Moving off and Stopping

    MOVING OFF.  POM   (prepare,observe,move)

     PREPARE

   Put Clutch down and select first gear

   Press the Gas Pedal until there are some revs from the engine ( not too loud)

   Keep the Gas Pedal still once the revs are ok. This is called SETTING THE GAS

   Slowly bring the Clutch up until you feel a slight bump on the Clutch Pedal.Once that happens  keep the Clutch Pedal still.You have now found BITING POINT.The clutch and drive plate are now locked together which will prevent the car from rolling backwards.

    OBSERVE

   You now look in the mirror and check over your left and right shoulders to SEE IF THERE ARE ANY MOVING CARS etc IN THE BLIND SPOTS.Just checking the side mirrors is not good enough

    You now decide if you need to put on a RIGHT HAND SIGNAL let other road users or pedestrians you intend to move away.If there is nobody about you dont signal as nobody will see it

    MOVE

    If it is SAFE to go you FULLY RELEASE THE HANDBRAKE,and put your hand back on the wheel.You then move the CLUTCH slightly up and as the car begins to move keep it still for a few seconds.DO NOT TAKE THE GAS OFF,as the car will stall or judder.Steer the car slghtly out to the right and then back to the left and keep about 2 feet from the kerb.This is called  your SAFETY LINE.You must not move away causing any other road user to have to slow,break,skid ,change direction

MOVING OFF DOWNHILL

When moving off downhill there is no need to set the gas and get the biting point as the car can't roll backwards.Put the car in 1st gear or 2nd for a very steep down hill. Keep the clutch fully down and keep the footbrake fully on.Do your safety checks,and when safe to go release handbrake if applied,gently release footbrake and the car will start to roll down the hill and gently release the clutch.

 STOPPING ON THE LEFT

     First you check the mirror.You then decide if you need to put on a LEFT HAND SIGNAL.If  there are no cars or pedestrians about dont give it.

    Come off the GAS PEDAL.Steer slightly to the left until the car heads to the kerb at a gentle angle.No need to change down the gears.

     Break gently and put the CLUTCH TO THE FLOOR  AND KEEP IT THERE.

     When you get near the kerb you will have to steer back to the right to straighten up the front wheels.You need a distance of 6 inches from the kerb.

      When you are PARALELL  TO THE KERB still keep the CLUTCH down and gently apply the BRAKE a bit more until the car comes to a gentle stop

      When the car has stopped put on the HANDBRAKE and select NEUTRAL GEAR.

You should not park across Driveways,Double Park(park opposite another car)Too close to Bollards leaving no room for a vehicle to pass,Over the brow of a hill as you cant be seen,.Too close to a road junction.On the zig zag lines of a pedestrian crossing.

contents