To commence the cockpit drill you first need to get into the car, but before you open the door always look round to make sure it’s safe. In particular make sure that you don’t swing the door open into the path of any cyclists who are not only more difficult to see than other vehicles, but they also may approach silently! Once inside, the drill should begin with the simple check of ensuring that the doors are properly closed; they don’t always catch first time. If you need to re-close the door, always look round before opening it. Make sure that you don’t open the door if something or someone is about to come past you.
The Driving Seat
You now need to get into a comfortable seating position. The most important thing about adjustment of the driving seat is that you can reach all the controls without difficulty. If you correctly position the seat, you should be able to depress the clutch pedal fully (the one the left) without stretching or being cramped; your leg needs to be relaxed and slightly bent at the knee. To check the rake (back) angle of the seat, place both your hands on the steering wheel at the top – you should be able to reach the wheel without stretching. Also, don’t sit too close, you need room to move your arms comfortably when steering. A lever or wheel at the side or rear of the seat will allow you to adjust the angle. Some people may have a problem reaching the controls if they’re particularly small. To compensate for this, use a cushion to boost your position upwards or forwards if necessary. If your car has an adjustable steering wheel, move this up or down as necessary. There may be a lever attached to the steering column which allows you to do this. Make certain that you lock the lever back into place if you’ve released it!
The Head Restraint
The head restraint isn’t a ‘head rest’ it’s there to protect you. Rear end shunts from following vehicles are one of the commonest types of accident, and learner drivers who may be slow to move away or stall at junctions are particularly at risk from this. A properly adjusted restraint can help prevent whiplash injuries; make sure you adjust it so that the back of your head between your ears makes contact with the middle of the restraint. Finally, make sure you fasten your seat belt! Part of your cockpit drill is to make sure that the belt moves smoothly when you pull it, and if you tug it hard it should lock. Make sure there are no twists in it as you put it on. Remember that you must always wear your seatbelt when driving (except when reversing) unless you’ve a medical exemption.
Mirrors
Mirrors come next, one of the most important aids to safe driving. I can’t over-emphasise how important it’s to learn the proper use of these.
Adjust the interior rear view mirror to get the fullest view through the back window. You should just be able to see the top edge of the window along the top edge of your mirror. You should adjust both door mirrors so that you can see what may be alongside the vehicle on both sides; the back of your car should just be visible on the inside edge of the mirror. It’s very important that you use your mirrors regularly when driving, particularly before signalling, changing speed or direction. You should always be aware of what’s around you.
Just looking isn’t enough however; you must use mirrors early enough in order to judge what may happen, and to act safely on what you see.
Blind Spots
You also need to be aware of blind spots, as your mirrors don’t cover everything. In the image, driver A can see car 1 in the left-hand door mirror. Car 2 is hidden in one of the blind spots. Other blind spots include the door pillars, and even the mirrors themselves can partially block your view at times. Move or turn your head when necessary to ensure that you look beyond these. Having completed the cockpit drill, next thing on the agenda is to learn about the controls of the car.