The DTC
Essential Skills7 min read

Moving Off & Stopping Safely

Every journey starts with moving off and ends with stopping. Getting these fundamentals right shows the examiner you are in control from the very first moment.

The full guide

Moving off and stopping are the most repeated actions in every drive, yet they are among the most common places learners pick up faults. The examiner watches your very first move away from the test centre and every stop at the roadside.

Before moving off, prepare the car: press the clutch, select first gear, set the gas to around 1500 revs, and find the biting point. Keep your feet still. Now check all around: interior mirror, right door mirror, and a physical right shoulder check for your blind spot. Only when you are certain the road is clear should you signal and release the handbrake.

When stopping, choose a safe, legal, and convenient place. Avoid junctions, bus stops, driveways, and anywhere you would block traffic. Check your mirrors before braking — the driver behind needs warning. Signal left if anyone will benefit, steer gently towards the kerb, and stop smoothly with the car parallel to it. Apply the handbrake, select neutral, and cancel your signal.

Hill starts require more gas and quicker clutch control to prevent rolling back. Angle starts — moving out from behind a parked vehicle — need extra observation because your view is restricted. The principles are the same: prepare, observe, signal, move.

Common faults

  • Moving off without checking the blind spot over the right shoulder
  • Signalling before checking that the road is actually clear
  • Rolling backwards on a hill start due to poor clutch control
  • Not cancelling the signal after moving off or stopping
  • Stopping in an unsafe or illegal place — near junctions or crossings
  • Braking too sharply and causing the car to jerk
  • Not checking mirrors before slowing down to stop

What the examiner looks for

  • You prepare the car correctly before moving off
  • You check mirrors and perform a right blind spot check
  • You signal only when the road is clear and it is safe to go
  • You move off smoothly without stalling or rolling back
  • You choose safe, legal places to stop
  • You check mirrors before braking to stop
  • You stop smoothly, parallel to the kerb, and secure the car

Quick tips

  1. 1Say 'mirror, mirror, blind spot' out loud until it becomes automatic
  2. 2Set the gas before finding the biting point — this prevents stalling
  3. 3On hills, use slightly more gas than usual and release the handbrake quickly
  4. 4Signal only when you are actually ready to move — not before
  5. 5When stopping, aim to finish about a tyre's width from the kerb

Common questions about moving off & stopping safely

Do I need to signal when moving off?
Only if someone would benefit from it — such as a pedestrian or a driver behind you. If the road is completely clear, you may not need a signal, but many examiners prefer to see one as a habit.
What if I stall when moving off?
Do not panic. Apply the handbrake, restart the engine, check all around again, and move off when safe. One stall is normally a minor fault if you recover calmly.
How close to the kerb should I stop?
About a tyre's width away is ideal — roughly 20 to 30 centimetres. Much further out and you block the road. Much closer and you risk hitting the kerb.
Can I stop on a hill during the test?
Yes, and you may be asked to perform a hill start. Use the handbrake to prevent rolling, find the biting point with extra gas, check all around, and move off promptly.
What is an angle start?
Moving off from behind a parked vehicle when you need to pull out at an angle to see past it. You need extra observation because your view of the road is blocked until you are partly out.
Should I check my mirrors before every stop?
Yes. Before any significant slowing or stopping, check your interior mirror. You need to know if someone is close behind so you can brake progressively and give them time to react.

Ready to put this into practice?

These guides are a great starting point, but nothing replaces working with a DVSA-approved instructor who can give you real-time feedback.

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Moving Off & Stopping Safely | The DTC