Good afternoon, dear reader.
In the next article in the series “Pass the race track in half a kick” we will talk about the competent execution of the “90 degree turns” exercise.
Exercise "" refers to a group of new exercises that are used when passing exams in the traffic police starting from September 1, 2016.
Exercise diagram
Exercise area"90 Degree Turns" takes the form of a winding corridor:
The width of the corridor is 3.9 meters. In practice, this means that the corridor is approximately 2 times wider than the training vehicle, i.e. There is enough space to perform maneuvers.
The length of the corridor sections is equal to 2 lengths of the car body.
The radius of curves at turns is 1 meter.
Note. This article discusses a scheme that involves making first left and then right turns. Starting from October 14, 2017, it is possible to use a symmetrical scheme, in which first there is a right turn, and then a left one. The scheme is selected depending on the circuit configuration.
When performing a turning exercise, the driver must do the following:
- Drive up to the start line of the exercise and stop.
- Enter the corridor and turn left 90 degrees.
- Make a 90 degree right turn.
- Drive up to the end line of the exercise and stop.
When performing this exercise, unlike the exercise, the car can only move in front, i.e. Reversing is prohibited.
Error table for the exercise "90 degree turns"
The first column of the table contains descriptions of possible errors, and the second column shows the number of errors that can be made. 0 means that after the first mistake the exam is graded “FAIL”.
| Error | Possible quantity |
| 113.1. Did not start performing the test exercise within 30 seconds after receiving the command (signal) to start performing it. | 0 |
| 113.2. Knocked down marking equipment. | 2 |
| 113.3. According to the projection of the vehicle size, he drove beyond the boundaries of the test exercise areas, marked by road marking lines 1.1 white or 1.4 yellow and marking cones (marking posts), or drove his wheel onto the marking line marking the boundaries of the test exercise areas, depending on the conditions of the test. exercises. | 0 |
| 113.7. Allowed the engine to stop. | 2 |
| 113.9. Driving in reverse if reversing is not provided for by the conditions of the test exercise. | 0 |
| 113.15. Left the exam (refused to complete the test exercise). | 0 |
How to make turns correctly
Let's consider step by step instructions for performing the exercise “Turns 90 degrees”:
1. Stop at the start line of the exercise. In this case, you need to approach the line in such a way that the car is as close as possible to the right edge of the corridor. This will make the exercise easier to perform later.
The closer you can get to the right side, the better. However, be careful not to hit the posts or cross the markings.
2. Start moving, slowly move along the right side of the corridor parallel to it. You need to move until the left rear view mirror is level with cone number 1.
There is no need to turn the car's steering wheel at this stage. As soon as cone number 1 is level with the rearview mirror, stop.
3. Turn the steering wheel all the way to the left. The car stands still.
4. Start moving. The car gradually turns left. At this stage, you need to drive as close as possible to the left side of the corridor and stop parallel to it.
5. Set the steering wheel to the “straight” position and move parallel to the left wall of the corridor. At the same time, watch the position of cone number 2. As soon as this cone is at the level of the right mirror of the car, stop.
6. While standing still, turn the steering wheel of the car all the way to the right.
7. Start driving and make a right turn. Stop before the end line. You can approach this line at any angle; it is not necessary to park the car perpendicularly. This is not an error.
The exercise was successfully completed.
Instructions for performing the exercise turns
You can download the instructions for performing the exercise in pdf format to use directly at the race track:
Possible errors and problems
The most problematic places when performing the “Turns” exercise are cones 1 and 2, which are located inside the turn. If a driver candidate starts turning early, he may hit these cones. However, if you strictly follow the above diagram, you will not catch the cones.
Penalty points for making 90 degree turns
Violations 113.2 (hitting a cone), 113.3 (hitting or crossing a line), 113.9 (reversing) will be noticed by the traffic police officer quite accurately. Therefore they should not be allowed.
As for violation 113.7 (engine stalled), it may not be noticed from afar. Therefore, if you stall, just start the car and continue the exercise.
In general, the “90 degree turns” exercise does not make any supernatural demands on drivers and is quite simple to complete.
Well, the next exercise on the race track is...
Good luck on the roads!
Andrey-155
Regarding the fact that if the engine stalls, from afar it is almost unnoticeable...
How is it possible if a traffic cop is sitting next to a student in the car?
Andrey, if he’s sitting in the car, then of course he’ll notice.
In many examination departments, a traffic police officer sits in another car and watches several cars of the test takers at the same time. In this situation, it is quite difficult to notice a stalled engine.
Good luck with exams!
Hello! At the race track, we are forced to stop in front of the dotted lines at the beginning and end of each exercise, turning off the gear and raising the handbrake. At the same time, how critical will it be if the dotted line is crossed a little? Which point of violation does this error relate to?
Maria, Hello.
You need to stop only in places where it is directly required. It is not necessary to stop before the start line of the exercise; driving without stopping should not be considered a mistake.
Good luck on the roads!
Nikolay-78
Is it important to turn left then right, or can you first turn left then right?
Nikolay, to be honest, I didn’t understand how the two options you described differed. Please clarify this point.
Nikolay-78
Is it important to turn left and then right, or is it possible to place the markings for the exercise symmetrically, i.e. from the beginning turn right then left
The exercise you are interested in is N5, paragraph 18.1. This item requires the driver to alternately make left and right turns along a trajectory corresponding to the drawing.
For comparison, look at exercise N6. It clearly states that symmetrical execution of the exercise is possible:
Depending on the traffic management scheme used on a racing track, automated racing track or closed area, the exercise can be performed either on the left or on the right side of the box.
Thus, in the 90 degree turns exercise, the left turn must be performed first, and then the right turn.
2. If space on the race track is limited, then I recommend personally contacting the traffic police and discussing the possibility of symmetrically organizing the exercise on the site. If the traffic police agree to take the exercise in the order you need, then mark the race track accordingly.
Good luck on the roads!
Valeria-9
Why stop when making turns? An extra opportunity to stall plus confusion in the sequence of actions. It’s easier to do it at low speed, especially since vehicles PASS through intersections and turns.
THIS IS YOURS
advice that will significantly simplify passing this exercise, and the others too.
To move along the "snake" you do not need to use the gas pedal. You just need to release the clutch pedal before the start line, and press it again when approaching the stop line.
With this approach, the car will drive steadily and evenly along the snake, and all you have to do is turn the steering wheel. Agree, it is convenient and not difficult.
WHEN PASSING THE EXAM, THE MAIN THING is to be able to DRIVE, because IN THE CITY, INTERSECTIONS CANNOT BE OVERCOME IN THIS MANNER
The purpose of study is to LEARN, not to PASS AN EXAM
Alexander-454
I don’t agree about the most problematic cones. From my own experience and observation of other students, the most problematic cone is the second from the top from the left. We've just passed the point where you need to turn the steering wheel to the right and there is a real danger of hitting it. During the exam, the left front wheel was a few millimeters away from this cone, but in the end, by some miracle, I passed it without hitting it.
Hello! Please note in the article that the regulations regarding the sequence of turns have changed since October 17th. From the same site: “This exercise has undergone a slight change. Now the order of turns can be any and depends on the layout of the circuit.” Because in the last comment (response to Nikolai) the information is no longer current.
Anna, Hello.
Thanks for the note, the article has been updated.
Good luck on the roads!
Comment is being added
Quite often, novice drivers wonder how to properly enter a turn with a manual or automatic transmission. In fact, this is not as simple a matter as it seems. Taking even a simple turn can be quite dangerous under certain conditions and errors on the part of the driver. In this regard, you should study in detail all the nuances of driving, and it is also advisable to practice all the acquired knowledge. Driving requires clear skills; this will allow you, without hesitation, to perform all the actions that are required to maintain a stable position of the car on the road.
Technicians
How to properly enter a turn with a manual or automatic transmission? To understand this issue, you need to understand the features of cornering. Typically this maneuver is divided into 4 parts:
- Approaching a turn. Here you should gradually slow down to the most optimal speed for cornering;
- Entrance;
- Passing, pay attention to the need to control the direction of movement;
- Exiting the turn. Accompanied by the return of the steering wheel to a straight position; operation with gas may vary on different types of drive.
Working with the pedals while turning is also important. Do not touch the brake and clutch, starting from the moment you enter the turn. Disconnecting the engine from the transmission, as well as braking, can affect the vehicle's stability. You should also gas very carefully. In theory, it should be passed at stable speeds. But, on front-wheel drive cars, at the very end of the turn, the revs are slightly increased. This allows you to quickly restore straight-line movement. On rear-wheel drive, excessive pressure on the pedal will lead to the risk of skidding and loss of control.
Features of turns with different transmissions
To begin with, let's look at the features of cornering on mechanics. This type of transmission is a little more difficult to learn. After the driver gets used to it, there won’t be any particular difficulties, but at the beginning it will be a little more difficult. So, let’s look at the stages of turning on this type of transmission:- As we have already understood, passing a turn begins with preparation, or rather with deceleration. Mechanically, this can be done in three ways. Simply slow down, apply the brakes, and apply engine braking. If everything is clear with the first 2 points, then it makes sense to examine the last one in more detail. In fact, engine braking involves switching to a lower gear, which leads to a decrease in speed. It is used when the road is quite slippery; in such conditions, using the braking system will lead to loss of controllability;
- Entering a manual turn must be done with constant traction. This will prevent you from losing control of the vehicle;
- The passage must be accompanied by control of all parameters. The speed should remain stable, or at least decrease slightly;
- Corner exit will depend on the type of drive. Rear-wheel drive is more sensitive to gas operation. If you start increasing the speed at this moment, you may end up skidding to the inside of the turn. On the contrary, on front-wheel drive, it is recommended to slightly increase the speed to stabilize the trajectory.
Common mistakes
The most common mistake that can end in disaster is speeding when cornering. Too much speed leads to loss of control, the car begins to throw, and as a result is thrown off the road. On a slippery road, a car may simply refuse to turn and fly straight into the bushes on the side of the road. To avoid this, it is better to play it safe and slow down to a minimum than to get into an accident. It’s not for nothing that bikers have a saying “if you can go at a certain speed, then it’s better to go 2 times slower.”
Another common mistake is an attempt to play with the pedals and gear lever right in the turn. If you squeeze the clutch, the relationship between the engine and the wheels is disrupted, which leads to a decrease in the controllability of the car. In cornering conditions, this can lead to complete uncontrollability. Pressing the brake pedal in a car with an automatic transmission works in exactly the same way, only in this case there is also a risk of skidding. Any impact on the brake pedal while the wheels are turned can lead to skidding of the rear axle.
Sometimes, beginners make mistakes when working with the steering wheel. You don't want to go into a turn at too steep an angle, unless that's the only way to get into the turn. The best way to enter a turn is to turn the steering wheel smoothly. When turning right, your hands should be at the 8 and 12 o'clock positions on the steering wheel. If we turn left, then at 4 and 12. This will allow you to control the steering wheel with maximum efficiency. You should not make sudden movements; you should enter the turn in a gentle arc. It is forbidden to hitch into the oncoming lane. If oncoming traffic appears there, it will be very difficult to avoid a collision. It is also not recommended to drive along the side of the road, especially at high speed. It's all about the different coefficient of road grip; if one wheel has this indicator reduced, then there is a possibility of losing control of the car.
Conclusion. Every year hundreds of young drivers take to the roads. Unfortunately, training in driving schools is far from ideal. Therefore, beginners are left with many questions. One of them is how to properly enter a turn with a manual or automatic transmission. In fact, there is not much difference in cornering here. But, there are some differences in the process of driving a car, which, in principle, can affect cornering. It is advisable for the driver to know all these nuances.
According to the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate, most road accidents occur due to incorrect driver actions in an extreme situation. Moreover, this applies not only to inexperienced drivers, but also to those who are already quite confident.
Let's try to analyze the most common mistakes made by drivers when making maneuvers on the road.
1. Excessive speed when entering a turn
If you need to make a turn at an intersection, experienced drivers advise slowing down on the straight part of the road when approaching it. The recommended turning speed should not exceed 60 km/h. But you need to proceed from an analysis of the real road situation, the angle of rotation, and the size of the turning arc. You need to slow down before a turn so that you have the opportunity to go through it at a constant speed, maintained by lightly pressing the gas pedal.
Under no circumstances should you enter a turn at high speed and brake when going through a turn on an arc. You risk ending up on the side of the road or in a skid. It is also dangerous to move in an arc without a brake, but with the gas pedal released. Be careful when turning.
2. Relieving the gas or braking when turning
In addition, the need to slow down when making a turn in itself means that you entered the turn at high speed. Pedaling can also cause slipping when turning. Whenever braking occurs, the vehicle's weight shifts from the rear axle to the front, weakening the grip of the rear tires on the road. Sometimes this can cause the car to slip and enter a skid. Therefore, follow the advice of experienced people: slow down on a straight section of the road to avoid releasing the gas pedal and, especially, braking.
3. Excessive steering when turning
One of the most common mistakes when making turns, overtaking or other maneuvers on the road is excessive steering. Drivers often turn the steering wheel at an angle greater than required to complete the maneuver. This may cause the car to skid. When making maneuvers, you need to remember that the greater the angle you turn the steering wheel, the greater the risk you expose yourself and your car. The steering wheel of the car must be turned carefully, as much as necessary to make a turn. This is achieved by repeating such maneuvers many times, practice!
4. Abrupt change in direction of movement.
While driving, when performing maneuvers, changing lanes, or overtaking, you often have to change the direction of movement. At the same time, the driver turns the steering wheel either to the right or to the left. As a result of such sudden movements, the car may skid, now in one direction, then in the other. To avoid such skids and learn to hold the car correctly, try to turn the steering wheel smoothly, avoiding sudden movements.
5. Braking
When an extreme situation occurs, the driver's first reaction is to brake. When braking hard, the wheels lock and a car without an anti-lock braking system (ABS) can skid. The main danger of skidding is the instability of the car and the possibility of skidding. Skidding usually occurs if the car hits different parts of the road, for example, asphalt and sand or soil.
In such a situation, experienced people advise braking intermittently and releasing the brake pedal when the skid begins. But not everyone can release the pedal in an extreme situation. Therefore, try to predict the situation in advance and adjust the movement of your car in advance so that there is no need for emergency braking.
6. And finally, a few lessons from a professional
To feel confident in your car, you need to learn to control it. This feeling will come to you with driving experience. We want to offer you some simple exercises that will help you develop your sense of the gas pedal.
On an open road with steady traffic, try to maintain a constant speed so that the speedometer needle does not deviate from its position. This exercise can be done both on a flat road and on a road with ups and downs.
Another exercise for training to maintain constant engine speed. Performed in a parking lot. Engage neutral, lock the car with the parking brake and press the gas pedal so that the tachometer needle rises, for example, to 2,500 rpm. You need to train until you manage to reach the specified speed with one pedal press. Then you need to learn to maintain constant speed for some time, for example 10 seconds. After this, a similar exercise can be done at other speeds - 2000, 3000, etc.
The most important thing on the road is extreme attention, the ability to predict the situation and confidence in the consequences of your actions. Good luck on the roads!
The cornering technique depends on the goals pursued by the driver. The difference is not only in the need to overcome the road section safely or as quickly as possible, but also in the specifics of the road section on which maneuvering is carried out. Let's talk about how to enter a turn and about the technique of negotiating road bends in general.
City traffic
When driving on public roads, the main responsibility of every driver is to ensure their own safety, as well as the safety of other road users. Therefore, it would be wrong to talk about a sharp, sporty driving style and high-speed cornering. The technique of cornering in the city, as well as on country roads, requires the implementation of only 2 rules:
Sports driving
More than a dozen books have already been written about the theory of sports driving and how to be fast on a race track. And all successful racers agree that the key when driving on a track is to start accelerating as quickly as possible so that you have more top speed as you approach the next corner. The logic is quite simple: most of the race track is occupied by straight sections, and therefore the driver who drives the straights in less time will be faster, and not the one who has greater speed in the corner.
Even when entering a turn, thinking about how to start accelerating before the next turn is one of the main rules of driving on a race track.
Before considering the theory in more detail, it should be said that the turn is divided into 3 zones:
- braking zone with an entry point to the arc. It is possible to divide into a braking zone and an arc entry zone, but in general this is not important;
- an arc, which, in essence, is a turn. In relation to the arc, you should be aware of the apex - the point closest to the inner edge of the bend. If we are talking about a trajectory, then the apex can be called conditional points on the arc when the trajectory significantly changes its vector. Thus, when discussing driving technique, you may hear about early or late apex;
- the corner exit zone where the car straightens and accelerates.
Basic principles
We hope that the need for a comfortable fit and correct hand position on the steering wheel is a self-evident fact. Therefore, let’s pay attention to other important rules:
Trajectory
If the goal is to achieve the best lap time, you need to make the most of the road width. To go through a turn as quickly as possible, you need to move along the smallest radius from the entry point to the exit point. In other words, at the entry point you begin to turn towards the apex, after passing the apex you need to begin straightening, which ends at the point of exit to the straight line. This is the description of the ideal trajectory when driving on a race track. But there are extreme situations in which the trajectory of movement undergoes changes to obtain benefits:
If the road bend has a complex shape, there may be several apexes in the arc.
A combination of several turns
If the turns are located so that the exit point from one bend is immediately the entry point to another bend in the road, then the trajectory should be built in such a way as to have a maximum speed at the exit of the last turn. That is, we sacrifice the ideal trajectory of the passage leading up to the last bend of the ligament in order to have an optimal trajectory at the exit of the last corner.
To talk about all the intricacies of racing maneuvering in one article is an impossible task. For anyone interested in the theory of car racing and driving in particular, we recommend articles and books by the master of sports and USSR champion in car racing, Mikhail Gorbachev.
When cornering, you must adhere to the following sequence: braking, turning the steering wheel, picking up speed. Professional driving technique means that driving alone is not enough...
The topic of using the steering wheel and pedaling during casual maneuvers was covered in the description of the friction diagram: the driver needs to use the grip on the track most effectively at the moment of braking, turning the steering wheel and accelerating. The key to successful completion is to smoothly complete all three stages in one movement.
Cornering is divided into three stages: braking, turning and accelerating.
Start by braking
When approaching a turn on a straight, high-speed section of a racing track, you need to brake as quickly as possible to the optimal speed for the maneuver. Try to brake hard. An indicator of professional technique is the ability to determine the point at which the centrifugal force is the highest and try to pass it at maximum speed, allowing you to maintain controllability.
Reduce your speed and start steering. Lift your foot off the brake pedal to release the clutch needed to turn, then turn the steering wheel. Sudden movements should be avoided. As described in the slip coefficient section, the car does not follow the steering wheel as if glued to it. Look for balance in handling by making smooth movements.
Steering wheel
When turning, the car overcomes centrifugal forces. The ideal speed is one at which the tires squeal quietly. Until you exit the maneuver, you need to give only as much gas as is needed to maintain a constant speed. The car should not slow down or speed up. The pressure on the accelerometer pedal must be changed as necessary. Once past the apex, smoothly return the steering wheel to the center position.
Before pressing the gas pedal, you must return the steering wheel to the center position
Such actions will release some of the grip on the track, which can be used for acceleration. When the car stops turning, add gas. The sooner the better, but if you start accelerating too early, you risk losing control. Having overcome a bend, during acceleration, two main points are important:
- smoothly return the steering wheel to the center position
- increase speed gradually
It is extremely important to maintain a constant steering angle. In case of a sudden change in its position, you can “lose” the car
Trajectory
The optimal trajectory is the sequence:
- outer shoulder
- inner curb
- outer shoulder
When entering, try to stay on the outer side of the road, pass the top along the inner side, and at the exit again move towards the outer side. The essence of the maneuver is to increase the radius, which will allow you to move on to acceleration earlier.
Remember the centrifugal force that pushes the car towards the outer shoulder. The smaller the radius and the higher the speed, the greater this force. To put it simply, it decreases as the turning radius increases, allowing you to drive it at higher speeds.
The larger the maneuver radius, the higher the permissible speed
The main disadvantage of this method is the increase in the distance covered. When passing long (long) turns and in low-powered vehicles, it is recommended to always stay on the inner side of the road.
If the top of the trajectory is after the actual top, you will be able to gain speed faster and increase the acceleration section
The apex is the point after which you will begin to return the steering wheel to the center position and increase speed. Professional racers install it near the actual apex of the turn, it is not visually marked, the driver must determine it himself and mentally place it on the road. In reality, it is shifted towards the exit, which allows you to gain speed faster, increasing the acceleration section and reducing the lap time.
This technique is called “slow entry, fast exit.” If you have a route diagram at hand, you can draw the optimal route using a compass. Set the vertex, draw an arc through it towards the exit (place the compass on the axis of symmetry). Draw a sharp arc from the entrance side so that the second intersects the first. Draw arcs of different radii until they merge into one smooth curve. After this, all that remains is to train to repeat this curve in reality.
- Place point 1 on the outside of the exit of the turn, draw a wide arc towards the inside edge to point 2.
- Draw another one connecting the top and the outside of the road at the entrance. The point at which the curve crosses the outside is the entrance to Turn 3.
- Considering the points in order 3 -> 2 -> 1, you will get the optimal trajectory
Features of understeer and oversteer
The car's response to the driver's actions is called controllability, one aspect of which is steering. By moving along the optimal trajectory, you are guaranteed to improve your lap times, but this is not easy to achieve. There are times when the car responds weakly to steering wheel speeds or, on the contrary, changes direction too sharply. When understeering, the car does not change direction to the extent that the driver expects. The opposite situation is when the car turns more than it should, this is oversteer.
It is generally accepted that rear-wheel drive vehicles tend to oversteer, while front-wheel drive vehicles tend to understeer. There are many reasons that cause both features. Engine location (layout) is one of the reasons that can lead to understeer in rear-wheel drive or oversteer in front-wheel drive. Imagine that the car is moving in a closed circle. If, when adding gas, the front wheels begin to slip and the radius of the circle increases, this is understeer. If at the same time the rear wheels begin to drift and the car heads towards the center of the circle, it is excessive. For both cases, this is caused by the addition of gas, which results in an increase in power delivered to the wheels.
The top diagram shows understeer, the middle diagram shows oversteer, and the bottom diagram shows normal steering.
Oversteer may occur as a result of:
– braking (the load on the front wheels increases, decreasing on the rear)
– too sharp or delayed steering turns
– entering a turn at too high a speed
When faced with these phenomena, it is not always easy to notice the difference between a driver’s error and the behavior of the car.
Danger of derailment
When the pilot sharply reduces the throttle while turning the steering wheel, the steering sharply increases. This is due to the fact that at the moment of dumping, the weight shifts to the front axle, decreasing on the rear. If you turn the steering wheel at the same time, the car sharply throws in the direction of the turn, until it skids and spins out. This often happens with front-wheel drive cars. The best way to get out of a skid in such a situation is to sharply add gas in order to cause understeer.
When the driver suddenly removes his foot from the accelerometer pedal, the weight of the car is suddenly transferred to the front wheels, which can lead to a skid. This situation most often occurs when the car is in a lower gear with significant differences in torque.
