As a driver, you must be able to move off safely without stalling or getting in the way of any other road users. You must be able to move off safely whether you are on level ground or on a hill, moving off straight or at an angle, from the side of the road or at a junction or traffic lights. Whether you need to move off fast or slow, you must do so with full control of your own car, and considering who else might be around you.
Every time you have stopped, use the routine Prepare - Observe - Manoeuvre to move off safely.
Prepare
Preparation is the process of making sure the car is in the appropriate gear, setting the gas and finding the biting point so that you can feel the car is ready to move.
It is possible in modern manual cars, particularly large engine cars and diesel cars, to move off without using the gas/accelerator pedal, but without using gas, you have a higher risk of stalling. Best practice is to use the gas pedal any time you want to move off on the roads, only consider leaving the gas out when you’re manoeuvring in tight spaces.
Push the clutch all the way down and put the car into first gear. Do not look down at the gear stick to check what gear you’re in, 1st and 3rd look indistinguishably similar. To make sure you’re in 1st gear, always just put the car in neutral and then into 1st gear.
Gently squeeze the accelerator, until you hear a gentle rise of revs, as soon as you have some revs, bring the clutch up slowly until you feel a rumble, then apply slightly more revs with the accelerator and bring the clutch up about the thickness of a 20p piece more, until you feel the car dip and the bonnet raise, this is the biting point. Hold your left foot still and keep your right foot still on the accelerator too. You should be aiming for about 1500 to 2000 revs with the accelerator and a nice dipped feeling of the car with the clutch. Now you are prepared to move off.
The handbrake will be holding the car in place during this process, if you hear any creaking from the back of the car, you’re likely over powering the handbrake, so push the clutch down slightly until the creaking stops. If you don’t find the dip, the car might not move and might roll backwards if you’re facing uphill, so take as long as it takes you to make sure you set the gas and find the dip properly.
Observe
Rule 159 of the Highway Code says you should check all mirrors and relevant blind spots before moving off, and then signal as necessary. Depending on where you are, the observation you will need to do to be safe will be different. Before moving away from the side of the road, check all three mirrors starting on the side closest to the curb and end with a blind spot check across your shoulder on the side you’re pulling out on.
Not checking your blind spot is a really common reason for failing driving tests.
In some situations, you might need to look in a big circle all the way around the car checking all mirrors and blind spots on both sides, in other situations you might only need to check one side. Always think about where any danger might be as you move off, and make sure you check those places out using your mirrors and blind spot checks.
When moving off from the side of the road, do not put on a signal that might cause another road user to slow down thinking you haven’t seen them and are about to pull out on them. Wait until any road users nearby are passed you or are far enough away from you that they will not be effected by you moving off, and then consider signalling if appropriate.
Manoeuvre
Once you have prepared the car to move by finding the biting point with the appropriate gear, gas and dip, and made sure it’s safe to move off by checking all mirrors and relevant blind spots to make sure it’s safe to move off, it’s time to go. Take the handbrake off and look around into your blind spot again for a final check. This final re-check of the blind spot is critical for your safety and others as the blind spot is the most difficult place to see. Make sure you double check it as you go.
Once you’ve taken your handbrake off, keep your feet still for about two car lengths to avoid any jerky movement or stalling. When you need to adjust your feet, start by adding more gas first and then gently bring the clutch up. Once the clutch is all the way up, move your left foot away from the clutch pedal and onto the floor, to avoid accidental use of the clutch.
Remember
Use the POM routine every time you go to move off. Whether you’re in a car park, or stopped at traffic lights, or moving off at the side of the road, it’s your responsibility as a driver to make sure you move off without stalling and that you’re fully aware of anyone around you.
Make sure you know your car’s ready to move forward by checking you’re in first gear- don’t look down at the gear stick, just put the car in neutral and then into 1st gear.
Set the gas to about 2000 RPM and find the dip with the clutch.
Make sure it’s safe to move off by checking all your mirrors and at least 1 relevant blind spot.
Make sure you double check your blind spot as you move off and start any adjustments of your feet by adding extra gas so that you don’t stall.