Three of the most important times to check traffic behind you are before:

Backing, making a sharp turn, or crossing an intersection.
Stopping suddenly, making a wide turn, or passing through traffic lights.
Backing, changing lanes, or slowing down quickly.
Crossing intersections or following other vehicles.
Explanation

Before backing, it's important to check behind you, as visibility is limited and unexpected obstacles may be present. Changing lanes requires you to check for vehicles in your blind spots to avoid collisions. When you slow down quickly, it can catch drivers behind you off guard, so checking your mirrors first helps ensure that they have enough time to react. In all of these cases, looking behind helps you anticipate and avoid potential hazards.

Answer Statistics

🟢 This question is easy12% of our users get this question wrong.

Other questions in the same category: General Driving Rules
This question appears in the following DMV practice tests: