The last thing you do as a check inside the car before driving is

• A. Start the engine
• B. Adjust mirrors
• C. Fasten your seat belt
• D. Check fuel level

Answer: (C)

Securing yourself with a seat belt as the last action in your pre-drive inside-the-car check is about immediate safety. If you move the vehicle without buckling up, you’re exposed to the highest risk of injury in any sudden stop or crash, and you’ll also be in a legal violation in many places. Buckling before you start moving ensures you’re protected from the moment you begin to drive, and airbags are designed to work with the belt to keep you in the proper position.

Starting the engine and adjusting mirrors are important steps, but they don’t provide the same level of protection the moment you begin to move. Checking fuel level is more about planning for distance than the safety of the first seconds after you depart.