What should you do before changing lanes on a motorcycle?

Before changing lanes on a motorcycle, it is crucial to turn your head and look to the side for other vehicles. This action ensures that you have a clear view of any vehicles or obstacles in your blind spot that are not reflected in your mirrors. Motorcycles have smaller profiles compared to cars, and their narrow width can make it difficult to see surrounding traffic through mirrors alone.

By physically turning your head, you enhance your awareness of the environment around you, which is vital for safe lane changes. This is especially important in busy traffic situations where other vehicles may be moving into your intended lane or where there could be cyclists or pedestrians nearby. Taking this extra precaution greatly reduces the risk of a collision when switching lanes.

While signaling your intention to change lanes is also important, and checking your mirrors is part of the process, relying solely on mirrors or signaling without looking to the side does not provide the complete picture needed for safe lane changes. Accelerating quickly to change lanes may lead to unsafe maneuvers and should generally be avoided.