What should you do before making a turn?

Before making a turn, using your signal is essential because it communicates your intention to other drivers and pedestrians around you. This action helps promote safety on the road by providing clear indications of your movement, allowing others to react appropriately. Signaling not only alerts those who may be affected by your turn but also ensures compliance with traffic laws.

While checking your mirrors is an important step in overall safe driving, and shifting gears may be necessary in certain situations, they do not serve the primary purpose of alerting others to your intent. Using your horn is generally reserved for situations where you need to warn another driver of immediate danger and is not a standard practice for indicating a turn. Thus, signaling is the most direct and critical action to take before turning.