 feet.
