When you are about to pass another vehicle, what should you check first?

When preparing to pass another vehicle, checking your blind spot first is crucial for ensuring safety on the road. The blind spot is the area around your vehicle that cannot be seen in the mirrors. This makes it a critical space to check before changing lanes or moving into a passing position. If there is another vehicle in your blind spot, attempting to pass could lead to a dangerous situation, such as a collision.

Checking mirrors is also important, but mirrors do not capture every aspect of your surroundings, particularly in areas that are directly adjacent to and behind your vehicle. Assessing your speed is essential, especially to ensure you can complete the pass safely without exceeding speed limits, but it comes after ensuring that the space is clear. Observing the vehicle ahead is relevant to understanding your current driving situation and the flow of traffic, but it does not address the potential hazards of vehicles that may be in your blind spot. Hence, focusing on the blind spot for first consideration ensures a safer passage when maneuvering around other vehicles.