When is it essential to perform a head check?

Performing a head check is crucial before making lane changes or turns because it helps ensure that there are no vehicles, bicycles, or pedestrians in your blind spots. While mirrors provide a view of the road and surrounding traffic, they cannot capture everything. A quick glance over your shoulder enables you to check areas that mirrors may miss, enhancing your awareness of the immediate environment. This practice is integral to safe driving, as it significantly reduces the risk of collisions caused by neglecting to see what is beside or behind you prior to changing your direction of travel.

Other contexts, such as being stationary or stopping at a stop sign, do not require a head check in the same way, as the primary focus during those maneuvers is often on traffic flow and immediate surroundings rather than the lateral blind zones.