The One Quick Check You Must Do Before Driving Someone Else’s Car
We’ve all been there: you borrow a friend’s car or swap drivers on a long road trip. You hop into the driver’s seat, slide it back or forward to make sure your legs can comfortably reach the pedals, and turn the key. But according to personal injury lawyer Milly Daniels, most drivers miss a critical safety step right before taking off.
In her YouTube Short, “Never Start Your Car Without Checking This!”, Milly highlights a simple habit that can prevent costly accidents and keep you safe on the road: checking and adjusting your mirrors every single time you drive a different vehicle.
Why Seat Adjustments Aren't Enough
When stepping into a vehicle that isn’t yours, your immediate instinct is usually physical comfort. You adjust the seat position and angle so you can comfortably steer and reach the controls. However, comfort doesn’t equal visibility.
Even if you and your friend happen to be roughly the same height, sitting posture, head position, and torso length vary from person to person. A side or rearview mirror tailored perfectly for someone else can leave you with massive, dangerous blind spots.
A Two-Second Habit That Protects You
As Daniels points out, once you've taken the time to set up your seat, you are only "two inches and one button away" from ensuring proper visibility. Before starting the engine:
Adjust the rearview mirror so it frames the entire back window.
Set both side mirrors to minimize blind spots along the sides of the vehicle.
Verify modern safety features (like blind-spot monitoring systems) if the car has them equipped.
Taking those extra two seconds ensures you have full visibility around the vehicle, keeping you—and everyone else on the road—much safer.
