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What is considered a wide turn in driving?

I’ve been taking driving lessons for a couple of weeks, and my instructor suggested that I work on turns because mine were often “too wide.” I don’t want to fail my driving test coming up, but I’m not sure how to fix this. What is considered a wide turn when you’re driving?

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Macy Fouse · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
No sweat—driving can take time getting used to, turns included! Wide turns are exactly what they sound like: when you swing out past the lane when turning, causing you to need to straighten out when you enter the lane.
When large vehicles like commercial trucks make turns, they must swing out farther to avoid hitting cars in the other lanes. But unless you’re driving a semi-truck, you typically won’t need to make too wide of a turn.
Here are a few reasons your turns may be too wide and how to fix it:
  1. Not being sure of where you’re going while turning. It may sound basic, but many new drivers’ instinct is to keep an eye on oncoming traffic instead of where they’re turning to. When you decide it’s safe to turn, commit to the turn by focusing on the point you’re driving to.
  2. Turning too late. A wide turn happens ff you drive slightly past where you need to turn before tilting the steering wheel, but this can be difficult to straighten out. If your turns tend to be wide, try turning a bit earlier than you usually do.
  3. Steering the wrong amount. If you’re still getting used to how your car steers, you might not be turning the steering wheel enough when you’re making turns. During an average turn, your steering wheel should rotate about 75% of a full circle.
If you feel like you need some practice, try going to a slow traffic area or parking lot to practice these tips. Your turns will be flawless in no time.
Being a new driver comes with lots of new responsibilities, so you’ll need to be as safe as possible when you hit the road—and that includes having solid
car insurance
coverage. Insuring young drivers can get pretty expensive, but using the
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