Vehicle Controls, Maintenance and Pre-Trip Checks
Set up before you move
Adjust the seat so the clutch or brake can be fully pressed with a slight bend in the knee, then the headrest so its top is level with the top of your head, then the mirrors so you see a sliver of your own vehicle, then the belt. Know the primary controls - steering, accelerator, brake, clutch or selector, handbrake - and what each warning light means. Red warning lights mean stop safely and investigate; amber means a fault to check soon.
Daily pre-trip check
Walk around the vehicle: tyres (pressure, tread, sidewalls, no bulges), lights and indicators, mirrors, wipers, washer fluid, oil and coolant levels, brake fluid, and any leaks or fresh damage under the car. Tyre pressures are set cold. The legal minimum tread depth is small, but grip falls away well before that, and tyres should not be run beyond about five years regardless of tread.
Driving the vehicle
Smooth inputs reduce skid risk. ABS prevents wheel lock under hard braking: keep firm, continuous pressure and steer - do not pump the pedal. ABS may not shorten stopping distance on sand or gravel. In rain, ease off early and avoid sudden steering.
Traps
Wrong answers include pumping ABS brakes, checking tyre pressure after a long drive, removing the coolant cap when the engine is hot, and using engine braking in place of the footbrake on a slippery surface.
Rule of thumb: if a red light stays on after starting, do not drive. Worked example: the tyre-pressure warning appears on a highway - reduce speed gently, leave at the next exit, and check pressures cold rather than stopping in a live lane.