Turnabouts — South Carolina Permit Test

A two-point turnabout uses a street, alley or driveway to reverse direction when driving around the block is not practical.

Driving around the block is the simplest way to reverse, so the turnabout is for when that option is not available.

In this type of turn, a street, alley, or driveway is used to reverse the direction you are traveling when it is not practical or possible to drive around a block.

In a reverse two-point turnabout, back up until your rear bumper reaches the near edge of the driveway before steering into it.

Steering in too early or too late puts a wheel over the curb or the back of the car into the far edge.

Move back until the rear bumper of the vehicle reaches the near edge of the driveway.

In a forward two-point turnabout, stop as the rear of the car clears the curb or edge of the driveway.

Stopping too soon leaves the rear in the street, and going too far leaves too little room to back out.

Stop as the rear of the vehicle clears the curb or edge of the driveway.

A three-point turnabout should only be used on a two-lane roadway that is not busy.

The car sits across both lanes for several moves, which is safe only where traffic is light.

This type of turn should only be used on a two-lane roadway that is not busy.

If the street is busy, it is better to circle the entire city block than to make a three-point turnabout.

A slow three-point turn blocks both lanes, and on a busy street that invites a crash from either direction.

It is better to circle an entire city block if the street is busy.

A three-point turnabout must be done without hitting the curb, driving off the road surface, or using a side street or driveway.

The maneuvere exists to turn around in the road itself, and touching the curb shows the car is not under control.

The three-point turn must be performed without hitting the curb, driving off the road surface, or using a side street or driveway.

When reversing in a three-point turnabout, check blind spots over both shoulders and do not depend on your rearview mirror alone.

The mirror cannot show the areas beside and behind the car where a child or cyclist may be.

Do not depend on your rearview mirror alone.

When is a two-point turnabout used?

When driving around the block is not practical. Driving around the block is the simplest way to reverse, so the turnabout is for when that option is not available. South Carolina Driver's Manual, p.77: “In this type of turn, a street, alley, or driveway is used to reverse the direction you are traveling when it is not practical or possible to drive around a block.”