What can failing to check for traffic before changing lanes lead to?

Answer: D — Both a bad driving habit and a cause of accidents.

Not checking for traffic before changing lanes can lead to significant safety hazards on the road. One primary consequence is that it greatly increases the risk of causing a traffic accident. When drivers fail to look for any vehicles in adjacent lanes, they may attempt to change lanes into the path of other vehicles, leading to collisions. Therefore, this action is often cited as a common factor in many traffic accidents. Additionally, this behavior can develop into a bad driving habit. If a driver consistently neglects to check for traffic before changing lanes, they normalize this risky behavior, which can have serious repercussions over time. By reinforcing a lack of due diligence, it not only places their safety at risk but also that of others on the road. Thus, failing to check for traffic contributes not only to potentially dangerous situations but can also be indicative of overall poor driving practices, making both aspects valid outcomes of such negligence.