What should you do after parking before opening your door on the traffic side of your vehicle?

After parking your vehicle, it is crucial to look around for bicycles and other vehicles before opening your door on the traffic side. This is an essential safety precaution because it helps ensure that you do not inadvertently cause an accident or endanger yourself or others. Traffic can come from unexpected directions, and by checking for bicycles or other vehicles, you can avoid hitting something or someone as you exit your vehicle.

The other actions, such as checking mirrors or looking for pedestrians, while important in their own right, do not specifically address the immediate risk associated with opening your door in traffic conditions. Activating hazard lights is generally associated with signaling a temporary stop or a hazard but does not provide any safety advantage when you are opening the door in a potentially congested area. Thus, focusing on the immediate environment for bicycles and vehicles helps ensure a safer exit from your vehicle.