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What should you do before changing lanes?

  1. Signal your intent and check mirrors and blind spots

  2. Just signal without checking around

  3. Change lanes quickly to avoid accidents

  4. Only check side mirrors

The correct answer is: Signal your intent and check mirrors and blind spots

Before changing lanes, it is essential to signal your intent and check mirrors and blind spots. Signaling is crucial as it notifies other drivers of your intention to merge into their lane, promoting safer driving and reducing the risk of accidents. Checking mirrors allows you to see if there are any vehicles beside and behind you in the lane you wish to enter, while checking blind spots ensures that you are aware of any vehicles that might be positioned in areas your mirrors cannot cover. This comprehensive approach minimizes the chances of collisions and enhances overall roadway safety. The other choices present less effective practices. Simply signaling without checking around lacks the necessary safety measures to ensure that your lane change can be accomplished without incident. Changing lanes quickly to avoid accidents overlooks the importance of cautious assessment of your surroundings, which can lead to hasty and dangerous maneuvers. Lastly, only checking side mirrors does not provide a complete view of the road conditions, as there may be vehicles or obstacles not visible in the mirrors, especially in blind spots.