Safe Lane Changing in Driving

Importance of Lane Changing

• Necessary for passing parked cars or overtaking.
• Requires good judgment of traffic speed and position.
• More challenging in heavy traffic or unfamiliar areas.

MSM Routine

• MSM stands for: Mirror, Signal, Maneuver.
• Following this routine helps ensure safety.

Steps of MSM Routine:

1. Mirror:

   • Check center and right mirrors for traffic.
   • Look long enough to gauge speed and position of nearby vehicles.
   • Avoid quick glances if traffic is present.

2. Signal:

   • Use indicators to inform other drivers of your intention.
   • Indicate for a few seconds before changing lanes to give others time to react.
   • Always signal, even if you think there are no nearby vehicles (consider blind spots).

3. Maneuver:

   • Smoothly steer into the new lane (avoid swerving).
   • Cancel indicator manually after the maneuver if it doesn’t cancel automatically.

Overtaking on Dual Carriageways

• Check if overtaking is necessary, especially near planned exits.
• Spot a safe gap, check mirrors, signal, and smoothly steer into the overtaking lane.
• Increase speed to pass the slower vehicle.
• Signal left and return to the original lane after overtaking.

Roundabouts

• When approaching a roundabout, check safety to move to the outer lane before exiting.
• Follow the MSM routine to confirm the outer lane is clear.
• If a vehicle is alongside, stay in your lane until it is safe to change.

General Tips for Lane Changes

• Anticipate lane changes early to allow ample time.
• Changing lanes quickly or without proper observation is dangerous.
• If a safe lane change isn't possible, continue on the current path; a short detour is acceptable.

Summary of Safe Lane Changing

• Check mirrors for nearby vehicles.
• Perform shoulder checks for blind spots.
• Signal intentions clearly.
• Change lanes smoothly and confidently.