Before changing lanes or making a left turn, what must you always do?

When changing lanes or making a left turn, it is crucial to signal your intention. Signaling not only alerts other drivers and pedestrians of your planned movement but also helps facilitate smoother traffic flow and enhances safety on the road. It is an essential part of responsible driving etiquette.

Looking carefully for motorcycles is important, as they can be smaller and less visible than larger vehicles, but it does not encompass the full requirement of signaling intentions. Checking your rearview mirrors is just one part of being aware of your surroundings, and waiting for all traffic to stop could create additional hazards on the road, as it may not be practical or safe to expect all vehicles to come to a complete halt while you navigate a turn or lane change. Therefore, signaling your intention is the fundamental action that should be taken before altering your course of travel.