What should you do before making a lane change?

Before making a lane change, it is essential to signal and check mirrors. Signaling informs other drivers of your intentions, allowing them to anticipate your movements and adjust accordingly. This is crucial for safety on the road, as it helps prevent collisions resulting from sudden or unexpected lane changes.

Checking mirrors lets you assess the surrounding traffic and ensure that the lane you wish to enter is clear. It allows you to see vehicles that may be in your blind spot and to gauge the speed and distance of any approaching traffic. This two-step process—signaling and checking mirrors—ensures that you are fully aware of your environment, thereby helping to facilitate a smooth and safe lane change.

The other choices do not promote safe driving practices. Reliance on just checking the blind spot ignores the importance of signaling your intentions to others on the road, while changing lanes without signaling can lead to confusion and accidents. Accelerating before changing lanes can be particularly dangerous, as it may not give you enough time to properly assess the situation or allow other drivers to react to your intentions.