When turning on the ignition, take a brief couple of seconds, before starting the engine, to check that all the warning lights in the instrument panel are working.
You don't want a critical warning light not to indicate a problem because the light is not working.
Once you are familiar with where all the warning lights are located, you will be able to check quickly just at a glance.
Also check if there are any warning lights indicating that a door is not closed properly.
Glance at the fuel gauge to make sure you have enough for the trip.