Why Should You Walk Around the Vehicle Counterclockwise Before Driving?
3 Answers
This is a pre-driving safety inspection. The method involves walking counterclockwise around the vehicle to inspect it. The safety inspection includes two parts: observing whether there are pedestrians or obstacles around the vehicle, and checking the technical condition of the tires, any abnormalities on the vehicle's surface, and whether there are any fluid leaks on the ground beneath the vehicle. Below are some driving precautions: 1. Check the rearview mirrors: Always use turn signals and slow down when turning or changing lanes. Before turning, be sure to check the rearview mirrors. For left turns, primarily check the left rearview mirror; for right turns, primarily check the right rearview mirror. For both left and right turns, also check the interior rearview mirror. 2. Don't focus solely on the area directly in front of the vehicle: When driving on clear roads, look straight ahead about 100 meters and avoid staring at the immediate area in front of the vehicle. 3. Depress the clutch: Generally, when decelerating at speeds above 40 km/h, there's no need to depress the clutch first. Wait until the speed drops to around 20 km/h before depressing the clutch. 4. Steering: Turn the steering wheel slowly when making high-speed turns and quickly when making low-speed turns.
I always walk around my car before driving, starting from the left side in a counterclockwise direction to ensure the vehicle is in safe condition. For example, I check if the tires are flat—just a few days ago, I found a nail in the left rear tire. If I had driven straight onto the highway without noticing, the consequences could have been unthinkable. I also look under the car to see if there are any stray cats or small toys left by kids stuck there. This is no small matter, as suddenly starting the car could scare the animals or even damage the vehicle. Additionally, I inspect the entire body for new scratches or obstacles, especially when parked in narrow alleys with clutter nearby. Finally, I check if the license plate is clean—last time after the rain, it was covered in mud, and I almost got fined. The whole process takes just a minute, but this small effort can prevent major troubles. Once it becomes a habit, it doesn’t feel bothersome at all.
Last time I drove my friend's car, he started in a hurry and ended up running over a sharp rock, which tore a big gash in the sidewall of the tire. So now, no matter whose car I drive, I've developed the habit of walking around the car before starting. There's a specific order to it—counterclockwise—starting with the left side where the driver sits, then moving to the front, the right side, and finally the rear. This sequence is convenient and ensures no blind spots are missed, as the driver enters from the left side. For example, I check if the doors are locked, if the trunk is securely closed—imagine the danger if it wasn’t and something flew out while driving. I also look for any oil stains or water puddles on the ground to detect potential leaks. These details are often overlooked, but taking just a few seconds to walk around the car before getting in can really prevent breakdowns or accidents on the road. I treat it as a pre-start ritual—safe driving is the top priority.
