“You will use the Prepare, Observe & Move Routine, every single time you drive. The routine, commonly known as the POM Routine, covers three stages of moving off.
– Prepare – Getting the car ready to move. – Observe – Making sure that it’s safe to move off. – Move – Controlling the car smoothly and safely as you move away.
The following three videos cover each stage of the POM Routine in detail.
– In Preparing the Car, we look at starting the engine, selecting the gear and getting ready to move.
– In Making Observations, we look at where you should look and why, and also consider the need for a signal.
– And in Moving Off, we look at smooth use of the controls and steering.”
“Before driving, you need to start the engine and, before starting the engine, you need to make the safety checks. These are that the handbrake is firmly applied and that the gear level is in the neutral position.
These checks are essential to preventing the car from jerking forwards when you try to start the engine. In some cars, you might also need to press the brake or clutch pedal when starting the car. This is an extra safety feature.
In most cars, you start the engine by turning the ignition key, although some cars have what is called keyless ignition – These cars will have a push button start.
The ignition switch has various positions. The first position switches power to auxiliaries, such as the radio. The second position will switch on the ignition system and the warning lights will come on. The final position starts the engine. You might have to move the steering wheel a little to release the steering lock before the key will turn.
As soon as the engine starts, let go of the key. This prevents the risk of damage to the starter motor. After starting the engine, your first job is to select first gear.
To do this, press the clutch pedal down to the floor and hold it down. Pressing the clutch down disconnects the engine from the wheels when a gear is selected. Without this, the gear lever would jam and the car would jerk forwards.
Next, select first gear by pushing the gear lever to the left and then sliding it forward into first gear. It can be useful to use the palming method, as shown here, when selecting the gear. This will help to ensure you don’t select an incorrect gear by mistake.
Keeping the clutch pedal down, gently press the gas pedal. This is often referred to as setting the gas. The reason for pressing the gas pedal is because at tickover speed the engine will not normally have enough power to move off slowly and easily. By pressing the gas pedal slightly and then holding it steady, you will increase the power level sufficiently for a smooth start. The sound you want is sometimes described as a lively even hum.
Some cars have a rev counter, this shows the engine’s speed. With a rev counter, you can see when the engine power is sufficient. The next job is to start the process of connecting the engine to the wheels.
Bring the clutch pedal up slowly until you find the biting point and then hold it absolutely still. The biting point is the point at which you hear a drop in the engine sound and you will see the needle of the rev counter drop. The engine is slowed down slightly at this point because the brakes are holding the car back as the engine tries to make it move. You might feel the car dip on its suspension.
Holding both feet still is important when you find the biting point, otherwise the car might move forward prematurely or the engine could stall.
The skill of holding the clutch at or around the biting point is one of the most important things that you will learn. This skill is usually described as clutch control. Clutch control is the foundation for slow speed manoeuvring.
Key points for preparing the car:
– Handbrake is on – Gear is in neutral position – Start the engine – By turning the ignition key or using a push button – Select first gear – The palming method may help – Set the gas – Press the gas pedal gently and hold it still – Find the biting point – The point at which the engine tries to move the car – Keep both feet still”
“Before you can move off, you must make absolutely sure that it is safe to do so. In order to do this, you will need to check your interior mirror and door mirrors, but you will also need to check your blind spots.
Blind spots are the areas that are not covered by your car mirrors or are masked by the vehicle’s structure. The blind spots can be large enough to hide vehicles and other road users from view.
Start with a quick glance over your left shoulder, followed by your passenger door mirror. You are looking for anything that could cause danger, for example bicycles or kids on scooters/skateboards. If there are no problems, you shouldn’t need to check these again before moving as long as you move off fairly quickly.
Next, check your interior mirror for vehicles from behind. When the road is clear in your interior mirror, check your driver’s door mirror and look over your right shoulder to check your right blind spot.
While learning, you can remember these observation checks as the six point check, to remind yourself of the areas you might need to check to ensure that it is safe to move. This method is suggested as a guideline only. As you gain experience, effective observation will become habitual. The six point check is:
– Your left shoulder
– The left door mirror
– The interior mirror
– The road ahead
– The right door mirror
– Your right shoulder
The most important thing is knowing what’s happening all around the car before you move.
Repeated and unnecessary left shoulder and mirror checks could mean that you miss safe opportunites to move, because of the time spent looking around. This is why the six point check is only a guide.
The reason for checking the left blind spot is to make sure there are no problems on the footpath or a driveway or other openings that is immediately behind and to the left. If you are sure this area is clear, you don’t need to keep checking.
When you know what is happening all around the car, you need to decide whether to give a right signal to show that you are intending to move off. You will only need to signal when you move off when it will be of use or help to another road user.
Do not signal as a habit simply because you are moving off. If there is no one to benefit from a signal, it will be a waste of time. Habitual, unnecessary signals can also cause problems. By signalling habitually, you run the risk of forgetting the necessary observation checks.
You might need to signal for pedestrians, cyclists, opposing drivers, drivers emerging ahead or traffic behind. In fact, for anyone who will benefit.
Be careful not to mislead others with signals. For example, sitting with your signal on while several cars pass you could be confusing for other drivers. Mistimed signals can also be dangerous, for example putting on your signal just as a cyclists or motorcyclists is about to pass you could startle them into braking hard or swerving.
The key points are:
– Check all around the car before moving off
– The six point check is a handy way of remembering the places you need to look
– Take care to ensure nothing is hidden in your blindspots
– Give a signal if it will help or warn others
– Don’t give signals out of habit
– Be careful not to give misleading signals”
“You have now prepared the car, made your observation checks and determined whether you need to signal. Now, it’s time to get moving.
The first job is to release the handbrake. Ideally, when on a level road, the car should not move when the handbrake is released. If the car does move, it’s because the clutch pedal is up a little bit too far. Very gently and slowly, bring the clutch pedal up a little more until the car starts to move, and then hold the clutch still for a moment. This will help you to move off smoothly.
As you start to increase speed, smoothly bring the clutch up all the way and press the gas pedal a little more. Turn the steering wheel slightly and move out to the safety line as you gently increase the pressure on the gas pedal, bring the clutch up fully and rest your left foot on the floor.
As soon as you start to move, you will steer to a safety line. This is an imaginary line that you will follow to keep your vehicle approximately 1 metre from the side of the road or any obstructions, depending on the road width available.
You might be surprised at how little the steering wheel has to be turned in order to move out of your safety line. Often, by moving the wheel by just a few centimetres will be enough.
Some new drivers are tempted to look at the front corners of the car, in order to see where they are positioned on the road, but this actually makes judging your position more difficult. When you look at the kerb or any other obstruction, you will be drawn towards it. This is why it’s important to look well ahead and concentrate on the space that you want to drive into.
The best way to judge your position on the road is to look well ahead of the car, at least 50 metres. Imagine the line that the car will follow.
At this point, it might seem like there is a lot to follow with the POM Routine, but the good news is that you don’t need to consciously remember every detail. Simply relax and practise and you’ll soon form a safe moving off habit.
From then on, the routine will only take around 10 seconds to complete.
Key points are:
– Release the handbrake
– Bring the clutch up until the car moves and then hold
– Use a little more gas – then clutch up all the way
