Always check your mirrors before changing lanes, merging, or turning.

Here’s the thing about driving: your mirrors are more than decorative glass. They’re your early warning system, your second set of eyes, your everyday sanity check as you navigate a world that never stops moving. If you want to stay out of trouble, you learn a simple habit, a quick mental checklist you can repeat like a friendly motto: check your mirrors before you change lanes, before you merge, or before you make a turn. That tiny moment—just a glance in the rearview and side mirrors—can pretty much make the difference between a smooth lane switch and a fender-bender.

The rule, plain and practical

The correct answer to the classic question—When should you check your mirrors?—is B: before changing lanes, merging, or making a turn. It’s not the flashiest rule, but it’s incredibly powerful in real life. Why? Because that moment of looking back gives you a real-time read on what’s happening behind and beside you. It helps you spot vehicles that might be in your blind spots, pedestrians who are about to cross, or bikes sneaking up in a way that’s easy to miss in a hurry. It also buys you a little time to adjust speed, signal appropriately, or wait for a safer moment to execute your maneuver.

Let me explain with a quick mental image. You’re cruising along a busy city street. A car is riding your tail, another vehicle is creeping into your side, and a cyclist appears from the shoulder. If you don’t check your mirrors before you signal and drift into the lane, you might misjudge the space you have or, worse, surprise someone who’s already sensitive to vehicle movements. A simple mirror check doesn’t just protect you; it protects everyone around you.

What to look for in those mirror checks

1. Rearview mirror: The rearview is your first pass at what’s behind you. It helps you gauge how fast the car behind is moving, whether there’s a safe gap to maneuver, and if traffic behind you is changing tempo. If you’re tailgated, you’ll know to ease off or give a little extra space before changing lanes.

2. Side mirrors: The side mirrors are your window to the lane next to you. They reveal vehicles in the adjacent lane, approaching from behind, and sometimes even motorcycles tucked closer than you expect. Properly adjusted side mirrors are essential here; you should see a bit of your own car in the mirror so you don’t develop a false sense of how much space exists.

3. Blind spots: Mirrors help, but they don’t do all the work. A quick glance over your shoulder—head turn—lets you confirm there’s truly no one hiding in your blind spots. This is the moment when you catch a car that a mirror alone might miss.

Consistency beats intensity

Some drivers chase perfection in a single, dramatic mirror check. That’s not the point. The aim is consistent, small checks that become habits. A glance before each lane change, merge, or turn should be so automatic you barely think about it. You’re not “searching for trouble”—you’re building awareness. It’s a proactive, protective routine.

A few practical tips to turn this into a steady habit

• Build it into your signal-and-merge routine. If you’re about to move, first check your mirrors, then signal, then make your move only when it’s safe. That order helps you avoid surprises and keeps you in control.

• Do a quick scan, not a full-blown inspection. You don’t need to stare into the mirrors for ten seconds. A short, deliberate check—one quick glance in the rearview, then in the side mirrors—often does the job. If you sense something off, take a longer look, adjust your speed, and wait for the right moment.

• Adjust your mirrors properly. This is the quiet engineer in you talking. If your mirrors aren’t set correctly, you’ll miss things you shouldn’t miss. Make sure you don’t end up with a huge blind spot on one side or a mirror that makes the adjacent lane look empty when it isn’t.

• Practice in low-stress settings first. Find a quiet street or a spacious lot to practice the habit. It’s the same as learning a new dance move: you want the steps smooth before you try them in the middle of rush hour.

• Add a gentle daily reminder. It can be as simple as a note on your dashboard or a mental cue like “mirror check, then move.” The more you associate a specific moment with the action, the more automatic it becomes.

Where this habit shows up in real life

Highway merges are a perfect showcase for this habit. You’re approaching a ramp, cars in both lanes want to slide into the same space. A mirror check before you accelerate into that merging lane isn’t just smart—it’s essential. You’ll be able to judge how much room you have, whether you need to speed up slightly, or whether you should ease off to let someone else slip in first.

City driving is another arena where this habit shines. You’re navigating lanes that seem to shift with bus doors, cyclists weaving, and pedestrians stepping out from between parked cars. A routine glance in your mirrors before every lane shift or turn helps you spot someone who’s about to cross or a car that’s about to swing into your path.

On busy intersections, you’ll often need to turn and then merge with traffic. The moment you’re choosing your lane change to another street, a quick mirror check keeps you out of a blind-spot collision with a turning car or a vehicle that isn’t quite in your line of sight yet.

The trap of “it’s not necessary right now”

There’s a strange seduction in thinking you only need to check mirrors when you feel it’s necessary. The reality is a lot of danger hides in the spaces you can’t see without a quick glance. When you skip the habit at moments you think are “not necessary,” you’re inviting surprises: a quick lane change where another vehicle thought you weren’t moving, or a cyclist who’s riding along the shoulder and suddenly shifts into your lane.

Think of it like checking your weather app before you step outside. You don’t wait for a storm to drop on your head to realize you should have grabbed a raincoat. You check ahead of time, you adjust, and you stay prepared. Driving works the same way.

Common mistakes worth sidestepping

• Relying only on the rearview mirror. It can give a sense of what’s behind, but not what’s alongside. Use both rearview and side mirrors in tandem.

• Not turning your head to check blind spots. Mirrors are great, but a quick shoulder glance confirms the unseen.

• Overlooking pedestrians and cyclists who may be in a vulnerable position. People don’t always use signals the way cars do; mirrors help you stay aware of those unpredictable moves.

• Grinding through a lane change because you didn’t wait for a safe gap. Patience is a driver’s best friend—especially in heavy traffic or school zones.

• Forgetting to recalibrate when conditions change. Nighttime driving, rain, or snow can alter what you can see in the mirrors. Slow down and re-check more often in adverse conditions.

A small ritual that pays off big time

Let me offer a short, friendly takeaway: if you make it a habit to check your mirrors before you change lanes, merge, or turn, you’re building a shield around you and everyone else on the road. It’s not a dramatic gesture; it’s a steady, practical one. And while it might feel like a tiny thing, in the grand scheme of safe driving, it’s a big deal.

If you’re connected with AMA resources or local driver education content, you’ll notice the same emphasis—mirror checks are part of the everyday toolkit that helps you stay aware and in control. That consistency is what separates confident drivers from the rest. It’s not about memorizing a rule for a test; it’s about becoming the driver who sees what’s coming and responds calmly, rather than reacting in a hurry.

A few closing reflections to keep in mind

• Your mirrors are your safety cushion. Use them before you act.

• Adjust your mirrors so you can see the lanes clearly without awkward head cranking.

• Pair mirror checks with your signaling; time your maneuvers to give others space.

• Stay curious about what you can’t see in the mirrors and verify with a shoulder check when in doubt.

• Practice might not be glamorous, but it builds the kind of intuitive feel that makes you a smoother, safer driver.

In the end, driving is a balance of awareness, judgment, and control. The mirror check before changing lanes, merging, or turning is a simple, repeatable action that anchors that balance. It’s not about fear or overcaution; it’s about confidence—knowing you’ve looked, assessed, and chosen the safest path forward.

If you’re new to the road, or you’re brushing up after a long break, this little habit is a friendly buddy you’ll appreciate every time you sit behind the wheel. And when you see how often it pays off—when a potential blind-spot incident is avoided or a lane merge goes cleanly—you’ll feel a small sense of relief, like the traffic lights finally turning green after a tense wait.

So next time you’re driving and you need to switch lanes, merge, or make a turn, remember this: quick, deliberate checks in your rearview and side mirrors first. That moment of clarity is all you need to keep yourself and others safe as you ride along Alberta’s streets and highways. Safe travels.