Moving off from the side of the road should be easy, right? Check your mirrors, hit the signal, and off you go. But let’s be honest—how often do we feel like secret agents on a mission just trying to merge into traffic without causing chaos?

It’s like auditioning for a synchronized swimming team—except with cars, signals, and pedestrians who seem to have a death wish. Fear not! By the end of this, you’ll know exactly how to pull away smoothly, safely, and with all your dignity intact.

Before you move away, always check your mirrors. No one’s coming, right? I’m a blind spot. No one around. Don’t forget the signal, and I can get going. Checking your mirrors and signaling before moving off is pretty simple. As a driver, it’s your job to make sure you don’t make anyone else brake or steer because of you.

You might have heard that you need to check your left blind spot, left mirror, center mirror, right mirror, and right blind spot every time you move away. That’s not actually true—it’s a waste of time. By the time you’ve gone through all those checks, your right mirror’s information is already outdated. Anything could’ve happened by then, so it’s not necessary to check every single one every time.

You only need to check the relevant mirrors and blind spots to see what’s coming. Right now, the right mirror isn’t really telling me anything. When I move away, anyone standing on the pavement won’t be affected by me. On the other hand, the center mirror is important because it shows what’s coming up behind you. The left mirror is also critical because it provides a view of what’s slightly more to your left.

What’s also very important is your left blind spot. It reveals areas your mirrors can’t—like a driveway with a car in it. If that car was pulling out at the same time you were moving off, it could lead to a collision, which wouldn’t be ideal.

When you’re stopped on the left-hand side of the road, your center mirror, right mirror, and right blind spot (visible through the right-side window) become more important than your left mirror in this case. When parked on the right side of the road, checking your right mirror is crucial. My left mirror doesn’t show too far behind me, but my right mirror gives a much clearer view farther down the road due to the way the road bends.

After an emergency stop, always check your mirrors again. You never know what might have happened.
After an emergency stop, you’ll need to check all your mirrors and both blind spots before moving off. You won’t be parked neatly at the side of the road after an emergency stop – you’ll probably be stopped diagonally in the middle of your lane. This increases the chance of people walking up alongside your car to see why you stopped so suddenly. When pulling out, as long as you don’t make anyone else brake or steer, you’ll be absolutely fine.

Let’s Move on to Signaling

You don’t need to signal if there’s no one around. A signal is simply there to help other road users know that you’re no longer parked and that you intend to move.

To signal, use this little contraption called an indicator. In my car, it’s on the left. In some cars, it might be on the right. In my car, the windshield wipers are on the right. To signal right, push the indicator up, and you’ll see a green blinker confirming it. To signal left, push the indicator down, and the corresponding green light will blink. A helpful way to remember this is that the indicator moves in the same direction as the steering wheel.

When pulling out, you’ll primarily signal for people coming up behind you. If someone is coming up behind you, you’ll likely wait for them to pass. If they’re far enough away that you can pull out, signaling is probably not necessary.

A good time to signal is if there’s a pedestrian walking on the pavement. You don’t know if they plan to cross the road, so signaling lets them know you’re about to move and hopefully prevents them from crossing in front of you.

Another good time to signal is if there are oncoming cars. Sometimes, those cars may want to turn into a driveway or park in front of you. Signaling helps them know to stay on their side of the road.

Here’s another situation where signaling can really come in handy: if you’re on the left side of the road and can’t see what’s coming, an oncoming car will still be able to see your headlight. If you flash your right indicator, they might slow down a bit as you inch forward to get a better look.

If you want to pull out and there’s a car behind you because of oncoming traffic, you can signal left to let them know you’re about to move. Then, pull out before they try to squeeze around you.

Recap: Moving Away

Make sure your car is ready to go first.

Check that no one’s coming behind you by using your mirrors. In this case, my center and left mirrors give me a good view – no one’s currently approaching.

Check the left blind spot as well.

Only then should you decide whether or not to signal.

Signal only after the blind spot check – there’s no point signaling that you’re going to move if you spot someone there afterward.

Another very important thing to remember is that your observations must be fresh. You should look around and move away promptly. If it’s been five seconds since your check, look again before moving. That’s why it’s crucial to make sure your car is fully prepared before you start looking around.

You now have all the information you require to become an expert at moving off. No more needless panic signals and no more gazing into mirrors as though you were in a romantic comedy, contemplating life’s major issues. Keep in mind that driving is a ballet of timing, alertness, and sometimes hoping that other drivers are as skilled as you are. Keep yourself secure, be vigilant, and most importantly, avoid being in their or your blind areas. Have fun while you’re driving!