It’s been nearly a year since the DVSA Driving Test was upgraded to ‘better reflect modern motoring.’ The introduction of sat nav assisted driving and bay parking replaced outdated driving manoeuvres such as reversing around a corner and three-point turns. However, some changes went under the radar…
The changes to the DVSA driving test almost 12 months ago were well publicised. The introduction of sat nav assisted driving caused the biggest stir, while the scrapping of the three-point turn and reverse around a corner marked the most significant shakeup of driver testing since the theory test was introduced in 1996.
However, one manoeuvre introduced to the new look driving test went under the radar. Pulling up on the right has always been a no-no, but former Chief Driving Examiner Lesley Young, who led the changes to the driving test on 4 December, 2017, explains why the pulling up on the right manoeuvre was introduced as part of the practical exam…
The Thinking Behind Pulling up on the Right Driving Test Manoeuvre
…Young said: “I want to be absolutely clear that we’re not recommending that drivers should always pull up on the right. Best practice is to pull up on the left. This is still what we expect new drivers to be taught. However, the reality is that it’s not always possible to pull up on the left.”
Young argues that new drivers should know what factors need to be considered when pulling up on the right. “There’s a misconception that pulling up on the right is an illegal manoeuvre. In fact, it’s perfectly legal, but needs to be executed safely.”
Pulling up on the right is now part of the new look driving test and is a manoeuvre that assesses observation, accuracy and control, with examiners looking for these key skills:
* Planning
* Awareness of road users from behind and oncoming
* Effective use of mirrors
When is Pulling up on the Right OK?
According to the DVSA, pulling up on the right is part of ‘real-life’ driving. Examples of when the manoeuvre would need to be executed include:
* Left and right street parking – with Britain in need of more parking spaces, many streets now have parking bays on both sides of the road. If bays on the left side of the road are completely full, then drivers would need to pull up and park on the right.
* Not all roads provide parking on both sides. In some streets, single and double yellow lines are marked out on the left hand side of the road, with parking available on the right. Again, under these circumstances, drivers would need to pull up on the right.
It’s best practice to pull up on the left as it is the safest option. However, the DVSA acknowledges that this isn’t always possible, which is why pulling up on the right was introduced to the new look driving test – something to bear in mind when you book and take your practical driving test.
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