To avoid collisions with vehicles in your blind spots, you should:
- Quickly turn your head to see if your blind spot is clear before changing lanes. ✓
- Adjust your rearview mirrors every few minutes.
- Honk your horn right before turning or changing lanes.
- None of the above.
Answer: A. Quickly turn your head to see if your blind spot is clear before changing lanes.
Quickly turning your head to check that your blind spot is clear before changing lanes is the right move.
Why this is the answer
The manual warns that even correctly adjusted mirrors leave blind spots on both sides, so a vehicle can sit there and not appear in your mirrors. It says never depend on mirrors when preparing to change lanes and to look quickly over your shoulder before changing lanes or passing. The bicyclist section makes the same point: check blind spots and turn your head, not just rely on mirrors, before turning, parking, opening a door or leaving a curb. A quick head check lets you see what the mirrors miss.
Why the other answers are wrong
- B. Adjust your rearview mirrors every few minutes. — The manual does not say to adjust mirrors every few minutes; it says even correctly adjusted mirrors still leave blind spots, so adjusting them cannot clear those spots.
- C. Honk your horn right before turning or changing lanes. — The passages do not tell you to honk before a turn or lane change, and a horn does not show whether a vehicle is hidden in your blind spot.
- D. None of the above. — This is wrong because the manual does instruct a quick head turn to check the blind spot before changing lanes.
Remember it
Mirrors show most of the picture, but your eyes over the shoulder show the blind spot.