Theory Mastery

Pulling away from the kerb: mirrors, blind spot, then the indicator

What the exam asks here: Most learners glance in the mirror once and immediately reach for the indicator stalk.

14 minutes · 7 sections · 13 questions

The trap

Many learners think: When pulling away from the kerb it is enough to check the interior mirror and the left door mirror; a glance beside you is not necessary.

The rule is: The order explicitly ends with 'last, look beside you to the left'; that glance covers exactly the area no mirror shows

Challenge

Most learners glance in the mirror once and immediately reach for the indicator stalk. The CBR examiner watches exactly for the order and the moment: three glances, then the stalk. Reversing that order fails this exact component.

Read this section on its own page: Challenge: Pulling away from the kerb: mirrors, blind spot, then the indicator

The model

Fixed order when pulling away: interior mirror + look ahead, then the left door mirror, and last look beside you to the left (Book p.134). Signalling comes after that, right before you pull away — not earlier.

Read this section on its own page: The model: Pulling away from the kerb: mirrors, blind spot, then the indicator

Core

Before pulling away from the kerb you first look in the interior mirror and ahead, then in the left door mirror, and last beside you to the left — that last glance covers the blind spot no mirror shows (Book p.134). This order is not arbitrary: each step covers a blind zone the previous step did not, moving from far away (interior mirror) to close by (beside you). Only once all three are done and you know you can leave safely do you signal. It also applies that: you must give way to other traffic and may not cause danger or nuisance (Book p.134) — the look order is the means, giving way is the goal. Only signal right before you pull away, never earlier: signalling too soon makes other drivers think your indicator is stuck on, or that you haven't noticed them (Book p.134).

Read this section on its own page: Core: Pulling away from the kerb: mirrors, blind spot, then the indicator

Why it matters

A cyclist in the blind spot is invisible in every mirror — only that last glance over the shoulder catches them. Skipping that step, or reversing the order (signal first, look later), means pulling away while other road users are already reacting to an indicator that means nothing yet.

Read this section on its own page: Why it matters: Pulling away from the kerb: mirrors, blind spot, then the indicator

Active recall

You are parked on the right in a residential area near Alkmaar and want to pull away. You have checked the interior mirror and the left door mirror and see nothing. May you now signal and pull away immediately?

Read this section on its own page: Active recall: Pulling away from the kerb: mirrors, blind spot, then the indicator

Teach back

Explain: what is the fixed look order when pulling away from the kerb, and why do you only signal at the very end?

Read this section on its own page: Teach back: Pulling away from the kerb: mirrors, blind spot, then the indicator

Memory hook

Interior mirror → left door mirror → beside you left (blind spot) → only then signal. Giving way to other traffic stays required.

Read this section on its own page: Memory hook: Pulling away from the kerb: mirrors, blind spot, then the indicator

Source: RVV 1990 art. 54 · checked 2026-10-22

The picture

Pulling away from the kerb: three glances, then the stalkCorrect order (p.134)Common mistakeStep 1-2interior mirror + ahead, then left door mirroronly a quick single glance in the mirrorStep 3last, look beside you to the left (blind spot)skipped — mirrors already seemed enoughSignallingonly after steps 1-3, right before departureimmediately on getting in, or too early
What to look at: Look order when pulling away: 1 interior mirror/ahead, 2 left door mirror, 3 beside you to the left (blind spot), only then signal.

Signs and law

Test yourself

You are parked on the right in a street in Alkmaar, engine running. Before you pull onto the road, in what order do you check your surroundings — and when do you signal?

Show the answer

Fixed order when pulling away: interior mirror + look ahead, then the left door mirror, and last look beside you to the left (Book p.134). Signalling comes after that, right before you pull away — not earlier.

Exam questions on this topic

Watch the muted ~5 s clip: you pass a parking bay. Tap HAZARD! the moment you see the hazard develop, then choose what you do at the frozen frame: brake, release the accelerator or nothing?

Hazard perception: a parked car pulling out into the lane (RVV 1990 art. 54).
Watch the clip · The clip plays here as an animated image; the real hazard-perception test with tapping at the right moment is in the app.
  1. Brake
  2. Release the accelerator
  3. Nothing
Show the answer

Correct answer: Brake

Correct choice: brake — a parked car pulling out into the lane (2.2 m away, ~1.2 s to contact) is in your path; releasing the accelerator or doing nothing leaves too little room.

Why learners get this wrong: Releasing the accelerator is not enough here: a parked car pulling out into the lane — 2.2 m away, ~1.2 s to contact. Only braking keeps you clear of the hazard (stop within the distance you can see to be clear).

Open this question

Watch the muted ~5 s clip: you pass a parking bay. Tap HAZARD! the moment you see the hazard develop, then choose what you do at the frozen frame: brake, release the accelerator or nothing?

Hazard perception: a parked car pulling out into the lane (RVV 1990 art. 54).
Watch the clip · The clip plays here as an animated image; the real hazard-perception test with tapping at the right moment is in the app.
  1. Brake
  2. Release the accelerator
  3. Nothing
Show the answer

Correct answer: Nothing

Correct choice: nothing — a parked car pulling out into the lane (13.7 m away) is no hazard to your path; keep watching and carry on calmly.

Why learners get this wrong: Unnecessary braking: a parked car pulling out into the lane is no (longer hazard to your path (13.7 m away). Braking without reason obstructs and surprises the traffic behind you.

Open this question

You are parked on the right in a residential area near Alkmaar and want to pull away. You have checked the interior mirror and the left door mirror and see nothing. May you now signal and pull away immediately?

  1. Yes, checking two mirrors is enough
  2. No — first look beside you to the left (blind spot), only then signal
Show the answer

Correct answer: No — first look beside you to the left (blind spot), only then signal

After the mirrors you look beside you to the left last; that glance covers what no mirror shows

Why learners get this wrong: When pulling away from the kerb it is enough to check the interior mirror and the left door mirror; a glance beside you is not necessary.

Open this question

The order explicitly ends with 'last, look beside you to the left'; that glance covers exactly the area no mirror shows.

  1. False
  2. True
Show the answer

Correct answer: True

The order explicitly ends with 'last, look beside you to the left'; that glance covers exactly the area no mirror shows

Why learners get this wrong: When pulling away from the kerb it is enough to check the interior mirror and the left door mirror; a glance beside you is not necessary.

Open this question

About Pulling away from the kerb: mirrors, blind spot, then the indicator: which statement is WRONG?

  1. If you signal in good time before pulling away, that gives you priority over other traffic.
  2. The text names the steps explicitly as 'first ... then ... last': interior mirror/ahead, then left door mirror, then last beside you.
  3. The order explicitly ends with 'last, look beside you to the left'; that glance covers exactly the area no mirror shows.
  4. Only signal right before you pull away; signalling too early makes other drivers think the indicator is stuck on by accident, or that you have not seen them.
Show the answer

Correct answer: If you signal in good time before pulling away, that gives you priority over other traffic.

Signalling is an announcement, not a right of way: you must give way to other traffic and may not cause danger or nuisance, regardless of whether you have signalled

Why learners get this wrong: As long as you check the interior mirror, left door mirror, and the glance beside you before pulling away, the order does not matter.

Open this question

Signalling is an announcement, not a right of way: you must give way to other traffic and may not cause danger or nuisance, regardless of whether you have signalled.

  1. False
  2. True
Show the answer

Correct answer: True

Signalling is an announcement, not a right of way: you must give way to other traffic and may not cause danger or nuisance, regardless of whether you have signalled

Why learners get this wrong: If you signal in good time before pulling away, that gives you priority over other traffic.

Open this question

About Pulling away from the kerb: mirrors, blind spot, then the indicator: which statement is WRONG?

  1. The earlier you signal before pulling away, the safer — signalling too early can never hurt.
  2. The text names the steps explicitly as 'first ... then ... last': interior mirror/ahead, then left door mirror, then last beside you.
  3. Signalling is an announcement, not a right of way: you must give way to other traffic and may not cause danger or nuisance, regardless of whether you have signalled.
  4. The order explicitly ends with 'last, look beside you to the left'; that glance covers exactly the area no mirror shows.
Show the answer

Correct answer: The earlier you signal before pulling away, the safer — signalling too early can never hurt.

Only signal right before you pull away; signalling too early makes other drivers think the indicator is stuck on by accident, or that you have not seen them

Why learners get this wrong: As long as you check the interior mirror, left door mirror, and the glance beside you before pulling away, the order does not matter.

Open this question

You are parked on the right along the road in Alkmaar and want to pull away. Put the four steps in the correct order.

Answer options: Check the interior mirror and look ahead · Check the left door mirror · Look beside you to the left (blind spot) · Signal and pull away

Show the answer

Correct answer: Check the interior mirror and look ahead; Check the left door mirror; Look beside you to the left (blind spot); Signal and pull away

Interior mirror/ahead, then left door mirror, then last beside you, only then signal and pull away.

Open this question

At a hardware store in Apeldoorn you are parked on the right. You have checked the interior mirror and the left door mirror and seen nothing. What do you do now?

  1. Signal immediately, since both mirrors were already clear
  2. Signal first so other traffic can already slow down, then keep checking
  3. Still look beside you to the left (blind spot), only then signal and pull away
Show the answer

Correct answer: Still look beside you to the left (blind spot), only then signal and pull away

Why learners get this wrong: When pulling away from the kerb it is enough to check the interior mirror and the left door mirror; a glance beside you is not necessary.

Open this question

Statement: signalling well in advance before pulling away is always safer than signalling only at the last moment.

  1. True
  2. False
Show the answer

Correct answer: False

Why learners get this wrong: The earlier you signal before pulling away, the safer — signalling too early can never hurt.

Open this question

All practice questions of this topic

Frequently asked questions

‘When pulling away from the kerb it is enough to check the interior mirror and the left door mirror; a glance beside you is not necessary’ – is that true?

No. The order explicitly ends with 'last, look beside you to the left'; that glance covers exactly the area no mirror shows

‘If you signal in good time before pulling away, that gives you priority over other traffic’ – is that true?

No. Signalling is an announcement, not a right of way: you must give way to other traffic and may not cause danger or nuisance, regardless of whether you have signalled

‘The earlier you signal before pulling away, the safer — signalling too early can never hurt’ – is that true?

No. Only signal right before you pull away; signalling too early makes other drivers think the indicator is stuck on by accident, or that you have not seen them

‘As long as you check the interior mirror, left door mirror, and the glance beside you before pulling away, the order does not matter’ – is that true?

No. The text names the steps explicitly as 'first ... then ... last': interior mirror/ahead, then left door mirror, then last beside you

‘When moving off, the interior mirror is the most important of the three looks; the order of the other two does not matter’ – is that true?

No. No single step is more important than another; each step covers a different area from far to close

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