Evaluate the following statement: When you change lanes, make U-turns, or back up, you do not have to confirm safety as long as you signal your intention.

Evaluate the following statement: When you change lanes, make U-turns, or back up, you do not have to confirm safety as long as you signal your intention.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Cannot be determined
• D. Depends on circumstances

Answer: (B)

Signaling is required, but it does not replace checking for safety. Before changing lanes, making a U-turn, or backing up, you must actively confirm that it’s safe to do so. When changing lanes, after signaling you should check your mirrors and then look over your shoulder to verify there’s a clear gap in the target lane and no one in your blind spot. Even with a turn signal, you can’t rely on others noticing you or enough space appearing spontaneously, so you verify first and then proceed. For a U-turn, signaling alerts others of your intent, but you still need to assess oncoming traffic, the distance to cross traffic, and whether a U-turn is permitted where you are. If there isn’t a safe, legal opening, you wait or choose a different maneuver. Backing up requires looking behind you and around you, not just watching the mirrors. Look over your shoulder and use all available eyes to track pedestrians, cyclists, and other vehicles as you move slowly. So the statement is false: signaling alone does not guarantee safety. You must confirm it’s safe before every lane change, U-turn, or backup.

Signaling is required, but it does not replace checking for safety. Before changing lanes, making a U-turn, or backing up, you must actively confirm that it’s safe to do so.

When changing lanes, after signaling you should check your mirrors and then look over your shoulder to verify there’s a clear gap in the target lane and no one in your blind spot. Even with a turn signal, you can’t rely on others noticing you or enough space appearing spontaneously, so you verify first and then proceed.

For a U-turn, signaling alerts others of your intent, but you still need to assess oncoming traffic, the distance to cross traffic, and whether a U-turn is permitted where you are. If there isn’t a safe, legal opening, you wait or choose a different maneuver.

Backing up requires looking behind you and around you, not just watching the mirrors. Look over your shoulder and use all available eyes to track pedestrians, cyclists, and other vehicles as you move slowly.

So the statement is false: signaling alone does not guarantee safety. You must confirm it’s safe before every lane change, U-turn, or backup.