You may be under the impression that the actual journeys you take in your car are where you need to be at your most vigilant. However, taking part in the below checks before starting your car can be just as important. Pre-driving checks ensure your own safety, the safety of others as well as ensuring your car is ready and able to make any journey you wish to make. So, whether you are currently learning to drive, or perhaps you have just passed. Please learn the below checks and implement them into your driving routine.

Before Getting Inside Your Car – Make Sure To Check The Outside

Perhaps one of the easiest things to forget to do, especially when you are in a rush, is to check the outside of your car. Here, you are looking for any obstructions, such as items that may cause you issues leaving your parking space or anything that could damage your car. Once, when leaving a parking place, I found a collection of nails around one of the front tires of my car. Doing these checks will both ensure your safety and could end up saving you a lot of money and time in the long run.

Tire And Under The Bonnet Checks

If you have a tire pressure problem, you can usually quite easily tell by touching the tire with your hand or by eyeballing it. But, if you have one, take the time to check your tire pressure with a gauge as it might save you from any potential break-downs. Also, taking the time to check your coolant, brake fluid and engine oil before getting into your car will not take you too long and will also inform you that your car will work correctly and without issue. Each of these checks will have levels where the fluid should be up to on their packaging.

Make Any Necessary Seat Adjustments

When you first get into your car, you need to make sure that your seat is in the correct position. This encompasses a variety of unique elements, but when all completed, you should be able to safely reach all the controls within your car as well as be seated correctly to drive safely.

The first change you may wish to make is moving your seat forward or backwards. This will ensure that you are seated a comfortable distance to both safely use your pedals and steering wheel. Next, you will want to ensure that your seat is upright. This can help with your posture, comfort and concentration levels, as you will sit upright. The final seat alteration we are mentioning in this section is the location of your headrest. Ensuring that it is level correctly with your head will be paramount to your own safety if you were to get into a car accident, as it is this piece of equipment that supports the vulnerable back of your head.

Moving Your Seat And Steering Wheel

Adjustments that are more commonly made by those that are either taller or shorter than average are moving your seat and steering wheel up and down. Both of these adjustments will also both directly affect each other. If you need to move your seat upwards to gain a better view out of your windscreen, then you may also need to move your steering wheel up, too. This is also true, for if you need to lower your seat, you may also need to lower your steering wheel. Be sure to check your mobility with your steering wheel if you change your seat height to ensure that you can still control the vehicle safely and with ease.

Do Not Forget To Check Your Mirrors

When your seat and steering wheel are in the correct position to maximize your control of the car, your safety and comfort, it is now time to check and correctly adjust your mirrors. Ensure that your rear-view mirror shows the entirety of your rear window when you are in your natural driving position. Whilst you are in said position, then also check your side mirrors to make sure that you can see behind your car in both of them.

Clean Any Windows Or Mirrors

Whilst your focus is on your mirrors, you should take this time to ensure that you can correctly see out of them. Driving can cause a lot of dirt and dust to collect on both your mirrors and windows. As well as condensation issues during specific seasons. Be sure to have cleaning equipment on hand for your mirrors or use your windscreen wash to clean any dirt that may have collected on your front or rear windscreens. Dirt and dust can both obstruct your view or distract you whilst driving, so this is a very important step.

The Final Step…

Of course, before you start your car, the very last step that you need to complete is to fasten your seatbelt. Once it is clipped into place, make sure that it is not twisted is anywhere. Wearing your seatbelt can save your life, and ensuring that it is sitting correctly across your body will ensure that it does not irritate you whilst you are driving.

You are now ready to start your car! These checks may seem quite time-consuming, but they are incredibly important to do. They are there to ensure your own personal safety, as well as the safety of other road users. These rules can also ensure that you can correctly and confidently control your car, and even make sure your car will run smoothly. All these checks have been created to benefit you.