Moving Off & Stopping

Moving off/Stopping

The lesson plans are there as a guide for all students out there who would like to read up on Moving off and Stopping. If this your second driving lesson than by now you would have been introduced to the cockpit drill routine. Once you have demonstrated to you instructor that you can do the cockpit drill, you need to do the safety precautions before starting the engine, (this is done by making sure that the gears are in the neutral position followed by checking that the handbrake is applied.

You are now ready to start the engine. Once the engine is started you driving instructor will talk you through the POM routine, and explain what each letter means. In the mean time we have tried to explain what POM is used for.

The POM routine (Prepare, Observe, Move)

To prepare, start by clutching down to the floor and select first gear, slowly bring the clutch upwards to the biting point (bonnet of the car may rise up a little, also you may notice that the engine sounds a little quieter (engine revs go down slightly). Once the above is achieved with your right foot progressive gas about the thickness of a pound coin, then keep both feet still. That is the prepare part completed.

Next is the second part of the POM, the observe routine

You need to take effective all-round observation. This is done by starting to look in your centre mirror followed by your directional mirror and finally looking over your right shoulder to cover the ‘blind spot’. Do not forget that you also need to signal to warn other road users of what you intend doing. (Remember a signal is meant to inform and not confuse).

If all is clear and safe press release the hand break, keep the pressure on the gas pedal so you have a ‘lively hum’ sound from the engine, then as you move ease pressure off the clutch but only by the thickness of a pound coin, the car will now start to move, (if it seems to be going too fast then slight pressure on the clutch will bring the speed under control) as the car gains momentum then ease off the clutch a pound coin thickness at a time, once the car is going at around five MPH (walking pace) you can then take your foot off the clutch.

As the car starts to move you should steer to the right into a ‘normal driving position’ (about one metre from the kerb) and point the car in the direction you wish to travel using the ‘push – pull’ method of steering

When the car has straightened up in the direction you wish to travel do not forget to check in your centre mirrors, before gently accelerating if all is safe.

Stopping Routine

• This routine should be explained along side the POM routine

Start of by understanding where you are allowed to stop. What you need to think about is choosing a safe, legal and convenient place to stop (not on or near a blind bend or brow of a hill, on double yellow lines or blocking someone’s driveway are a few examples of where NOT to stop)

Use the Mirrors – Signal – Manoeuvre routine Check the centre and left mirrors and indicate left if anyone would benefit from it, this includes pedestrians that you may have to move towards

If all is safe (no cyclists coming up on your nearside for example) begin slowing the car down by coming off the gas pedal and applying the footbrake progressively, if there is a need to lower your gears, you can do so by using the block change technique.

Start Steering the car towards the kerb then steer back slightly in order to position the car parallel to the kerb use quick glances at you left mirror to judge how far you are from the side of the kerb. You should end up about 6 inches or less away from it (your instructor will give you a reference point to help you to judge this)

As the car is coming to a stop REMEMBER to push the clutch pedal down to the floor, and use the breaks progressively and keep you foot on it until the car stops completely.

When the car has stopped completely keep your feet still until you have applied the handbrake and put the gear lever into the neutral position, you can then rest your feet and cancel the indicator

The POM routine (Prepare, Observe, Move) for Automatic Car
To prepare, start by pressing down on the brake padal with your right foot and remember that in an automatic car there is no use for the left foot so just rest it alway from all the padals. Once you have your right foot on the brake padal move your left hand onto the gear lever and move it to DRIVE (D). Make sure you keep your foot on the brake padal until you are ready to move. That is the prepare part completed.

Just like in an manual car you need to do the Observe part so read the above as the stages are the same.

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Move of Uphill, down hill and at an angle from behind a parked vehicle.

Once you have mastered the basic skills of moving off on a level road and your driving instructor has given you a full talk through on when to change gears (gear ratio), and talked about the pull-push steering. You can now move onto slightly more complex maneuvers such as moving off uphill, down hill and at an angle from behind a parked vehicle.

In this section we will discuss how to move of Uphill, down hill and at an angle from behind a parked vehicle,

Moving off from an angle from behind a parked vehicle:

By now you should have a clear idea of how to do the POM routine. Up hill start is no different in the POM routine apart from the fact that you are on a steep hill therefore you will need to use more gas when setting the gas, this will give you the power needed to move away uphill slowly and smoothly. Remember that you will need to bring the clutch higher than normal until you see the front of the car rise. Your car is now ready to go, once you have made the necessary observation and signalled to warn other road users of your intention; you are now ready to release the handbrake gently. The car should not roll back but if the car rolls back, bring the clutch up a little more.

Down hill Start:

Down hill start is slightly different in that you need no gas; allow gravity do the hard work for you. However, remember you need to control the speed with your foot brake bringing the clutch up gently as soon as possible as this will allow engine braking. As a general rule the steeper the gradient the higher the gear you should start in.

Moving of at an Angle

When moving of at an angle use clutch-control to keep your speed down until you have straightened your wheels. Also do not forget you need to signal even if you think there is no-one to benefit as it is harder to see and be seen. Remember because of the angel you should at least check your blind spot twice.