How to make correct Left turn?

The timing and distance of a turn is also different with a manual steering box. Button hooking or going straight then turning hard, fast, and tight doesn't work the same when you you have to turn the wheel 10 times instead of 5 like my old iron. You have to do the approaches a little different and do the cuts a lot sooner. A good quality spinner is also a must.

 

Popcorn stock went thru the roof on that one! Lol

 

Depends on the state I guess. In California they taught us to turn into the far right lane after completing the left turn. In Arizona we were taught to complete the turn in the far left lane, put our blinker on, and merge to the right when safe. Who knows anymore after that. I was taught both ways and prefer the California way which is less work & safer imho. Keeping in mind this only turning left when there is one lane turning left. For multiple left hand lanes then it would be far right (outside) turning lane and complete your turn closest to curb (far right).

Don't get me started on right hand turns though. Everyone can just agree to disagree on those lol.

 

Too many accidents have been caused this way because of the right hand side blind spot. A car sneaks in and doesn't care about your trailer and smash. I was taught to turn from the inner most right turn lane and use up all your space even if it means you have to go into the opposing side of traffic. By doing it that way it insures you don't have anyone sneak up on your right. However, it sucks because now the cars on your left are not expecting you to come straight into their lane. So you have to wait till those cars on your left either see that you'll need to go straight a bit more to clear the curb or wait till all those cars are done completing their turn. I have seen too many accidents with trucks using the outside lane because the cars don't think about the trailer off tracking.

So what we really do out there is hog both lanes to make those rights so we don't have to wait for all those cars to complete their turns. How you do this is position your truck in such a way that the idiot cars behind you know you need the space to make this turn. You almost split it right down the middle but make sure you don't leave any space on the right for a car to squeeze in. You still have to watch your left though to make sure a car isn't being stupid and sneaking in at the last second but it's much easier to catch someone on your left then it is on your right.

 

As there are lots of new drivers here which will be probably be taking tests soon; The CDL manual is nationalized and legally the same in every state. Follow its recommendations for your road test. The testers don't care about local conventions or Internet opinions.

 

I'm still waiting fer TripleSix to come back.

Me, I only run little skinny roads with the only traffic usually being a pickup with the whole ### end covered with dust/mud/whatever, who then decides to come to a complete stop in front of me on a 65 mph road, before turning left. With no other traffic within 5 miles.

If I make a turn in either direction, I generally need to take both lanes before, and after the turn. Because I need to, and because I can. You drivers must spend time in the city.

 

OP was being taught to do things a certain way. He apparently disagrees with the trainer. The other thing that is apparent is the trainer failed the student by not teaching him WHY.

 

One of the best things my Dad taught me is always ask WHY.

 

In the other thread @AModelCat mentioned, this is why it went on so long. The manual is what you need to pass the test. Reality is how you may need to do it. Where I used to park my truck there was no way that I could make the turn onto the main street without putting the back of my trailer in the right lane, then cutting hard left, across three lanes on my side and into oncoming traffic in order to not take out the light pole on the corner.

 

That light pole is eternally grateful to you. God Bless.