🪞 MSPSL: Mirror – Signal – Position – Speed – Look
The MSPSL routine behind every manoeuvre, which mirror to check when, blind spots, following distance, lane discipline and planning where to stop.
Turning, changing lanes, stopping, moving off, overtaking — they all use the same routine: MSPSL. Once it becomes automatic, most test faults disappear by themselves. Our instructor's grievous mistake no. 11 is exactly this: changing lanes without MSPSL.
The five steps
- M – Mirror: interior mirror first, then the door mirror on the side you're moving to. Who is behind, how close, how fast?
- S – Signal: signal if it would help anyone — early, but not so early that it misleads. A signal gives you no rights; it only shows your intention.
- P – Position: put the car in the right place: close to the left for a left turn, near the centre of the road or in the right lane for a right turn.
- S – Speed: brake to the right speed, then select the right gear. Speed first, then gear.
- L – Look: final check at the junction or lane: right–left–right, blind spot, pedestrians. Decide on what you see: go, wait or stop.
Which mirror, when?
| Situation | Mirrors |
|---|---|
| Turning left / pulling in on the left | Interior + left mirror (cyclists and motorcyclists!) |
| Turning right / moving to the right lane | Interior + right mirror |
| Slowing down or braking | Interior (how close is the car behind?) |
| Moving off | Interior, right mirror and right blind spot over your shoulder |
| Before opening a door | Relevant door mirror and a shoulder check |
| On a straight road | A quick glance in the interior mirror every 5–10 seconds |
The blind spot
This is the area at the rear corners of your car that the door mirrors cannot show. A motorcycle or small car can disappear completely in it. When moving off, changing lanes and leaving a roundabout, take a quick look over your shoulder — turn your head, not your body, and keep it short so you don't lose sight of the road ahead.
Approaching lights and crossings
That way, if the light turns amber or a pedestrian steps out, you can stop with the shortest possible reaction time, without surprising the driver behind.
Parked cars
- At least 1 metre from parked cars — the width of an opening door.
- If you can't leave 1 metre, slow down; the closer you are, the slower you go.
- If the obstruction is on your side and traffic is coming, stop before it and give way — don't pull out and hope.
Following distance
- 2 seconds in the dry, 4 seconds in the wet; up to ten times more on ice.
- To count: as the car in front passes a post, say "only a fool breaks the two-second rule".
- In slow traffic and when stopped: you must be able to see the rear tyres of the car in front touching the road. That is your room to steer around it if it breaks down.
- If someone is tailgating you, open the gap in front a little more so you can brake gently.
Lane discipline
- We drive on the left in Malta. On a two-lane road always use the left lane; the right lane is for overtaking and turning right.
- Look early at the arrows on the road and choose your lane in good time for your direction.
- Every lane change with MSPSL; if someone would have to brake for you, waiting is right.
- Never cross a continuous white line; even with a broken line, if in doubt, don't.
Planning where to stop
When the examiner says "pull up on the left when it's safe", or when traffic slows:
- Look ahead and choose a suitable place in advance: no driveway/garage exit, bus stop, yellow line, junction mouth or crossing.
- Mirrors (interior + left), left signal if needed.
- Glide in smoothly parallel to the kerb; don't hit it.
- Stop → handbrake → neutral → cancel the signal.
