There are times when you and other drivers need to change lanes. You can minimize risk by learning the right way to do it.
What is the Safest Way to Change Lanes?
As with other safe driving procedures, changing lanes involves two major phases: advanced planning and making the change.
- Advance Planning
You may have a number of reasons for changing lanes. You may need to change lanes to make a turn, pass another vehicle, avoid an obstacle in your lane, park, or exit a road. Whatever the reason for changing lanes, you need to plan ahead in order to make the move safely. Planning includes knowing where you are now, where you want to go, and what the road and traffic conditions are between the two.
Check these items as you plan your move.
- Visibility
Note if there are vehicles in the path ahead and what they are doing. Use your mirrors to check for vehicles behind you. Scan ahead 20 to 30 seconds and to the sides and rear.
- Time
You may need to increase or decrease speed to change lanes.
- Space
Make sure there is a gap between vehicles that you can move into.
- Making the Change
When you’ve checked out your plan to change lanes and are ready to make the move, follow these steps.
- Check your mirrors again.
- Signal your intent to move right or left.
- Check over your shoulder nearest the lane you want to enter for vehicles in your blind spot.
- Adjust your speed up or down as necessary.
- Move only when you have the time and space to do so.
- Steer smoothly into the next lane. Push pull steering is best. After you’ve steered into the next lane, turn off your signals.