What is the recommended practice for monitoring other vehicles when changing lanes?

Using mirrors regularly during the lane change is crucial for ensuring safety on the road. This practice allows drivers to maintain awareness of their surroundings, including the position and movement of vehicles behind and beside them. By checking mirrors, drivers can spot vehicles that may be in their blind spots and assess the distance and speed of other vehicles, which is vital for making informed decisions when completing a lane change.

Additional reasons why this practice is emphasized include the dynamic nature of traffic; vehicles may not remain static, and their speeds can change as drivers respond to varying conditions on the road. Continuous checking of mirrors helps drivers adapt to these changes to avoid potential collisions.

In contrast, solely checking blind spots or looking at vehicles directly beside the bus would not account for vehicles that may be approaching from behind or other angles. Additionally, waiting until after completing the lane change to check mirrors would prevent drivers from detecting potential hazards during the maneuver itself, significantly increasing the risk of accidents. Therefore, consistently using mirrors throughout the lane change process promotes safer driving practices.