Practice question

Which of the following actions should you take when you are passing a car?

  1. Look over your shoulder before changing lanes
  2. Look in your blind spot after clearing the vehicle
  3. Get back into your lane immediately after passing
  4. Check mirrors before merging

Answer: B — Look in your blind spot after clearing the vehicle

When passing a car, it is crucial to ensure that you have safely cleared the vehicle you just passed before re-entering your lane. This is where looking in your blind spot after clearing the vehicle becomes important. Your blind spot is the area around your vehicle that cannot be directly seen in your mirrors. Checking this area confirms that it is safe to move back into the lane, thereby preventing potential collisions with vehicles that may be in your blind spot. While looking over your shoulder and checking mirrors are important actions that contribute to safe lane changes, the specific act of checking the blind spot after passing ensures that you’re fully aware of your surroundings, especially since vehicles can sometimes be positioned in places that are not visible in mirrors. Therefore, the action of looking in your blind spot after you have cleared the vehicle provides an additional layer of safety before transitioning back into your lane.

Practice more: Virginia Driver Education and Traffic Safety (VADETS) Practice Test →