What action should you take before changing lanes?

Before changing lanes, it is essential to signal your intention and check blind spots. Signaling informs other drivers of your intended maneuver, which is critical for safe lane changes. It helps prevent misunderstandings and reduces the risk of accidents with vehicles that may be in adjacent lanes or moving into your intended space.

Checking blind spots is equally important because mirrors alone cannot capture the entire area around your vehicle. There may be vehicles or obstacles that are out of the range of your mirrors, and looking over your shoulder can help identify these hidden hazards. This two-step action, signaling and checking blind spots, ensures that you are making a well-informed decision before changing lanes, thereby enhancing overall safety on the road.

In contrast, checking the fuel gauge is unrelated to the immediate task of changing lanes, as is merging immediately without signaling, which increases danger by not informing others on the road of your actions. Relying solely on mirrors also fails to account for those blind spots that could lead to collisions. Thus, the correct response incorporates both signaling and a thorough check of the surroundings.