What is required before backing your vehicle?

Walking around your vehicle to check for clearance before backing up is important for ensuring safety. This practice allows you to inspect the area behind your vehicle thoroughly, ensuring that there are no obstacles, pedestrians, or other vehicles that could cause accidents. It helps you get a clear understanding of your surroundings, which is critical when reversing, as relying solely on mirrors can miss blind spots and lower the awareness of your immediate environment.

Merely looking in the rearview mirror does not provide a complete picture of the area behind you, as it may not reveal objects that are directly behind or close to your vehicle. Circumventing the vehicle may overlook important visual checks that a full walkthrough provides, and backing up without checking at all poses significant risks, potentially leading to collisions or injuries. Therefore, assessing clearance by walking around your vehicle is the most comprehensive and safe approach to take before reversing.