Before backing up (reversing) your vehicle, what should you do?

Backing up is risky because visibility behind the vehicle is limited, so before reversing you should walk around or otherwise check behind the vehicle for children, pedestrians, and obstacles, then look over your shoulder through the rear window (using mirrors and any backup camera as aids, not substitutes), back up slowly, and stop immediately if anything enters your path. Avoid backing into traffic or backing farther than necessary, and never rely on a camera or mirrors alone. Backing slowly while actively checking the path prevents the common, often serious collisions that occur in reverse. This is a standard rules-of-the-road safety practice.