The Basics – Plain Sailing Driving School

The Basic's

As a driver, it’s your responsibility to know how the law relates to you and the car you’re driving.

You need to make sure you’re up to date with the rules and regulations.

You need to understand how the following will affect you:

They must be able to check that the car they’re driving is:

Tax and MOT status – Available on the DVLA Website
Insured for them to use by checking the certificate. Never trust a “Yes your insured” as its the drivers responsibility.
The Vehicle is safe to drive – Roadworthy and adequete for the journey ahead.

It’s important that you know whether the car is in good working order before you start the engine.

You needs to be able to carry out safety checks and know about:

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

Think F.L.O.W.E.R to remember these checks.

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

These checks may be simple, but they’re essential.

The car your using needs to be comfortable and ready you to drive before you start the engine.

You need to 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
The 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
The parking brake is on and the gear lever is in neutral (or in P or N in an automatic car)
Whether you need to refuel the car

You need to know:

The right order to carry out the cockpit checks – you should adjust their 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 they’re not dazzled by the vehicle behind them

You need to be aware of your own personal security as well as the security of the car and its contents.

You need to be aware of the ways you can reduce security 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 they’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 if required.