Vehicle Safety, Controls and Pre-Drive Checks
Pre-drive checks are a legal and safety habit. Walk around the vehicle: tyres (pressure, tread, cuts, spare), lights, mirrors, windscreen, wipers, fluid leaks, and nothing loose that can become a projectile. Inside, adjust seat, head restraint and mirrors, fasten the seatbelt, and check that passengers are belted. Switch on the ignition and watch for warning lights; a red oil-pressure or temperature light means stop, not drive to the garage.
Controls
Know the primary controls before moving: steering, accelerator, brake, clutch/gears, handbrake, indicators and hazard lights. ABS prevents wheel lock under hard braking; keep firm pressure and steer-do not pump the pedal. In heat, check coolant and tyre condition more often.
Worked example
After loading a car with four passengers and luggage, you notice the rear tyres look low. You check pressures against the manufacturer’s placard and inflate to the loaded-vehicle figure before driving. Under-inflation plus heat plus load can overheat a tyre and cause a blowout.
Traps
Checking only fuel; ignoring a dashboard warning because the car feels fine; overloading beyond the tyre or axle limit; and fitting a space-saver spare without observing its speed limit. If a tyre blows out, hold the wheel, ease off the accelerator, avoid hard braking and steer to a safe stop.