Pull Up On The Right & Reverse In A Straight Line Manoeuvre

Simon Harrison
Apr 5, 2020
6 min read

Updated: Jun 22

What is involved in the pulling up on the right manoeuvre?

Pull up on the right and reverse in a straight line Manoeuvre 4front Driving School

The pulling up on the right and reversing in a straight line manoeuvre was included in the driving test in 2017.

The manoeuvre is pretty straightforward. There are three main parts to this manoeuvre:

● pulling up on the right-hand side of the road,

●reversing for 2 or 3 car lengths in a straight line and then,

●pulling away safely to rejoin traffic on the correct side of the road.

Whilst the Highway Code advises drivers not to park against the flow of traffic, the DVSA notes that there are many real-life situations in which drivers may have to do so. As such, it’s important that learners to understand how to perform the manoeuvre safely and correctly.

If you are asked to pull up on the right, it will sound something like this:

“Ahead I want you to find somewhere safe to pull up on the right-hand side of the road giving yourself enough room to reverse back about 2 to 3 car lengths back in a straightline keeping reasonably close to the kerb.”

What is the examiner looking for in the manoeuvre?

The examiner will be assessing how safely you move across the path of oncoming traffic and park within a reasonable distance of the kerb. They’ll be monitoring whether you apply the parking brake after stopping and put the car into neutral. The examiner will also be watching you and assessing your all round observation of your surroundings before and while you complete your reversing exercise.

Throughout the manoeuvre, the examiner will be looking for:

Careful and clear observations: you need to use your MSPSL routines and show full awareness of other road users when pulling up on the right, reversing and rejoining traffic.
Accuracy: you need to correctly position the vehicle throughout the manoeuvre and show confidence with doing so without instruction.
Control: some of the manoeuvre will require you to move carefully and slowly, so you’ll need to be on the ball and show careful planning and judgement.

You might accumulate driving test faults during this manoeuvre for incorrect use of controls and/or accuracy or not showing due regard for oncoming traffic.

Please note:

If another vehicle pulls up behind your vehicle, preventing you from reversing back, then you won’t be able to complete the manoeuvre. In this situation, the examiner will ask you to keep on driving and get you to carry out another manoeuvre later in the practical. I would always advise students to take some responsibility in this situation and make the examiner aware of any situation that may prevent you from completing the task. It shows your compitent attitude and awareness of situations that you face.

If a vehicle pulls up in front of your vehicle, then you’ll still be able to carry out the manoeuvre. If it blocks your view, the examiner may take control of the situation and offer appropriate advice.

Step-by-step: How do I pull up on the right manoeuvre?

1. Find a suitable and safe location to pull up on the right

The examiner will only tell you to pull up on the right when it’s safe to do so. As such, it will be entirely down to you to pick a spot at which to pull up. Don’t panic and simply choose the first empty spot you can find—instead, apply the same principles as you would when pulling up on the left. We’d recommend that you look for a large space that will give you plenty of room to get your vehicle straight next to the kerb.

Pull up on right manoeuvre stage 1 4front Driving School

If it’s a tight road, you don’t want to pull up across from parked vehicles—it will make it much more difficult for you to rejoin traffic.
Try to avoid blocking driveways where you might get in the way of drivers entering or leaving. If you have to, however, you are allowed to do so for this manoeuvre.
You’ll want to avoid pulling up too closely to junctions, bends or bus stops, as you might end up causing an obstruction or an accident if visibility is limited.
If you can, try not to pull up behind another vehicle—it will block your view of oncoming traffic when you need to rejoin the road.

2. MSPSL

Once you’ve got a spot picked out, it’s important that you use the MSPSL (Mirrors, Signal, Position, Speed, Look) routine to safely move towards the right.

Pull up on right manoeuvre stage 2 4front Driving School

Look at your interior mirror, check your right-hand mirror and follow up with a check of the blindspot over you right shoulder. If it’s all clear, signal to the right.
Position your vehicle to the right-hand side of your lane, as if you were making a right turn at a junction.
It’s important not to rush here—wait and see if you need to give way to oncoming traffic. If you have to wait, check your mirrors again. You never know what might have changed!
Once it’s clear, give your mirrors another quick check and be sure to check your right shoulder blindspot again.

3. Pull up on the right

As a rule of thumb, it’s advised that you leave around 8 car lengths from where you’ve stopped to give way to oncoming traffic to where you intend to pull up. This will give you plenty of room to manoeuvre and straighten up your vehicle.

Pull up on right manoeuvre stage 3 4front Driving School

When it’s safe to pull up on the right, try to move in at a shallow angle. If you try it at a steep angle, you’re more likely to hit the kerb, and you’ll also have more trouble getting your vehicle parallel to the kerb.
You need to get relatively close to the kerb—around 30 -40cm away, half a car door width or drain cover width away from the curb.
Try to get the vehicle parallel to the kerb and straighten the wheels before you stop. By doing so, you’ll make things easier for yourself when you have to reverse.
Stop the car, put the Parking brake on and put the car into neutral.

4. Reverse and move off

Once you’ve stopped the car, the examiner will then asked you to reverse back for approximately 2 to 3 car lengths. If you’ve done as we advised and stopped parallel with the kerb, this should be quite easy to perform.

1. Pulling Up on the Right

Observe: Check interior mirror, right mirror, and right blind spot.
Position: Signal right, steer across, and park parallel to the curb (leave a drain-width gap).
Secure: Stop smoothly, straighten the wheels, pull the handbrake, and select neutral. Cancel your signal.

2. Preparing to Reverse

Gear up: Shift into reverse gear.
360° Check: Look all around the car (all mirrors and blind spots).
Look Back: Finish by looking directly out the rear window before moving.

3. Reversing Two Car Lengths

Creep: Move backward at a snail's pace using clutch control.
Steer: Keep the wheel straight; make only tiny, gentle adjustments if you drift.
Scan & Pause: Keep looking around. Stop immediately if any hazard (pedestrian or vehicle) approaches.
Secure: After two car lengths, stop, apply the handbrake, and select neutral.

4. Rejoining Traffic

Prepare: Shift to first gear and find the clutch biting point.
Observe: Do a full 360° check, paying extra attention to your left blind spot.
Move: Signal left, "peep and creep" out slowly to check for hidden oncoming traffic, and smoothly merge back into the left lane.

Manoeuvres in your Driving Test

As part of your driving test you’ll be asked to do one of 4 possible manoeuvres: