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The cockpit drill

A good cockpit routine, or pre-start check is as essential for an advanced driver as it is for a learner; it is impossible to drive to a high standard if, for example, your seat is poorly adjusted.

As an experienced driver you probably know when you are comfortable in the car, however, it's amazing how manydrivers suffer aches and pains because of a poor driving position; these aches and pains can lead to excessive fatigue, especially on long journeys.

Getting into the habit of following a routine similar to those outlined below every time you get into your car - and before you start the engine - will help to ensure your safety and the safety of others.

Simple routines

The first routine is easily remembered as 'DSSSM' (D Triple S, M) and is probably the most widely used cockpit routine; while it does not comprehensively cover all aspects of a pre-start check in modern vehicles it is a simple reminder to make your check before you start moving – not as you are driving along the road!

• Doors
• Seat
• Steering
• Head restraint
• Seatbelts
• Mirrors

The order in which checks are done is not really very important, although it can be a good idea to check the parking brake when you first get into the car – especially in hilly areas.

Here's another handy phrase to remind you of the checks...

'Secure - Seating - Surely - Helps - Safer - Motoring'

The initial capital letters stand for:

• Secure the car
• Seat position
• Steering position
• Head restraint
• Seatbelts
• Mirrors

The reason for using a drill is simply to make the actions second nature.

The headings below cover each aspect of the drill in more detail.

Secure the car

It's worthwhile ensuring that the handbrake is firmly applied when you enter the vehicle, especially if you are carrying the extra weight of two or three passengers – otherwise you might just start to roll away as the last person gets in!

As soon as you have entered the car you should also check that your door and all the passenger and luggage compartment doors are firmly closed. This is especially important if you are carrying young children. Use child locks if they are fitted to your vehicle.

The rear door on a hatchback or estate obviously has to be closed correctly to prevent your shopping, dogs, garden furniture or whatever, from spilling onto the road. What might not be so obvious is the fact that exhaust fumes will seep in through a door that is not properly closed – the aerodynamics of modern cars means that this will happen at all speeds.

Although you won't be checking them as part of your pre-start drill, this is also a good time to remember basics such as fuel, oil, water, tyres and general car safety. Giving a quick thought to these items every time you start to drive will help you to develop a 'culture of safety'.

Seat position

When you are satisfied that all the doors are securely closed, adjust the driving seat. You should adjust the seat cushion (that's the bit you sit on) so that all the pedals can be reached.

When the clutch is pressed down fully, your knee should be slightly bent and the seat should support your thigh - it's essential to make sure that your body is fully supported.

The law requires that you are seated in such a way that you can operate all of the controls and have a clear view from the vehicle.

Remember that a poor seating position will cause fatigue on longer journeys. This will in turn affect your concentration and your safety. It is worth experimenting with different positions to find which suits you best. many drivers never realise that they could be more comfortable because they have never thought to try different seat positions.

Steering position

The back-rest should be adjusted so that you can reach all of the steering wheel rim (without having to stretch to reach the top of the steering wheel).

When your hands are positioned in the ten-to-two or quarter-to-three position on the wheel, your arms should be bent slightly (a simple guide to steering reach is that you should be able to to rest your wrists on the top of the wheel when sat back comfortably in the seat).

If you watch other drivers, you will notice that a lot people sit much too close to the wheel.

If you are very close to the wheel you will not be able to control the steering effectively. Especially in an emergency or in faster driving situations on open country roads.

Sitting too close to the wheel will also lead to discomfort and tension.

Head restraint

Make sure that your head restraint is correctly adjusted so that the supportive portion of the restraint (the bit that your head will hit in an accident) is level with your ears.

Note: Some drivers have removed head restraints in an effort to improve visibility when reversing. This is a very dangerous and crazy thing to do and may affect the amount of any insurance claim after an accident.

Seatbelts

Seatbelts are provided in both the front and the rear of all new vehicles. The law states that all passengers must wear their seatbelts (except when exempt).

Drivers are not responsible in law for non-use of seatbelts by adult passengers but should obviously advise the passengers that it is in their own interests to comply with the law.

Responsibility for belt-wearing by passengers under 14 years of age in the UK does rest with the driver (check rules for your own country) .

Exemptions from the seatbelt law can be found in The Highway Code. This includes ensuring that the correct type of seat and restraints are used for infants and small children.

New seatbelt laws came into force in 2006. The tables below summarise the info.

In a crash someone not wearing a seat belt is more likely to die than someone using one. In 2007, of the 1,432 car occupants killed, research indicates that some 34 per cent were not wearing a seat belt.

While few people admit to regularly travelling without a seat belt, research shows that 24 per cent of people admit they sometimes don't wear a seat belt when travelling in the back, and 10 per cent in the front. There is also evidence that people are less likely to use seat belts on short or familiar journeys or at low speeds. This puts them at serious risk of injury in a crash.

You are twice as likely to die in a crash if you don't wear a seat belt.

Nearly 300 lives would almost certainly have been saved in 2007 if all car occupants had been wearing a belt. Roughly, that's one life a day.

Mirrors

It is important that you check that all of your driving mirrors are correctly adjusted before you start to drive.

It may be necessary to adjust the outside mirrors before the seatbelt is fastened.

When checking that mirrors are adjusted correctly, you should sit in your normal driving position.

Mirrors should be adjusted so that maximum rear view can be obtained with little, or no, head movement. Do not to touch the mirror glass with your fingers when adjusting the mirrors.

If you are training to become a driving instructor and regularly spend time in the front passenger seat of a car, it's worth fitting an additional 'instructor's mirror' – this will help you to get used to using it, ready for the final part of your exam.