In part three, we covered the seat belt section of the cockpit drill routine. Fantastic, you’re nearly done! In part four, Book Theory Test Today guides you through mirror checks.
Book Theory Test Today says: “Nearly there now! You’ve mastered door checks, seat checks, steering wheel checks and seat belt checks. You’re now onto mirrors.â€
Your step-by-step guide to the cockpit drill
Doors! Check. Seat! Check. Steering! Check. Seat belts! Check. Now that you’re familiar with these elements of the cockpit drill, it’s time to check your mirrors.
DSSSM Reminder
Remember, it’s abbreviated to DSSSM to help learners digest the cockpit drill quickly. Now let’s tackle seat mirrors. Test yourself now to check that you know each part of the DSSSM routine.
Step Five – Mirrors – What needs to be checked?
Internal and external mirrors both need to be adjusted to give you as much rear view observation as possible. Bear in mind that before you get into your instructor’s car, another driver could well have gone before you so the mirrors won’t be set to your requirements.
In some cases, there may be additional internal mirrors, which are there to give your instructor extra rear view visibility. The mirrors you need to be aware of are the internal rear view mirror and the external door mirrors.
Interior mirror – how to adjust it – When everything else is set, doors, seats, steering and seat belts, this is considered your standard driving position. There’s no point adjusting the mirror first as your view could change depending on seat changes.
To adjust the interior mirror, simply grip the plastic surround and swivel it into the correct position, maintaining your posture in the driving seat. When you feel that you have maximum viewing capabilities, leave the mirror in that position.
Essentially, you want to ‘frame’ the rear window in your rear view mirror, leaving very little of the interior in your sight.
External side mirrors – how to adjust them – Adjusting side mirrors depends on the make and model of the vehicle you’re driving. Some require manual adjustment, while most modern cars allow you to adjust mirrors electronically. However, the purpose of adjusting them remains the same, to give you maximum rear visibility.
Whether electronically or manually, adjust the mirrors accordingly from your ideal driving position. Once you’re satisfied that the mirrors are adjusted to your settings, keep them in that position.
Book Theory Test Today says: “Although adjusting the external mirrors will increase your visibility, it does not eliminate the blind spot. So, when changing lanes or making left or right turns, always remember to check over your shoulder. Failure to do this on the DVSA practical test could result in failure.â€
That’s it, you’ve nailed the mirrors section of the cockpit drill.
That concludes the DSSSM routine. Tune in soon for our next blog series covering cockpit drill controls. Safe driving…
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