All courses › Car licence (class B) › Changing lanes and blind spots

Changing lanes and blind spots

blind spot seen in the mirror
Blue is what the driver sees in the side mirrors. Red is the blind spot: beside and slightly behind the car, between the mirror view and what the driver sees through the side window. Avoid staying there, or pass quickly.

Whoever changes lanes must give way to traffic already in that lane. Check the mirror, signal in good time and look over your shoulder before you move, because the blind spot does not show in the mirrors. When two lanes merge into one, that duty does not apply. Instead everyone adjusts their speed so cars merge alternately, like a zip.

Example

You are in the right lane and want to move left.

Mirror, indicator, a quick look over your left shoulder, then a smooth move across. If a car is in your blind spot, you wait.

The indicator gives you no right to change lanes. It only shows what you want to do.
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Part of Car licence (class B): Positioning, changing lanes and overtaking.