Why do drivers turn slightly right before turning left........:confused:

Because they are incompetent generally...

There are some exceptions like if you need to turn into a drive that's very narrow and you need to align the car with it a bit more I suppose, but...

Annoys the H*ll out of me and it would be a fail in the Dutch driving test

To remove any chances of kerbing an expensive alloy wheel?

Depends if you mean they swing right then left or gradually pull to the right to align the vehicle with a corner to stop the N/S/R wheel hitting the kerb?

I drive trucks quite a bit and you need to think carefully before turning in any direction.

Truck drivers have to do this in their trucks and sometimes its just habitual

when driving cars, also the alloy wheel thing is a possibility unles its a severe

swerve right before turning left

There are some exceptions like if you...

...want to turn in sharp to break traction at the rear and begin a drift

Sorry!

yeah , scandinavian reverse flick i think its called

It allows you to see around the corner earlier than if you cut it tight, thus observing potential hazards sooner, either that or everyones a wanna be rally driver!

on an advanced driving coarse they want you to be near the middle line on left corners and near the kerb on right corners.

so turning a bit right gets you closer to the middle?

aslong as they stay in lane why does it matter?

Ahh, the old rally drivers flick

I was actually taught to do this by my ADI instructor as it gives a clearer view of what is round the corner and lessens the angle of the corner so you have less chance of losing grip. (obviously as said you must stay in your lane though)

FWIW I think my little Fabia has a much bigger turning circle than some cars I've driven, which would put me on the wrong side of the road if I were to take a corner too tightly, especially when cars are parked far too close to corners as they often are

As said though, I stay out to begin with rather than swinging out cos it's usually easy enough to judge in advance which corners are likely to present a problem, otherwise just go round a lot more slowly.

Regards

Mo

It's called "swan-necking", apparently (viewed from above, it would trace out the curve of a swan's neck). It was much more prevalent in the days before most cars had power steering. The manoeuvre puts the driver further away from the kerb. This increases the radius of the left turn, so needs less lock and less effort.

It's te Scandanavian flick and its used to transfere the weight to the outside wheels for more grip.

... its used to transfere the weight to the outside wheels for more grip.

:confused: :confused: But if you flick right, you transfer the weight to the left-hand wheels. These will be the inside wheels for the left turn, won't they? I'm not saying you're wrong - I just don't understand.

:confused: :confused: But if you flick right, you transfer the weight to the left-hand wheels. These will be the inside wheels for the left turn, won't they? I'm not saying you're wrong - I just don't understand.

You flick it the wrong way first and it lightens the load on the out side but when you turn in to the corner the weight shift is greater and the car digs in more.

Re ag.morley's original question, if it's a matter of transference of weight, doesn't that mean essentially that they are going too fast and need (or hope) to employ some sort of technique to get round the corner safely?

Mo

Hi

Nothing wrong with moving slightly out to the right to maximise your view into the side road and help avoid the kerb on a sharp left hand entry. However, you MUST check your mirror before doing this to ensure that you are not being overtaken by anything first. Lastly, you dont flick the car out to the left, you position it correctly early in your approach to the junction, so if turning left, a mirror check, followed by positioning slightly wide, then left signal and go up to the junction in a straight and consistent line.

Most drivers I see doing this on approach to a junction use it to slightly reduce the turning radius, usually combined with approching the junction too fast and I will bet they never use the mirrors effectively before doing it. Used to call them something beginning with C in my biking days.

Chris

Racing line. Only reason I can think of.

thought it was cos noone uses push puill except when learning. they simply slide their hands to the right of the steering wheel and dont always preform the sliding corectly. they simply turn the wheel right to adjust their hand position so they can pull down and overlap their hands for the turn.

however the more pronounced turn to the middle of the road i would say is cos they are not aligned correctly for the corner.

Scott

Hi

Nothing wrong with moving slightly out to the right to maximise your view into the side road and help avoid the kerb on a sharp left hand entry. However' date=' you MUST check your mirror before doing this to ensure that you are not being overtaken by anything first. Lastly, you dont flick the car out to the left, you position it correctly early in your approach to the junction, so if turning left, a mirror check, followed by positioning slightly wide, then left signal and go up to the junction in a straight and consistent line.

Most drivers I see doing this on approach to a junction use it to slightly reduce the turning radius, usually combined with approching the junction too fast and I will bet they never use the mirrors effectively before doing it. Used to call them something beginning with C in my biking days.

Chris[/quote']

if the car overtaking is in thier lane why should it matter?

i still call bikers the C word. followed by a opening of my door! or a long pole out the window. :P

if the car overtaking is in thier lane why should it matter?

i still call bikers the C word. followed by a opening of my door! or a long pole out the window. :P

Its the IF word. Firstly, what is smart about moving right while indicating left? Secondly, IF is not really good enough is it? If the car or bike overtaking is in a lane at all, there may not be enough clearence, or you may panic them intto swerving instinctivly as you swing out causing an accident with oncoming traffic. Thirdly and incidentally, ffs why not just turn left properly? Oh yes, now I remember, its too much trouble:rolleyes:

Chris

Its the IF word. Firstly' date=' what is smart about moving right while indicating left? Secondly, IF is not really good enough is it? If the car or bike overtaking is in a lane at all, there may not be enough clearence, or you may panic them intto swerving instinctivly as you swing out causing an accident with oncoming traffic. Thirdly and incidentally, ffs why not just turn left properly? Oh yes, now I remember, its too much trouble:rolleyes:

Chris[/quote']

who put a badger up your a s s? why the agression?

i don't know who actually does this moving right to turn left anyway..it's utter nonsense

BUT

if the other person comes out of thier lane and hits you, then you claim...this is what insurance if for? just make sure you don't go into the back of them:rofl:

the SAFEST thing to do is always stay in lane no matter if you are overtaking (in a different lane of course) or doing a "swan neck lefty" if you do stay in lane then what harm is it? no one ever said about going out of lane? and if they do it's their fault.

If the car infront is swan necking on a road constantly then they are drunk! don't overtake!

Wow, how very interesting. Perhaps people, you could tell me why people who are approaching a T junction waiting to turn left only ever look right and then proceed to pull out on me when I am approaching from their left on a narrow bit of road :confused:

who put a badger up your a s s? why the agression?

Hi Chris

Not meant to be aggressive. if I am being aggressive' date=' I am not subtle about it. I just get miffed when people try to kill me by driving badly. Hope its not just me overeacting. Tried to kill me, fine, go ahead, have another go. I dont think so. I just get even more miffed when people then try to justify the same poor driving. As I asked earlier, why not just do it properly?

i don't know who actually does this moving right to turn left anyway..it's utter nonsense

Unfortunately I have seen this on too many occasions and it is usually perpertated by some clown who is not only getting this bit wrong, but usually messing up the rest of the drive as well.

BUT

if the other person comes out of thier lane and hits you' date=' then you claim...this is what insurance if for? just make sure you don't go into the back of them:rofl:

the SAFEST thing to do is always stay in lane no matter if you are overtaking (in a different lane of course) or doing a "swan neck lefty" if you do stay in lane then what harm is it? no one ever said about going out of lane? and if they do it's their fault.[/quote']

What harm is it if you are caused to brake or swerve to try and avoid what appears to be someone about to change lanes on you? Could be minor inconvenience, could be someone going into the back of you, could be you put into the oncoming traffic, could be swan necker bounced across the junction into pedestrians, could be fatal. Insurance forms are not easy to fill in when you are in a dark satin lined box. That is what harm it is.

If the car infront is swan necking on a road constantly then they are drunk! don't overtake!

If it was constant behaviour it may be easier to spot. People really do this. It really does cause accidents.

I feel very strongly about the standard of driving, so much so that I quit highly paid employment to become a driving instructor. I strive to teach my lot to do it safely. When i see people trying to justify what is clearly poor driving, I wonder what makes them tick? If the guy down your canteen has a **** and does not wash his hands before making your sandwich, are you going to find excuses for him as well?

Not having a go, just very poor tolerance to the thoughtless people who are ruining our society, of which, the inconsiderate driver is just one.

Chris

Wow, how very interesting. Perhaps people, you could tell me why people who are approaching a T junction waiting to turn left only ever look right and then proceed to pull out on me when I am approaching from their left on a narrow bit of road :confused:

Er is it because they are thoughtless *****? I find the best method of defence against this is to reduce your speed on apprach to the junction and if you dont get eye contact with the driver about to emerge, cover the brake and give them a toot.

I nearly got wiped out by a lorry doing this a few weeks ago. I actually stopped, with the horn on and he still only saw me at the last minute.

Chris

I don't mean turning left at speed, at the traffic lights the car turning left drifts slightly right before turning left, I understand about wagons having to pull wide................but not a car