[mcv]

I don't get why that Bootlegger K-turn is less likely to lead to a crash. Don't you risk a crash while backing up from A to B? But with a regular K-turn, if you make a tighter turn while backing up from A to B you can stay on the safe side of the road the entire time.

The primary advantage of that Bootlegger K-turn seems to be speed: by swerving across the opposite side of the road, you can make a quick turn into the side street, and then you don't have to make a tight reverse turn to get out. Less turn -> more speed. But if I'm worried about a crash, I'd rater stay on the opposite side of the street.

[gpvos]

Backing up is relatively fast, especially when you are running from the cops. But you can't avoid the time you need to reverse at B, which is the most likely moment the cops will catch up with you. So it's better to be at the other side of the road then.

Funny how we think differently: I looked at the drawings and immediately saw why he reversed that way, even before I read the explanation.

[brc]

It's to do with how close the cops are following. The bootlegger turn uses the opposite lane for more time and spends time in the existing lane at the start of the turn, rather than at the end with the regular turn.

So it's about reducing the amount of time your in the same lane as the cops behind you, and making sure that the time spent in that lane is before they catch up.