Basics (skills 1 to 4)

1. Legal responsibilities

As a driver, it’s your responsibility to know how the law relates to both yourself and your vehicle. Make sure that you’re up-to-date with the rules and regulations.

You should understand how the following affects your driving:

health
eyesight
drink
drugs
tiredness
mobile phones

You must be able to check that the car you’re driving is:

taxed and has an MOT (if it needs one)
insured
safe to drive (roadworthy)

2. Safety checks

It’s important that your car be in good working order before you start the engine. You should be aware of what to check, how to do it and how often to do it.

Think FLOWER to remember these checks:

fuel – whether you have enough fuel for the journey and, if necessary, planning where to refuel the car
lights – how to check all lights are clean and working
oil – where and how to check the levels of engine oil and brake fluid
water, screenwash and coolant – where they are and how to check them
electrics – how to check that the battery and charging system, indicators, horn and other warning devices are working properly
rubber – the correct tyre pressure, how to measure it and how to check tread depth and tyre condition

You should always check that the brakes and steering are working before you start to drive.

3. Cockpit checks

These checks may be simple, but they’re essential. The car you’re using needs to be comfortable and ready for you to drive before you start the engine.

You should always check:

all doors are closed and the parking brake is on
your seat is in the right position, and you can reach the foot controls comfortably
your head restraint is in the right place
the steering wheel is adjusted so you can use it easily
your seatbelt is fastened and comfortable
all mirrors are correctly adjusted
whether you’ll need to refuel the car
the parking brake is on and the gear lever is in neutral (or in P or N in an automatic car)

You should know:

the right order to carry out the cockpit checks – always adjust your seat before checking the mirrors
the different ways to adjust your seat to give you the best driving position
how to adjust the mirrors, including adjusting the interior mirror at night so you’re not dazzled by the vehicle behind them

4. Security

This covers not only the security of your vehicle but also its contents and your personal security. You need to be aware of the ways that you can reduce the risks. This includes:

staying alert at all times
letting someone know where you’re going and when you expect to arrive or return
keeping important or valuable items locked away from view while you’re in the car
choosing a secure place to park and leave the car, especially at night
fitting additional security measures, such as a steering wheel lock and immobiliser