Moving Off
Manual Transmission
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Press the clutch pedal fully down with your left foot.
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Select first gear. If it doesn’t engage, return to neutral, release the clutch, and try again.
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Press the accelerator slightly with your right foot and hold steady.
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Slowly lift the clutch until you feel or hear the engine note change — this is the biting point.
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Hold the clutch steady at this point.
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Perform safety checks — use mirrors and look over your shoulder to check blind spots.
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Signal if necessary, but avoid waiting with the clutch at biting point for too long.
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If it’s safe, release the parking brake, then lift the clutch slightly to move off smoothly.
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Gradually press the accelerator for speed and release the clutch fully.
Avoid harsh acceleration — it wastes fuel and increases emissions.
Finding the Biting Point
The biting point is where the clutch plates begin to engage. Practise finding it until it becomes natural. While pressing the clutch down can be quick, lifting it must be smooth and controlled.
Every car feels slightly different, so practise in each vehicle before driving on public roads.
Automatic Transmission
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Ensure the parking brake is on.
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Press and hold the footbrake, then move the gear selector to Drive (‘D’).
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Complete your safety checks — mirrors and blind spots.
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Signal if necessary.
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When safe, release the parking brake, then the footbrake.
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The car may start to move forward — apply light pressure to the accelerator to move off smoothly.
Avoid aggressive acceleration, as it increases fuel use and emissions.
Safety
Whether driving a manual or automatic vehicle:
- Never signal and move off without checking it’s safe
- Don’t wait with a signal on if you can’t move safely — this confuses other drivers
Defensive Driving
Always:
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Check all around before moving off
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Signal only when it’s necessary and safe
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Avoid moving into the path of oncoming traffic
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Take your time — do not rush