What should you do before changing lanes?

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Multiple Choice

What should you do before changing lanes?

Before changing lanes, you must gather information about your surroundings and communicate your intention. Start by checking your mirrors so you can see vehicles behind and alongside you. Then quickly glance over your shoulder toward the lane you want to enter to check the blind spots—areas not fully visible in mirrors. If the path looks clear, turn on your signal to warn others of your planned move, and only proceed if it’s safe to do so. This sequence helps you avoid surprises from vehicles in adjacent lanes and ensures you don’t surprise others with a lane change. The other options miss important steps or safety considerations. Relying on mirrors alone can miss fast-approaching cars in the blind spots. Signaling before confirming there’s space can mislead others if you discover you can’t move safely. And changing lanes in a hurry invites collisions.

Before changing lanes, you must gather information about your surroundings and communicate your intention. Start by checking your mirrors so you can see vehicles behind and alongside you. Then quickly glance over your shoulder toward the lane you want to enter to check the blind spots—areas not fully visible in mirrors. If the path looks clear, turn on your signal to warn others of your planned move, and only proceed if it’s safe to do so. This sequence helps you avoid surprises from vehicles in adjacent lanes and ensures you don’t surprise others with a lane change.

The other options miss important steps or safety considerations. Relying on mirrors alone can miss fast-approaching cars in the blind spots. Signaling before confirming there’s space can mislead others if you discover you can’t move safely. And changing lanes in a hurry invites collisions.

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