What is the first step to safely change lanes?

The process of safely changing lanes begins with checking mirrors. This step is crucial as it allows the driver to assess the position of their vehicle relative to others on the road. By looking in both the rearview and side mirrors, a driver can gather information about the vehicles approaching from behind and the ones in adjacent lanes. This awareness helps to identify any potential obstacles or dangers before initiating a lane change.

Once the mirrors have been checked and the driver has determined it's safe to proceed, signaling your intention to change lanes becomes the next step. Signaling informs other drivers of your intended maneuver, fostering safer interactions on the road. Checking blind spots is also an important step but is typically done after checking mirrors and before actually changing lanes, to ensure that no vehicle is situated in an area that can't be seen in the mirrors. Accelerating quickly is not part of safe lane-changing practices; rather, it can create risks by changing speed abruptly which may not give other drivers ample warning of your actions.