A 3-minute lesson from the Oregon course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Good drivers see trouble early. Scanning far ahead and to the sides lets you slow smoothly instead of swerving at the last second. Curves and lane changes are where a missed glance hurts most, so each has its own routine.
Know the rule
Scan ahead for trouble spots as far as you can see, so you avoid last-minute moves.
Taking in the entire scene, including the sides of the road, to spot pedestrians, hazards, vehicles that may enter your path, and signs routing you elsewhere.
You want to move into the right lane. Signal, check the rearview and right mirror, then glance over your right shoulder. A car sitting in your blind spot shows up only in that glance — wait for it to clear.
Check your understanding
Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
Before changing lanes to the right, which way should you glance over your shoulder?
Over your left shoulder
Over your right shoulder
No glance is needed if your mirrors are clear
Only a glance at the rearview mirror
Answer: Over your right shoulder
Glance over your right shoulder when moving right (left shoulder when moving left) to check for vehicles your mirrors miss.
