What should you do before making a lane change?

Before making a lane change, it's essential to check your mirrors and blind spot to ensure it's safe to do so. This practice helps to identify any vehicles or obstacles that may be in the adjacent lane or in areas you cannot see directly through your mirrors, thus preventing potential collisions.

Using mirrors provides a broader view of your surroundings, while checking your blind spot is critical as that area is not visible through your mirrors. Being aware of other vehicles helps maintain safety on the road and supports a smoother traffic flow, which is crucial for safe driving practices.

While decreasing speed can sometimes be part of preparing for a lane change, it is not a universally applicable action and may not necessarily aid in safety. Honking the horn before changing lanes isn't standard procedure and might confuse or alarm other drivers. Using the turn signal after changing lanes is also not the recommended approach; signaling should be done before the lane change to inform other road users of your intentions in advance.