Dashboard lights (Cockpit drills)
Except rev and speedos, there are lot of indicator symbols in your dashboard screen (Virtual Cockpit), read the manual of your car and make sure understand them thoroughly in case of you don’t need to search Google or ask AI if some warning lights on.
HVAC
A/C, inner circulation, outer circulation, demist. This part will be also covered by UK practical driving test. Make sure you have a fresh air to keep you calm and focus during driving, and very important, a good vision when you need demist, lot of Chinese novice drive even have no idea about demist when they encounter such situation in first time.
Bonnet, boot and car doors
In American English, Bonnet is hood, boot is trunk. Do not forget to shut down and secure all of them when you start driving. Modern cars should have some warning system if you didn’t secure them properly, warning lights should be lighted at least.
Open you bonnet, you can check engine oil by your dipstick, and check the level for coolant, brake fluid, screen washer, make sure you know how to operate them and how to refill them by yourself.
Light Check
Brake lights, left and right indicators, warning hazard lights, main beams and dipped beams, fog lights should be in good conditions all the time, do not risk yourself to drive a car not works in lights, light is the first language for communicating with other road users.
Tyres check
Open your car doors, and check the plaque embodied in your B-pillar, it graved the information for your tyres’ recommended pressure in different situations. Always check tyre pressure if you intend to drive a long way, many severe accident starts with a tyres’ failure.
Many Chinese drivers have no idea about their tyre tread depth after many years driving experiences, in UK practical driving test, DVSA examiners may ask you how to check it before start driving, you should be also aware of the braking distance will significantly elongate if your tread depth teared in rainy days, it will cause “aquaplaning” easily and you may be panic at that moment.