Stopping a car and parking up on the left is something you will have to do more than once during your practical driving test.

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The driving examiner wants to establish that you can do this safely, with regard to other road users and are not a danger to pedestrians by hitting the curb.

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Stopping the Car Correctly

The process for stopping the car is similar to other driving manoeuvres and includes the following steps:

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Mirrors/Observations 

Signal 

Manoeuvre

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Mirrors/Observations

The first thing you will need to do when stopping is to choose a good place to stop. Think SCALP

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Safe Convenient And Legal Place

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The examiner will assess your ability to stop the car in a Safe, Convenient and Legal Place. The examiner isn’t looking for you to stop as quickly as you can, so look well ahead for a place to stop that isn’t on too much of a bend, is not too close to a junction on the left and not opposite a junction on the right.

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Keep an eye out for signs that prohibit parking and double yellow lines. Ensure you do not park across a driveway. Although this isn’t likely to fail a driving test, it is likely to incur a driving fault.

Once you have located a safe, convenient, and legal position to stop the car, look into your interior mirror and your left side mirror.

 

Signal

It is important to indicate to the left to warn other road users and pedestrians that you intend to stop. Do not slow too much until you have begun to indicate or the following vehicles may become confused.

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Manoeuvre – Stopping Next to the Curb

You will now need to gently depress the brake when approaching the stopping point. Steer to the left in small increments to get closer to the kerb. Steering too harshly may result in the front wheel hitting the kerb. Using a reference point can be useful – your instructor will give you more information on how to do this.

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As you get closer to the kerb, steer to the left in smaller increments to avoid hitting it and gently apply more pressure to the brake. Just before you stop the car, straighten the steering wheel. If parking behind another vehicle, ensure you leave enough room to move off again without the need to reverse.

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Make the Car Safe

Once stopped, apply the handbrake, put the car in park, cancel the indicator and release your feet from the pedals. There is no need to turn the car off unless told to do so.

 

Quick Tips:

• Avoid hitting the kerb and use reference points to help you park. Hitting the curb can damage the car and may lead to a failure on your driving test.

• If you are not happy with your parking on your driving test, tell the examiner and try again.  

• Remember to signal to the left before slowing down too much to tell other road users and pedestrians what you are doing.

• Make sure you make the car safe when you stop by applying the handbrake. Failure to do so can lead to the car rolling around.

• Steer gently towards the kerb if possible. Steering too hard can lead to the front passenger wheel hitting the kerb.