What is required before changing lanes safely?

Before changing lanes safely, it is essential to process surrounding information. This involves being aware of other vehicles, pedestrians, and potential obstacles in the vicinity. It requires a comprehensive awareness of the traffic conditions around you, including checking blind spots, assessing the speed and position of nearby vehicles, and understanding the flow of traffic.

While checking mirrors is a vital part of the lane change process, simply relying on mirrors does not provide a full picture of the surroundings, as blind spots can hide other vehicles. Accelerating quickly is not a safe or appropriate action when changing lanes; it can lead to dangerous situations or collisions. Additionally, while using turn signals is crucial for communicating your intentions to other drivers, it alone does not ensure that the lane change can be done safely. Therefore, processing all surrounding information is the most critical step in executing a safe lane change.