“Sometimes you might have to park on the right hand side of the road. The examiner might also ask you to do this during your driving test. When parking on the right, use the Mirrors, Signal, Manoeuvre routine. Check your interior and right door mirrors as a minimum to make sure that it will be safe to move to the right. Signal to let drivers both in front and behind know what you are doing.
Your signal is also for all other road users. For example, pedestrians might not be expecting you to stop on the right.
Manouevre by moving across the road to the right after giving way to any approaching traffic. You might have to stop and wait for approaching traffic to pass before steering across the road. As with parking on the left, look well ahead to maintain an accurate position. After stopping, apply the parking brake and select neutral.
After stopping on the right on your driving test, the examiner will ask you to reverse in a straight line. For the first part of your reverse, you will be using straight line reversing skills. Make sure you’re in a good seating position to reverse. You may wish to take off your seatbelt.
It’s also a good idea to open you window a little so you can hear approaching traffic. Select reverse gear to illuminate your reversing lights. Now, other drivers will know that you’re thinking of reversing.
Continue your preparation with a little gas, then bring the clutch up to the biting point. Prepare to release the handbrake while looking over your right shoulder, then your right mirror, the road ahead, interior mirror and left mirror. If the road is clear, look over your left shoulder for the best possible view as you reverse.
Reverse slowly using clutch control. Aim to keep your within 6-18 inches from the kerb. That’s about 15-45 centimetres. You’ll need to glance to the front a couple of times as you reverse to make sure that hte road is still clear.
Reverse slowly in a straight line and be prepared to give way to other road users if necessary. Look as far back along the road as possible. This will help you to judge your position. You’re aiming to stop about 6-12 inches, that’s about 15-30 centimetres, away from the kerb.
After you stop, apply the handbrake and select neutral to secure the car.
When moving off from the right, use the Prepare, Observe and Move routine, but this time it’s important to remember that your main blind spot will be to the left. So, the observation pattern is reversed. Starting with your right shoulder, the driver’s door mirror, interior mirror, passenger door mirror and then left shoulder. Make sure that the road is clear in both directions and then move back to the left hand side as soon as possible.
The key points are:
– After you pass the test, you will sometimes park on the right.
– You might be asked to stop on the right during your driving test.
– Signal early to alert other road users who might not be exepecting you to stop on the right.
– If necessary, stop to give way to approaching traffic.
– When moving off, start your POM routine from the right.
– Move back to the left as soon as possible.”
