What should you do before changing lanes?

Before changing lanes, it is crucial to check mirrors and blind spots. This step ensures that you are aware of your surroundings and any vehicles or obstacles that may be present in adjacent lanes. Utilizing your mirrors gives you a view of the traffic situation behind and to the sides of your vehicle, while checking your blind spots helps detect any vehicles that may not be visible in your mirrors. This comprehensive awareness is key to executing a safe lane change, as it minimizes the risk of collision with other drivers who may be in your vicinity.

Signaling your intent to change lanes is also important and should be done in conjunction with checking mirrors and blind spots. However, the fundamental step is ensuring that the lane is clear first. Speeding up to merge quickly poses a danger, as it reduces the time available to check for oncoming traffic, and looking only in the rearview mirror does not provide a full picture of the road ahead or alongside you. Therefore, properly checking mirrors and blind spots is the primary and foundational action to take before making a lane change.