Vehicle pre-checks and cockpit drill (mirrors, seat, seatbelt, controls)
What the examiner is checking
The Jordan practical test begins before the engine starts. Traffic keeps right, so the car is normally left-hand drive and your setup must let you see and reach every control without stretching. A short walk-around confirms tyres, lights, plates, leaks and obstructions; then the cockpit drill follows a fixed order: seat, head restraint, steering wheel, mirrors, seatbelt, controls.
Core rules
- Seat: clutch fully depressed with a slight knee bend; backrest upright enough for a full shoulder check.
- Head restraint: top level with the top of your head and close to the skull.
- Mirrors: the interior mirror frames the rear window; side mirrors show about one-quarter of the car's flank, with the horizon near the middle.
- Seatbelt: flat and untwisted, low across the hips; passengers belted where belts are fitted before moving.
- Controls: know indicator, wipers, lights, horn, handbrake, gear lever and hazard switch without looking down.
Worked example
A candidate sets the seat too far back. The clutch reaches the floor only with a straight leg, so the bite point is jerky and the shoulder check is restricted. The examiner sees a stalled pull-away and a missed blind spot. Correcting the seat first solves both faults, because the clutch can be modulated and the torso can turn.
Traps that cost marks
Starting the engine before the seatbelt is fastened; aiming the interior mirror at the rear seats; setting side mirrors so the car fills the glass; forgetting to release the handbrake; ignoring a warning light; and adjusting mirrors after moving off.