Nova Scotia Driving Test Practice: Ace Your Driving Test 2025 - Free Driving Test Practice Questions and Study Guide

Looking over your shoulder to the side you are moving toward is essential for checking your blind spots before changing lanes. This method ensures that you are aware of any vehicles or obstacles that may not be captured in your mirrors. Mirrors can have limitations, such as not showing the area directly adjacent to your vehicle where other road users could be located. By turning your head and visually confirming the absence of other vehicles in your blind spot, you can make a safer decision about your lane change.

Using only mirrors might leave out crucial information that can only be gained through direct observation. Relying on hearing is not reliable as sound can be misleading, and simply signaling and changing lanes without checking your blind spots can pose a significant safety risk to yourself and other road users. Thus, looking over your shoulder is the most effective way to ensure safe lane changes.