5.1 Cockpit Drill, Controls, Pre-Trip Inspection & Starting/Securing

Safety Begins Before Motion

MV-368 includes pre-operation procedures, basic controls, moving, and securing the vehicle among the driving tasks an instructor must teach. A consistent routine reduces omissions and gives the instructor a common point from which to diagnose errors.

Exterior and surrounding-area check

Approach from a position that allows a view around and under the vehicle. Look for children, animals, objects, fluid leaks, damaged glass, low or damaged tires, and obstacles near the path. Confirm that lights, plates, and windows are unobstructed. In snow, clear the roof as well as the windshield and lamps so material does not slide or blow into another road user's path.

Check that tires have usable tread and proper cold inflation according to the vehicle placard. A dashboard tire-pressure warning is not a substitute for inspecting a visibly damaged tire. Confirm current registration and inspection documents as required and do not begin a lesson with a defect that makes the vehicle unsafe or unlawful.

Seat, restraint, and mirrors

After entering, close the doors and adjust the seat before the mirrors. The driver must reach and fully operate the brake and accelerator while keeping the back supported and knees and elbows comfortably bent. Maintain safe distance from the airbag in accordance with the vehicle and restraint manufacturer's guidance.

Fasten the seat belt low across the hips with the shoulder belt across the chest and shoulder. Every occupant must be properly restrained. Adjust the inside mirror for the rear window and the outside mirrors for the adjacent traffic areas. Mirrors reduce blind areas but do not eliminate the need to turn the head for a direct check before moving laterally or backing.

Use a short memory sequence if it helps the student, but do not present a private acronym or one exact body angle as a Part 76 mandate. The outcome matters: stable posture, full control reach, correct restraint, useful sight lines, and awareness of blind areas.

Controls and indicators

Before motion, have the student locate and, while parked, operate:

• service brake, accelerator, parking brake, and gear selector;
• turn signals, hazard flashers, horn, headlights, and high-beam control;
• windshield wipers, washer, defroster, and climate controls;
• mirrors, window controls, and door locks;
• essential indicators such as oil pressure, charging system, brake, ABS, airbag, temperature, fuel or charge, and tire pressure.

Indicator meaning and start procedures differ by model. Use the owner's manual. If a red warning remains on or the brake pedal feels abnormal, do not begin the lesson until the condition is resolved.

Starting and moving

With the parking brake set, confirm the transmission position and press the service brake. Start the vehicle according to its design. Check the instrument panel, select the proper gear, release the parking brake while holding the service brake, signal, and search mirrors and blind areas before entering traffic.

The first movement should be slow enough to verify steering and braking response. The instructor should be ready at the dual brake but avoid touching it without need. Tell the student in advance that the instructor may intervene for safety and will explain afterward.

Securing the vehicle

Stop in a lawful location, maintain the service brake, set the parking brake, and select Park or the appropriate manual-transmission gear. Turn off the vehicle and accessories as appropriate, remove the key when required, and check for traffic and bicyclists before opening a door. On a hill, apply the parking and wheel-position rules covered in the parking section.

For a school-owned or controlled car, Part 76 separately requires reporting to DMV, student and instructor restraints, an additional instructor mirror, dual foot-brake controls, and compliant STUDENT DRIVER signage. Those rules are covered in section 8.3.

Transfer across vehicles

When changing cars, repeat the setup. Ask the student to locate neutral, hazards, defrost, parking brake, high-beam control, and ADAS indicators before moving. This matters for push-button selectors, electronic parking brakes, hybrid vehicles, and controls whose symbols remain familiar while operation differs.