Before moving the car, what is the first action you should take?

The first action you should take before moving the car is to stop the vehicle. This is crucial for ensuring safety and awareness before engaging the vehicle's movements. When the vehicle is stopped, you can take the necessary time to assess your surroundings without the risk of being involved in an accident.

When the vehicle is stationary, you have the opportunity to perform a thorough check of the area around you. This includes ensuring that no pedestrians or cyclists are in the vicinity, scanning for other vehicles, and looking for any potential hazards that might not be visible in the mirrors. This practice of stopping first also allows you to be fully aware of the traffic environment before proceeding, which is essential to safe driving habits.

While checking mirrors, looking around, and listening for traffic are all important steps in the process of safely moving the car, they should come after you have stopped the vehicle to ensure that your immediate actions do not jeopardize your safety or that of others.