How should you signal before changing lanes or merging?

• A. Use your turn signal well before the maneuver, and check mirrors and blind spots
• B. Signal only after beginning the maneuver
• C. Not required
• D. Use hand signals only

Answer: (A)

Signal early and check mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes or merging. Using your turn signal well before the maneuver communicates your intent to other drivers, giving them time to adjust their speed or position. At the same time, a quick check of your mirrors and a shoulder or head check ensures there isn’t a vehicle in your blind spot and that the lane you want to enter is clear. This combination of signaling and scanning is what makes lane changes and merges predictable and safer for everyone on the road.

Signaling only after you’ve begun the maneuver reduces the warning time for others, increasing the risk of a surprise move. Feeling that signaling isn’t required is unsafe because it deprives others of important information. Relying on hand signals alone isn’t reliable in modern traffic and can be hard to see, especially in poor weather or at night, so using the vehicle’s turn signals is the proper practice.