Key points
- 'Move off: safely' is on the DVSA's list of the most common reasons for failing.
- Learners do POM perfectly at the start of the test and then skip it after the tenth pull-up because it feels routine..
- Drill: POM every time.
- Your DriveSQ Student Portal tracks this skill lesson by lesson.
Moving off happens dozens of times on every test — after pulling up, at the start, after the manoeuvre. A single missed blind-spot check can be a serious fault.
What the examiner is looking for
Before moving off you should check all around, including the blind spot over your shoulder, and only move when it's safe — signalling if it would help someone.
What it looks like on test
- Pulling away without a right blind-spot check.
- Checking, then waiting, then moving off without re-checking.
- Moving off when a car or cyclist is approaching.
- Forgetting the left blind spot when moving off from the right side of the road.
Why it happens
Learners do POM perfectly at the start of the test and then skip it after the tenth pull-up because it feels routine.
How to fix it: drills we use
POM every time
Prepare, Observe, Move — every single time the car is stationary at the kerb.
Re-check rule
If you've waited more than a couple of seconds, look again before you go.
Pull-up practice
A lesson of repeated pull-ups and move-offs on different roads.
Where it catches learners in Greater Manchester
Busy roads right outside the centres — Weston Street at Bolton, Lingard Lane at Bredbury, Cross Street at Sale. Our test-route guides list the exact roads.
Self-check before your test
Can you tick all of these?
Be honest — if not, tell your instructor and practise it on your next lesson.
In the DriveSQ Student Portal your instructor marks "Move off: safely" as its own skill after each lesson, so you can watch it move from "introduced" to "independent" before you book.
DriveSQ Student Portal
Every SQ Driving School learner gets the DriveSQ Student Portal free — so you always know where you stand, not just how many hours you've had.
- 23 driving skills tracked after every lesson
- Theory library and 50-question mock tests
- Test-readiness checklist and instructor messaging
Why SQ Driving School?
SQ Driving School is owned and managed by DriveSQ — the Greater Manchester driving school behind the Student and Instructor Portals.
- Manual & automatic, same price: £35/hr
- 10 hours £350 — £320 for NHS staff, students and M16/M18/M19
- Door-to-door pick-up across Greater Manchester
Frequently asked questions
Is moving off safely a common reason for failing the driving test?
Is a move off: safely fault always a fail?
How do I stop making moving off safely mistakes?
How many minor faults can you have and still pass?
Sources
- GOV.UK — Top 10 reasons for failing the driving test
- GOV.UK — DVSA reveals top driving test faults
- GOV.UK — What happens during the driving test
- The Highway Code (GOV.UK)
Published by SQ Driving School, a brand owned and managed by DriveSQ. Checked on 16 October 2026. Rules, fees and test centres change — always confirm on GOV.UK before you book.