Before you change lanes, you should check your mirrors and:
Never look over your right shoulder.
Always slow down in your traffic lane.
Glance over your shoulder.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is: Glance over your shoulder.
Explanation:
Before changing lanes, it is essential to ensure that there is no vehicle in your blind spot that could pose a danger. While checking your mirrors provides a good overview of the traffic around you, they have limitations. Mirrors, especially side mirrors, may not show the full view of vehicles that are positioned at certain angles, which means there could be a car or motorcycle hiding in the blind spot.
To safely change lanes, you should glance over your shoulder in the direction you intend to move. This quick check, often called a “shoulder check,” allows you to see into your blind spot and confirm that no vehicle is in that space. It is an important safety step because it provides a clearer view of the road and ensures that your move will not disrupt or endanger other drivers.
Failing to check your blind spot with a shoulder glance can lead to collisions and is a common cause of accidents during lane changes. Even if the mirrors seem clear, a vehicle could be in a position that the mirrors can’t capture fully. For example, smaller cars, motorcycles, and bicycles are often difficult to spot in side mirrors.
Contrasting with other options:
- “Never look over your right shoulder” is incorrect because, in many cases, a quick check over your right shoulder is necessary to safely change lanes to the right.
- “Always slow down in your traffic lane” is also not correct as a mandatory action before changing lanes. Slowing down can be part of a strategy when merging, but it’s not the essential step of checking your blind spot.
To sum up, checking your mirrors combined with glancing over your shoulder ensures comprehensive awareness and helps you make safe, informed lane changes.