What should a driver do first when attempting to change lanes or make a U-turn?

When changing lanes or making a U-turn, the first step is to ensure safety by checking your surroundings. This involves looking at your mirrors and checking your blind spots to assess the traffic conditions and ensure there are no obstacles or vehicles that would make the maneuver unsafe.

Once the driver has confirmed that it is safe to proceed, signaling the intention to change lanes or make a U-turn is the next important step. The signal alerts other road users of your intention, allowing them to react accordingly, which contributes to overall road safety.

This order of operations—checking safety first, and then signaling—helps to prevent accidents and ensures that the driver is making a well-informed decision based on the current traffic situation.