When is it necessary to check your blind spots?

Checking your blind spots is crucial before changing lanes or merging because these actions involve moving into areas of the road that may not be visible in your mirrors. Blind spots are the zones immediately to the sides of your vehicle that mirrors cannot cover, making it essential to physically look over your shoulders to ensure there are no vehicles or obstacles in these areas. By doing so, you can avoid collisions or dangerous situations with other drivers or cyclists who may be in those zones, ensuring a safer transition into another lane.

While checking blind spots is still important in other scenarios, such as before making a left turn or entering an intersection, the most critical time is when you are changing lanes or merging, as those maneuvers require a full account of your surroundings to be completed safely. Stopping at a traffic light does not typically require checking blind spots since it is a stationary position rather than a movement that could lead into another lane or into traffic.