What should you check for before changing lanes?

Before changing lanes, it is crucial to check your blind spots and use your mirrors. This practice ensures that you are aware of all surrounding traffic and obstacles, which helps prevent accidents. Blind spots are areas around your vehicle that cannot be seen through mirrors, so physically turning your head to check these areas is essential. Using mirrors allows you to monitor vehicles behind and beside you, helping to ensure that it is safe to maneuver into another lane. This comprehensive checking process is fundamental for safe driving and lane changes.

While the other factors listed are important for overall vehicle safety and driving conditions, they do not specifically address the immediate concerns involved in changing lanes. For example, while fuel levels and tire pressure are vital for general vehicle maintenance, they do not impact the immediate safety of changing lanes. Similarly, checking the time on your dashboard clock and assessing weather conditions may play roles in your overall driving strategy but are not directly relevant when preparing to change lanes.