When checking your blind spots, what is the best action to take?

Turning your head to look over your shoulder is the best action to take when checking your blind spots. This method provides the most comprehensive view of the area around your vehicle that mirrors may not cover effectively. Blind spots are the zones that are not visible in your mirrors, and physically looking over your shoulder allows you to spot any vehicles or obstacles that may be present in those areas.

Using mirrors alone may lead to missing critical information because mirrors can have blind spots of their own. While checking your rearview mirror is important for monitoring traffic coming from behind, it does not help in identifying vehicles or cyclists that may be positioned directly next to or behind you, especially in the blind spots. Signaling before turning is an essential part of safe driving, but it does not address the need to check blind spots prior to making a maneuver. Therefore, looking over your shoulder is paramount for vehicle safety and situational awareness on the road.