The condition of your vehicle

Driving an unroadworthy vehicle is against the law, and a good number of collisions come down to a mechanical fault that a minute's attention would have caught. Have the vehicle inspected regularly, and use parts approved by a recognised standards body. The Vehicle Inspection Depots of the Ministry of Transport carry out a thorough inspection for a nominal fee.

Before you set off, walk round the vehicle and look underneath it. Children and small animals sit exactly where the driver's seat cannot see them.

Check these, and put right anything that is doubtful before you drive rather than after:

• Steering. More than 45 degrees of free play in the wheel is faulty steering.
• Brakes, which must be effective and efficient, and the handbrake with them.
• Tyres. At least 1 mm of tread, inflated to the manufacturer's figures, with no deep cuts, lumps, bulges, tears or exposed ply. In the rains the tyres are the whole of your grip.
• Lights. Headlamps correctly adjusted with a working dipping mechanism, stop lights, and indicators showing white or amber at the front and red or amber at the rear. Keep lamps, glasses and reflectors clean.
• Reflectors, white at the front and red at the rear.
• Windscreen, windows and wipers clean and clear. Do not block your own view with stickers.
• Exhaust and silencer. Exhaust gases have no smell and are poisonous, so a leak in the system is dangerous long before you notice it.
• Hooter, mirrors, door catches and safety belts.
• Leaks of fuel, oil or water, and the radiator level with its cap firmly secured.

Safety belts are compulsory in cars registered on or after 1 January 1980, and every adjustment is made before you drive off.

Carry a jack and its accessories, a spare wheel that is actually inflated, a first aid kit, a reflective jacket and warning triangles. The triangle is set 30 m to 50 m behind the vehicle, so it is no use to anyone sitting at home.