What is the proper action before changing lanes or exiting your vehicle into traffic?

The correct response emphasizes the importance of good driving habits, particularly when it comes to changing lanes or exiting your vehicle into traffic. Before making these maneuvers, drivers should always check their surroundings thoroughly. This means not only using your mirrors, including the rear-view mirror, but also turning your head to check blind spots. This comprehensive awareness ensures that you are not putting yourself or others at risk by misjudging distances or overlooking vehicles that are in close proximity.

Following this procedure is crucial for the safety of all road users. It prevents accidents and helps maintain a smooth flow of traffic. Developing good habits, such as regularly checking your surroundings, becomes second nature over time and significantly contributes to overall road safety.

The other options suggest ideas that can be potentially misleading. For instance, considering this practice as a bad driving habit undermines its critical role in safe driving. Describing it as unnecessary or not necessary detracts from the essential nature of situational awareness required in vehicle operations. Properly assessing the environment before lane changes or exits is vital and reinforces responsible driving behavior.