Before you move your car from a stationary position, you need to be certain the road around you is safe. That's the purpose of the six-point check — a systematic scan that covers all blind spots and mirrors before your vehicle enters the traffic flow.
Why This Check Is Formally Assessed
DVSA examiners formally assess moving-off safety as part of every UK driving test. Missing observation checks when moving off is recorded as a fault in the 'Move off — safety' category — one of the assessed competencies in DVSA's test marking sheet. With approximately 45–48% of candidates passing on any given test (DVSA, gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/car-driving-test-data-by-test-centre), incomplete observation checks remain one of the most common reasons for failure.
The Six Points in Order
The six-point check starts from your left shoulder and sweeps across to your right, ending with a look straight ahead:
- 1. Left shoulder (rear-left blind spot)
- 2. Left (door) mirror
- 3. Interior (centre) mirror
- 4. Right (door) mirror
- 5. Right shoulder (rear-right blind spot)
- 6. Straight ahead
Why Each Point Matters
Starting from the left shoulder catches any cyclist or pedestrian behind you on the nearside — the most likely position for a collision when pulling away from a kerb. The mirrors then reveal following traffic. The right shoulder catches vehicles you might cut off when pulling out. Looking straight ahead before moving confirms the road ahead is clear.
When to Perform the Check
Use an effective all-round observation before moving away from the side of the road, after a manoeuvre or whenever road users could be hidden around the vehicle. After a routine stop in traffic, use the mirrors and observations relevant to the situation; a fixed six-point ritual is not a substitute for looking where danger may actually be.
Practice tip
In the UK, you'll frequently move off from positions where pedestrians, cyclists, or motorcyclists may be on either side. On hills, the check is even more important because a vehicle behind may have crept forward during the hill-start manoeuvre. Build the six-point check into your pre-move ritual until it feels as automatic as putting on a seatbelt.
Frequently asked questions
- Does the order of the six-point check matter?
- The exact order varies slightly between instructors, but what matters is covering all six positions systematically before moving. Starting left and ending straight ahead is the most common taught sequence.
- Do I need to do the full six-point check if I've only been stationary for a few seconds?
- Use all-round observation when moving off from the roadside or where people may be hidden around the car. In ordinary traffic, use the mirrors and checks relevant to the current hazards rather than relying only on a memorised sequence.
- Will the examiner mark me down if I'm too obvious about the checks?
- No — examiners need to see clear head movements to confirm you're checking. Being obvious is correct. An examiner who cannot see your check will record it as not done.