A kerbside stop can look simple: pull over, stop, then move on. In a WA Practical Driving Assessment, however, it shows whether you can make a safe decision under pressure. Knowing how to perform kerbside stops means more than steering towards the left kerb. You need to read the road, protect cyclists and pedestrians, observe properly, control the car smoothly and choose a legal place to stop.
For learner drivers, this is one of the clearest examples of why a driving test is not just about following a sequence. An assessor is watching for safe, repeatable judgement. The same skills matter when you pull over to collect a passenger near Cockburn Central, stop outside a school, or park on a busy suburban street in Fremantle.
What a safe kerbside stop demonstrates
A kerbside stop assesses several driving skills at once. You must maintain awareness of what is behind and beside your vehicle, select a suitable stopping place, give other road users enough warning, and keep the vehicle controlled as you approach the kerb.
Your assessor is also looking for independence. If the instruction is to pull over when safe, do not brake sharply at the first available gap. Continue driving until you find a location where stopping is both legal and safe. Taking a little extra time is usually far better than stopping beside a driveway, near an intersection, across a crossing or where signs and road markings prohibit it.
The goal is not to touch the kerb or stop perfectly centred between two objects. The goal is to finish close and reasonably parallel to the kerb without creating a risk for anyone around you.
How to perform kerbside stops step by step
Listen, plan and scan ahead
When you receive the instruction, acknowledge it calmly and keep your eyes moving. Look well ahead for a clear length of kerb on the left. Check for signs, yellow lines, bus zones, loading areas, driveways, intersections, pedestrian crossings and parked vehicles.
Consider the road conditions too. A section of kerb may be legal but still unsuitable if there is a cyclist beside you, a pedestrian about to step off the footpath, a vehicle preparing to leave a driveway, or poor visibility around a bend. If there is no safe place immediately available, keep travelling at an appropriate speed and select the next suitable opportunity.
This forward planning prevents the most common error: seeing a space late, then braking or steering abruptly to reach it.
Check mirrors before changing your road position
Before easing left, check your interior mirror and left side mirror. You are looking for vehicles following closely, motorcycles filtering through traffic, and cyclists using the edge of the lane or a bicycle lane.
Mirrors show most of the picture, but they do not show everything. Before moving towards the kerb, complete a quick left shoulder check for the blind spot. Make it deliberate, not rushed. A clear head check demonstrates that you have checked the area where a cyclist or smaller road user may be hidden.
If a cyclist is alongside, wait. Do not cut across their path just because you have been asked to stop. Maintain your position until it is safe to move left.
Signal early enough to warn others
Once you have chosen a safe stopping area and checked it is clear, signal left. Your indicator tells drivers, cyclists and pedestrians that your vehicle will be slowing and moving towards the kerb.
Allow enough time for the signal to be useful. Signalling at the last second, while already braking hard, gives road users little chance to respond. On the other hand, do not signal far too early if it could suggest that you are turning into a side street or driveway before your intended stopping point.
As you slow, continue checking ahead. The road can change quickly. A pedestrian may approach a crossing point or a parked car door may open into your path.
Slow smoothly and guide the car towards the kerb
Release the accelerator and brake progressively. Smooth braking is safer for vehicles behind you and helps you judge your final position accurately. Keep both hands in a controlled steering position and steer gently towards the left.
Avoid swinging wide to the right before coming in. This can confuse other drivers and may place you in the path of following traffic. Instead, make a gradual, controlled movement towards the kerb while maintaining a slow speed.
Keep looking ahead rather than staring at the kerb. Looking where you want the car to finish helps you stay parallel. Use the left mirror briefly to check your distance from the kerb, but do not fixate on it. Your priority remains the road environment.
Aim to stop close to the kerb, without touching or mounting it. If you finish a little farther out than intended but are safely positioned, do not make sudden corrections. Assess the situation first. A rushed correction can create more risk than a slightly imperfect final position.
Stop, secure the vehicle and wait for the next instruction
Bring the vehicle to a complete stop using the foot brake. Keep the car parallel to the kerb and ensure you are not obstructing a driveway, crossing or traffic lane unnecessarily.
If you are asked to park or remain stopped, secure the vehicle as appropriate: select Park in an automatic vehicle and apply the parking brake. If you are simply stopping briefly in traffic, keep the vehicle in Drive with the foot brake applied unless instructed otherwise. The situation determines the correct action.
Do not assume the manoeuvre is finished as soon as the wheels stop. Stay alert. An assessor may ask you to move off straight away, or you may need to wait for traffic, cyclists or pedestrians to pass.
Moving off safely after a kerbside stop
Moving away from the kerb deserves the same care as pulling in. Many learners relax after the stop and forget that they are about to re-enter traffic.
Start by checking the interior mirror and right side mirror. Signal right if you are moving into the traffic lane, then complete a right shoulder check for your blind spot. Look for vehicles approaching from behind, motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians who may be near the road edge.
Wait for a safe gap. Do not rely on another driver slowing down or waving you out unless you have independently confirmed that the lane is clear. When there is enough space, move off smoothly with gentle acceleration, cancel the indicator if needed, and return to a safe road position.
Mistakes that can cost marks in the PDA
Most kerbside stop errors happen because the driver rushes the decision rather than because they cannot steer. Failing to check mirrors and the blind spot is a serious safety concern, particularly on roads shared with cyclists. Late signalling, braking harshly, selecting an illegal stopping point and stopping too far from the kerb can also lead to assessment errors.
Another common problem is treating the assessor’s instruction as a command to stop immediately. “Pull over when safe” gives you permission to use your judgement. If the first section of kerb is unsafe or restricted, keep going and choose a better place. Explain only if asked – your driving should show the reason for your decision.
Learners can also overcorrect. If the car is not perfectly positioned, avoid repeatedly moving forward and back without checking around the vehicle each time. A controlled adjustment may be appropriate, but only when it can be completed safely and legally.
Practise the decision, not just the manoeuvre
The best practice is varied practice. Start on quiet residential streets where you can focus on the sequence: scan, mirrors, signal, blind-spot check, smooth braking, position and secure. Then build up to busier roads with parked cars, bicycle lanes, driveways and changing traffic conditions.
Ask your supervising driver or instructor to give the instruction at different times rather than choosing the stopping location yourself. This helps you develop the habit of scanning ahead and deciding whether a location is suitable. It also prepares you for the PDA, where the road environment will not be staged for you.
A professional lesson can be especially useful if you repeatedly stop too far from the kerb, miss blind-spot checks or feel unsure about where parking restrictions apply. Drive Solo instructors use clear correction methods so learners understand not only what to do, but why each observation and position matters.
A calm kerbside stop is built well before you touch the brake. Keep scanning, give yourself time to choose safely, and let every check be deliberate. That approach will help you in the test and every time you need to pull over on a real WA road.
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