If your vehicle requires backing, what should you do first?

When preparing to back your vehicle, inspecting what is behind your vehicle very carefully is absolutely essential for safety. This action helps to identify any obstacles, pedestrians, or other vehicles that may be in the path of your vehicle as you reverse. Prioritizing a thorough check of the area behind you reduces the risk of accidents and helps ensure that you are fully aware of your surroundings before moving your vehicle in reverse.

Starting by checking what's behind you allows for a comprehensive understanding of potential hazards. Other options that suggest inspecting what is in front of the vehicle, backing up without looking, or relying solely on mirrors do not offer the same level of situational awareness when reversing, making them less effective strategies for safe backing maneuvers. Mirrors can have blind spots, and only checking what's in front too early may lead to missing critical information and creating dangerous situations.