From Outside, In: Pre-Driving Procedures
Whether you have been driving for years or you are learning to drive with a learner’s permit, you need a car in healthy condition to carry you from point A to point B. It is important to see that you car does more than just start when you put the keys in the ignition. Go through this checklist as you enter your car and depart for your destination to ensure your car is ready to go.
Outside
- Check the condition of your tires. It can be dangerous to drive on tires that are not properly inflated, pressure is not balanced, or are overly warn.
- Evaluate the surroundings of your car. See that there are no objects lying around, pedestrian or children in the area, or other cars that may be in your blind spot once you are behind the wheel.
- Make sure there is no fluid leakage. Engine Oil leakage may cause your car to be undrivable. Usually this oil piles up underneath the car and begins as a slow trickle when the car is parked overnight. There can also be leakage of gasoline, transmission fluid and brake fluid, none of which should be ignored.
- Check the car for any damage. If there is a scratch, dent, or bump that was not on the car the last time you saw it, it is best to know right away so you can let your insurance company know. Most important is to note any window or glass damage. It is dangerous to drive with damaged windows and it will also impair your vision on the road.
- In the winter, make sure snow is not blocking any windows, mirrors, or lights so you can maximize your view of the road.
Inside
- Loose and hanging objects should be secured or removed from the vehicle so they do not roll around or become a distraction when driving.
- Avoid overloading your vehicle so you can maintain a clear view. Don’t pack the car above the back seats as any items placed higher become a risk.
- Make sure that all seat buckles are properly functioning and secured for all the passengers of the automobile. Also, make sure the doors are securely shut.
- Adjust mirrors and seat for maximum comfortability and visibility.
Going through this checklist each time you get into your car may seem time consuming, but it’s important to always do everything you can to keep yourself and those around you safe on the roads.
Frequently asked questions
What should I check on the outside of my car before driving?
Walk around the vehicle every time you head out. Look at tire condition and inflation, since underinflated, overinflated, or worn tires are genuinely dangerous at highway speeds. Scan the area around the car for objects, pedestrians, children, or vehicles that could be in your blind spot once you start moving. Check the pavement under the car for fluid leaks, which can mean engine oil, gasoline, transmission fluid, or brake fluid, none of which should be ignored. Look for any new scratches, dents, or glass damage, especially cracks in the windshield or windows that impair vision. In winter, clear snow off windows, mirrors, lights, and the roof before you leave.
What kinds of fluid leaks should I watch for?
Four show up most often. Engine oil tends to pool slowly under the car overnight and looks dark brown or black, and continuing to drive with low oil can make the engine seize. Gasoline has a sharp smell and is a fire hazard. Transmission fluid is reddish and signals a costly repair coming. Brake fluid is clear to amber and is the most urgent of the four, because losing brake fluid means losing your ability to stop. Any visible leak warrants a trip to a mechanic before driving, and you should never ignore a puddle just because the car still seems to run normally.
What should I check inside the car before I pull out?
Secure or remove loose items so nothing rolls around and distracts you while driving. Do not overload the cabin or stack items higher than the back seats, since cargo above seat height becomes a projectile in a sudden stop. Confirm every seat belt latches and is buckled by every passenger. Check that all the doors are fully closed. Then adjust your seat and mirrors for maximum visibility and comfort: seat far enough back that you can press the brake fully without locking your knee, but close enough that your hands rest naturally on the wheel, with mirrors set to minimize blind spots.
Why bother with a pre-driving checklist every single time?
Because the few minutes it takes prevent the kinds of problems that ruin your day or worse. A tire that has been losing pressure for a week becomes a blowout on the highway. A new dent in the bumper that you did not cause is much easier to report to insurance the same morning, not three days later. A cracked windshield gets worse fast in winter. Snow on the roof can slide onto the windshield at speed and blind you. None of these issues announce themselves while you are driving, which is why the checklist lives at the start of the trip and not the middle.
What extra checks matter in the winter?
Clear snow and ice off every window, every mirror, all the lights, and the roof before you drive, not just a peephole on the windshield. Snow flying off your roof at speed creates a dangerous distraction for the cars behind you and can blow back onto your own windshield. Covered headlights and taillights make you nearly invisible to other drivers. Frosted-over mirrors eliminate the blind-spot coverage you need for lane changes. Tire pressure also drops in cold weather, so check it more often in winter than you would in summer.
