What should you do before merging lanes?

Before merging lanes, the best practice is to check blind spots and signal your intention. This approach ensures that you are fully aware of your surroundings, including any vehicles that may be in your blind spots, which are often not visible through your mirrors. By checking these areas before changing lanes, you can make a safer decision about when to merge.

Additionally, signaling your intention alerts other drivers to your planned action, allowing them to adjust their speed or position as needed to accommodate your maneuver. This enhances safety for all road users and helps prevent accidents, as it fosters a predictable environment on the road where everyone is informed about each other's movements.

Simply speeding up without ensuring it is safe or merging without signaling can create dangerous situations and increase the risk of collisions. Therefore, the protocol of checking blind spots and signaling is fundamental to safe lane changes.