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Leaving And Stopping At The Curb
June 22, 2022 at 10:11 PM
Leaving The Curb To Take Off Into The Traffic Flow
When leaving the curb to take off into the traffic flow, the first thing we should do is make sure the car is ready to go. That means the engine is on and we have selected “Drive”. We also make sure that the hand brake is released.
We then check the rear vision mirror and right outer mirror to check for approaching traffic from behind. We also have a good look ahead to make sure there is no traffic coming towards us that’s turning across our path.
We put the indicator on the right, and we keep checking the 2 mirrors until it’s safe to move off. Once it’s safe, we check our blind spot on the right-hand side to make sure we are aware of any hazards coming from our right. We release the brake and steer slightly towards the right so that we move away from the curb. We increase our acceleration if it is safe to do so. We have a look ahead to scan/search for any information that is given to us. Once we are settled, we can check the rear vision mirror to see what’s behind us.
What Steps to Take When Stopping on the Side of the Road
When stopping on the side of the road, we first need to look for a safe and legal place to stop. Once we have found a safe place to stop, we put our indicator on the left. We check our rear vision mirror and potentially our left outer mirror. In this situation, we do not necessarily need to do a blind spot check on the left side unless we are changing position on the road for more than 1 meter. We ease off the accelerator and gradually move towards the left. Once we get closer to the curb, we start to brake. Initially, we brake firm so that we approach the curb slow and we can judge the distance from the curb properly. As we get closer to our stop, we can ease off the brake pedal a bit to make our stop smooth. It’s important that we are not focusing on the curb too much but look ahead instead. We are likely to hit the curb if we look at the curb (hand-eye coordination). We can use our left outer mirror for judgment to see how far away we are from the curb, but we can only do this while we are driving straight, otherwise, the front wheel might hit the curb. Once we have fully stopped, we can put the car in park and apply the handbrake.
FAQs
1) Who has priority at a T intersection in New Zealand?
If controls are equal, traffic on the continuing (top of the T) road has priority over traffic on the terminating (stem) road. Apply core rules: straight before turning and left (small turn) before right (large turn), and always give way to pedestrians you’re crossing in front of.
2) What’s the correct sequence for turning left from the stem?
Mirror → indicate left early → move towards the left (leave ~1 m from the kerb) → slow to a safe approach speed → scan for pedestrians/cyclists in the side road → follow the kerb line through the turn → straighten and gently accelerate → mirror check once settled.
3) How do I turn right from the stem without cutting the corner?
Mirror → indicate right → move up to the centre line (or imaginary one) → slow so you can stop if needed → give way to through traffic on the top of the T and any oncoming left-turners → turn a touch later to avoid cutting the corner → straighten and go if clear.
4) Do I need a shoulder (blind-spot) check before turning?
Yes, if you change road position (e.g., moving left ~1 m or edging to the centre line) or there’s risk of a cyclist/scooter alongside. Shoulder checks complement mirrors and prevent squeeze-by conflicts.
5) Do pedestrians have priority when I turn into the side road?
Yes. When turning left or right, you must give way to pedestrians crossing the road you’re entering. Scan both near and far sides before moving.
6) What common mistakes cause fails at T intersections?
Late signalling, cutting the corner on right turns, poor gap selection, missing pedestrian checks, rolling a Stop, and drifting wide on exit. Slow early, commit smoothly, and keep scanning.
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