What should you check for when moving off in your vehicle?

When moving off in your vehicle, checking the interior mirror and your surroundings is essential for ensuring safety. The interior mirror provides a view of the traffic behind you, allowing you to assess whether it is safe to proceed. Additionally, examining your surroundings—both directly to the side and behind the vehicle—helps you spot any other road users, pedestrians, or obstacles that could pose a hazard as you start to move. This comprehensive awareness is crucial in preventing accidents and ensuring a safe maneuver.

While monitoring blind spots is important, it doesn't encompass the entire context needed for safely moving off. Dashboard indicators primarily provide information about the vehicle's operational status but do not address immediate traffic conditions or surrounding hazards. Checking engine performance is critical during regular vehicle maintenance but is not typically relevant at the moment of moving off. Therefore, focusing on the interior mirror and surroundings is the most thorough approach to ensure that you can start your journey safely.