What should you do before passing another vehicle?

Before passing another vehicle, it is essential to give the proper turn signal to indicate your intention to change lanes. This not only alerts other drivers of your actions, ensuring safety, but it also adheres to the rules of the road. Signaling your intentions allows for better communication between drivers, reducing the risk of potential accidents. When you properly signal, it helps to create a predictable environment on the road where everyone follows the established norms, thereby contributing to safe driving practices.

The importance of signaling is highlighted by the fact that abruptly changing lanes without a signal can lead to confusion for other drivers and increase the likelihood of a collision. In contrast, speeding up to avoid blocking traffic is not a safe practice, as it may lead to unsafe passing maneuvers. Additionally, maintaining the same speed while attempting to pass can be unsafe and may not allow sufficient space to overtake another vehicle effectively.