SELECTING A SAFE PLACE TO STOP
There are lots of areas that are unsafe to stop, your instructor will go through these with you throughout your learning to drive experience. Below are a few examples of areas you should avoid:
- Clearway – no stopping (see sign bottom left) of page
- Hazard lines
- Double yellow lines
- Parking within 10 meters of a junction (3 car lengths)
- Parking opposite a junction
- Blocking driveways or pathways
- Parking on bends
MSPSL
Once you have identified a safe place to stop, then you need to apply the Mirrors, Signal, Position, Speed, Look routine.
Mirrors: Interior and left door mirror. What is behind you and beside you. Would a signal benefit ?
Signal: In good time, if it will benefit other road users, be careful of signalling too early – for example, before passing a road on the left.
Position: Your instructor may give you a focal point on the front of the car to line up with the kerb if needed; this will help you judge the kerb better.
Or glance in your left door mirror regularly for updates. You should look like you’re a drain width from the kerb when you glance in the left door mirror.
Speed: Start braking gently, you don’t want to surprise other road users. Just before the engine revs go too low or the engine starts to judder, push your clutch down fully. This will prevent you from stalling. Once your clutch is down fully, then gradually increase the pressure on the brake pedal until the car is about to stop. To avoid any lurching before you stop, come off the brake around 1-2mm usually and then re-apply the brake once car has lost momentum.
After stopping:
Apply your handbrake fully, then select neutral.
Cancel your signal and rest your feet.
