Before you leave a parking space that is parallel to the curb, you should:
- Sound your horn.
- Turn on your four-way flashers.
- Look for traffic by turning your head. ✓
- Look for traffic by using only your inside rearview mirror.
Answer: C. Look for traffic by turning your head.
Before you leave a parallel parking space, look for traffic by turning your head.
Why this is the answer
The New York manual's pull-out steps have you turn your head over your right shoulder and check through the rear window, use the interior mirror, signal, check the side mirrors, then turn your head over your left shoulder before moving slowly into traffic. A second chapter adds that you should not depend only on mirrors and should turn your head to look for bicyclists, skaters, and scooter operators near or approaching you. Turning your head is how you check those blind spots before pulling out.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A. Sound your horn. — The manual's pull-out steps call for checking and signaling, not sounding the horn, so honking is not the required action.
- B. Turn on your four-way flashers. — Four-way flashers are not part of the manual's procedure for leaving a parallel space; you signal your intention to move into traffic instead.
- D. Look for traffic by using only your inside rearview mirror. — Relying only on the inside rearview mirror misses blind spots the manual warns about; it says not to depend only on mirrors and to turn your head.
Remember it
Head check beats mirror check: swivel and look before you pull out.