What should you do if the car behind you disappears from your rear-view mirror just before changing lanes?

What should you do if the car behind you disappears from your rear-view mirror just before changing lanes?

• A. Wait to change lanes until you are sure the car is not in your blind spot
• B. Change lanes anyway
• C. Stop in the middle of the road
• D. Signal but do not change lanes

Answer: (A)

Before changing lanes, you must confirm there’s no vehicle in your blind spots. If a car behind you disappears from the rear-view mirror, you can’t assume it’s gone—it might be in your blind spot or approaching quickly. Do a quick shoulder check (a look over your shoulder) in the direction you want to move, and wait until it’s clearly safe before signaling and moving over. In a large vehicle, blind spots are bigger, so double-checking is essential to avoid a collision. Signaling without moving or stopping in the road doesn’t address the risk, and changing lanes when another vehicle could be in your blind spot is unsafe.

Before changing lanes, you must confirm there’s no vehicle in your blind spots. If a car behind you disappears from the rear-view mirror, you can’t assume it’s gone—it might be in your blind spot or approaching quickly. Do a quick shoulder check (a look over your shoulder) in the direction you want to move, and wait until it’s clearly safe before signaling and moving over. In a large vehicle, blind spots are bigger, so double-checking is essential to avoid a collision. Signaling without moving or stopping in the road doesn’t address the risk, and changing lanes when another vehicle could be in your blind spot is unsafe.