Stopping on the right
This manoeuvre combines stopping on the right with straight-line reversing. It is included in the driving test to reflect the some of the everyday manoeuvring skills that you will use after passing your driving test.
During your test you might be asked to pull up on the right, possibly behind a parked vehicle. You will then be asked to reverse in a straight line before moving off again.
During your test the examiner will decide where you are going to stop, he will give the instruction on the move in good time.
When you are driving on your own you will need to find safe, legal and convenient places to park – whenever possible you should look for a space on the left-hand side of the road because this will generally involve less of a risk.
Also, it’s important to remember that it is illegal to park on the right at night, unless in a one-way road or a designated parking space (Highway Code rule 248).
Another important point is to be aware that your passengers might not be aware!
Back seat passengers – especially children – are best advised to get out of the kerbside door, warn passengers to look ahead for cyclists and around for traffic before opening their doors.
Completing the manoeuvre
See the numbered points on the diagram below.
Check your mirrors and signal right to let other road users know your intentions. Take care with the timing of your signals to ensure that you don’t mislead others into thinking that you are turning into a road or other opening on the right.
(Diagram point 1) Give way to any approaching traffic, never rush to cross the road in front of other traffic – this could be extremely dangerous and lead to a head on collision. If/when the road is clear drive slowly across to your parking position. As with stopping on the left, look ahead, not at the kerb. While quick glances at the kerb might help with positioning, concentrating on the kerb will be likely to result in hitting it.
(Diagram point 2) After stopping secure the car with the handbrake and select neutral,
Before starting to reverse make sure that the road is clear and that the footpath is clear of pedestrians. Use your straight line reversing skills to reverse for around three car lengths.
As you reverse look well back for accurate positioning but also keep glancing all around and if other road users approach stop to give way and/or pause until they have passed.
(Diagram point 3) After stopping secure the car and re-fasten your seatbelt if you removed it for reversing.
Take care when moving off remembering that your main observation will be to the rear left and the road ahead – with this in mind your normal observation checks, as used when moving off from the left, will be reversed… Right shoulder, right mirror, centre mirror, road ahead, left mirror, left shoulder.
There are a couple of additional points to keep in mind.
Your centre mirror might not give a good view behind (because it is angled slightly ton the right).
If there is s parked vehicle ahead of you it will affect your view of the road ahead.
Also take special care if there are vehicles parked on the left that might be intending to move off at the same time as you.
Unlike moving off from the left, you will almost always need to signal unless you are absolutely sure that there is no one to benefit, this is because your view ahead and behind might not be as clear as when moving on the left – this can make the signalling decision more difficult and so the rule ‘if in doubt, give a signal’ is a good one to follow.
(Diagram point 4) Move back to the left-hand side of the road as quickly as possible but without rushing. Check your mirrors and make sure that your signal (if given) is cancelled.
With thanks to John Farlam, driveractive.com