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While many people believe that being a responsible and cautious driver is limited to the road, there are several preliminary steps that you should always follow to ensure that you don't run into trouble when driving. Here are some car travel tips and car safety tips about three things you need to check before turning on your car.

Check engine light
Often ignored by drivers, the check engine light is a helpful warning sign to inform you about the overall condition of your vehicle. While the light could indicate any number of mechanical issues, Consumer Reports notes that you should head to a local repair shop as soon as possible to have your car checked out.

Mirrors
It's one of the first things you learn in driving school, but so many people climb into the driver's seat without examining their mirrors first. Before turning the ignition, you should always inspect your rear-view and side mirrors to ensure they're correctly positioned for clear vision surrounding your vehicle. Failure to do so could result in a bad blind spot on the road.

Lights
Between your blinkers, brake lights, tail lights and headlights, you and your car rely on several sources of exterior illumination to signal your intentions on the road and maintain visibility in the dark. As you're getting ready to pull out of your driveway, do a quick check to make sure all lights are working properly.