Simply Learners Driving School Preston, Chorley and Leyland, Lancashire on 01772 792 590 will teach you to carry out the cockpit drill every time you get in the tuition car to take Driving Lessons Preston, especially if someone else has been driving the car before you.

The Cockpit Drill is a series of safety checks and adjustments to the controls which should enable you to drive away safely.

Make sure the handbrake is on and the gear lever is in the neutral position as soon as you enter the car and before carrying out the cockpit drill.

When you carry out the Cockpit Drill remember the D.S.S.S.M. routine.

• Doors, make sure they are all closed including the boot and bonnet. It’s not unknown for a test candidate to go out on test with the boot open, having pressed every button on the remote controlled key inadvertently opening the boot.

• Tip - check that the interior light is not on and warning light is not showing on the dashboard.

• Seat, firstly move it forward to allow comfortable use of the foot controls, make sure that you can completely press the Clutch (pedal furthest to the Left) to the floor.

• Then move the back rest, normally rotating a dial found on the right hand side at the apex of the seat, make sure you can comfortably reach the steering wheel with your arms slightly bent.
• Also make sure you can see through the windscreen comfortably by raising the height of the seat normally found by a lever to the right or by a button on the dashboard N.B. some seats might not be height adjustable.
• Then adjust the head restraint so it touches the back of the head in line with eyes or the tops of the ears. Normally you can raise the head restraint by pushing it up and lowering it, by pushing it down and simultaneously pressing a button positioned near its feet. N.B. some head restraints might not be adjustable.
• Tip – After moving the seat wiggle it slightly to make sure it’s locked into position.

• Steering, adjust the column by pushing or pulling it so you can reach it with the arms slightly bent, also make sure you move it up or down so it doesn’t impede the knees while operating the foot pedals.

• Tip – make sure you lock the steering into position after adjusting it.

• Seatbelt, make sure everyone is wearing a seat belt and that they are not twisted or kinked across the body. Otherwise, if not and you are involved in an accident, this may result in injury. The Law requires the driver to make sure children under the age of 14 wear a seat belt or appropriate safety harness.
• Mirrors, adjust the Interior mirror so you can see the whole of the rear window, then adjust the Left exterior mirror so you can see the horizon in the middle of the mirror and a bit of the car on the right hand side of the mirror. Do the same to the Right exterior mirror and make sure you can see a bit of the car on the left hand side of the mirror.

• Tip – Try and sit in your normal seating position while adjusting the mirrors otherwise you may get a “False view”. Also if you adjust your seat after you have adjusted the mirrors, the view through the mirrors may change.