Why must you verify that the door latches are functioning correctly?

Verifying that the door latches are functioning correctly is crucial to prevent the doors from opening while the vehicle is in motion. If the doors were to open while driving, it could lead to dangerous situations, such as cargo spilling onto the roadway, posing hazards to other drivers and causing potential accidents. Securely latching the doors ensures that all cargo remains safely contained within the vehicle throughout transit, which is vital for maintaining road safety and compliance with transportation regulations.

While ensuring that doors close securely contributes to safe travel, the primary concern during motion is the risk associated with doors unintentionally opening. Other factors like fuel efficiency and preventing theft are also important, but they are secondary to the immediate safety risks involved with open doors while the vehicle is in motion.