Moving off safely
Moving off means pulling away from the side of the road into traffic. It sounds simple, but it combines clutch control, steering and careful observation all at once.
Instructors often teach it as POM: prepare, observe, move. Doing it the same way every time keeps you safe and makes it automatic.
By the end of this topic you can
- You can prepare the car to move off with good clutch and accelerator control.
- You can check all mirrors and both blind spots before moving.
- You can decide whether a signal is needed and give it at the right time.
- You can move off at an angle from behind a parked vehicle.
- You can test your brakes gently soon after first moving off.
What you need to know and understand
- Before moving off, use all your mirrors, check blind spots by looking round, signal if necessary, and take a final look.
- Only move off when it is safe, without making anyone else slow down or change direction.
- A signal does not give you priority. You still have to wait for a safe gap.
- Starting the engine may be taken as a sign you are about to move off.
- Cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians can be hidden in blind spots, so look properly over your shoulder.
- Check that your brakes work as you first move off.
The POM routine
- Prepare: clutch down, select first gear, set a little gas and find the biting point. Keep your feet still.
- Observe: check the interior mirror, the right door mirror and look over your right shoulder into the blind spot. Glance ahead and to the left too, including the left blind spot if anyone could be there, such as a cyclist on a cycle track or a pedestrian.
- Decide on a signal: if anyone would benefit, for example a driver behind or a pedestrian about to cross, signal right. If the road is empty, a signal is not needed.
- Final look: check the right blind spot again just before you move.
- Move: release the parking brake, bring the clutch up a little more, add a little gas and steer gently into a normal driving position. Then release the clutch fully as you gain speed.
Moving off from behind a parked car
If you have stopped close behind another vehicle, you will need to move off at an angle. The routine is the same, but you need slower, more careful control and more steering.
Keep the car at a crawl using the clutch, and steer briskly to the right to clear the parked car. Your front will move into the road before you can see far past the parked vehicle, so oncoming traffic matters as well as traffic behind. Once you are past, straighten up and steer back to your normal position. Watch out for the parked car's doors opening or its driver pulling away.
Is it really safe to go?
Safe means no one has to brake, swerve or wait because of you. If a car is approaching and would have to slow down, wait. The Highway Code's hierarchy of road users means drivers have the greatest responsibility to look out for people walking, cycling or riding horses, so give them time and space. Moving off on a hill uses the same routine with a little more gas, covered in the hill starts topic.
Common mistakes
- Relying on the mirrors only. Always look over your shoulder into the blind spot.
- Signalling and pulling out straight away. A signal is a warning, not permission.
- Taking too long between the final look and moving. If time passes, look again.
- Over-steering into the middle of the road. Steer gently to a normal position.
- Moving off from behind a parked car without enough room. If you are too close, you may need to reverse back a little first, after checking behind.
Test yourself: Moving off safely
Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.
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Sources: Highway Code rules 103, 159 and 160 (gov.uk); Highway Code rules H1 to H3, hierarchy of road users (gov.uk); DVSA car and light van driving syllabus, unit 2 (gov.uk). Independent guide, not affiliated with any licensing agency. Always check the latest official rules with the DVSA.