What should you do before changing lanes on a motorcycle?

Before changing lanes on a motorcycle, it is crucial to check mirrors and blind spots for other vehicles. This action ensures that you are aware of your surroundings and can identify any vehicles or obstacles that may not be visible in your mirrors. Motorcycles are narrower than cars, and thus they can easily be in areas where drivers might not see them. Checking blind spots is particularly important because vehicles can be in your lane or have the potential to merge into it without being seen in your mirrors. This precaution significantly reduces the risk of collisions and enhances safety while riding.

Accelerating quickly before changing lanes may increase the chance of losing control or missing a critical look at other vehicles. Signaling only when a car is behind you fails to account for other surrounding traffic that could be impacted by your lane change. Additionally, only looking to your right does not provide a comprehensive view of the road, as you also need to be aware of vehicles to your left and directly behind you. Therefore, checking mirrors and blind spots is the comprehensive approach needed for safe lane changing on a motorcycle.