J-turn

English

Animation of a J-turn

Etymology

J + turn, from the similarity to the shape of the letter J.

Noun

J-turn (plural J-turns)

1. A 180-degree turn in a vehicle, where the vehicle starts in reverse and ends driving forwards so that the direction of travel remains the same.
   • 2001, Carl T. Bogus, Why Lawsuits are Good for America: Disciplined Democracy, Big Business, and the Common Law, New York University Press, page 160:

     The institute reported that its tests showed the CJ-5 would overturn when performing a J-turn at just 22 mph.

   • 2006, Henry M. Holden, To Be a U.S. Secret Service Agent, Zenith Press, page 47:

     This maneuver results in spinning the vehicle into a perfect 180-degree J-turn. Without losing any momentum, the driver then guns the engine and speeds off in the opposite direction.

   • 2006, Giampiero Mastinu, Massimiliano Gobbi, Carlo Miano, Optimal Design of Complex Mechanical Systems: With Applications to Vehicle Engineering, Springer, page 205:

     Comparisons between referenced car and optimised car are shown in Figs. 7.13-7.15, referring to a J-turn manoeuvre, a steady-state turning manoeuvre and a power on-off while steering manoeuvre.

Coordinate terms

• U-turn