When is it essential to check your mirrors while driving?

Checking your mirrors regularly, particularly before changing lanes, is essential for maintaining safety on the road. This practice allows you to be aware of your surroundings, including the presence of other vehicles, pedestrians, and any potential hazards. By regularly scanning your mirrors, you can assess the traffic conditions behind and beside you, which is crucial for making safe driving decisions.

Before changing lanes, checking mirrors helps ensure that you do not collide with vehicles in adjacent lanes and allows you to confirm that the lane is clear. This habit is part of defensive driving, as it enables you to anticipate the actions of other drivers and stay aware of any changes occurring in traffic.

While checking mirrors before buying a new car, merging onto highways, or during night driving might seem relevant, they do not capture the ongoing need for vigilance that mirror checks involve throughout typical driving, especially when it comes to making critical maneuvers like lane changes.