Chapter 32
Lane change
Commentary not drafted yet. You’re reading the official handbook text on its own for this chapter — the RoadRede decode layer hasn’t been written for it yet.
Now reading—Overview
Official MTO Handbook text
Overview
This driving task begins as you look for a space to change lanes and ends when you have completed the lane change. Remember to follow these actions:
Official MTO Handbook text
Traffic check
While waiting to change lanes safely, look all around you. Divide your attention between watching in front, watching the mirrors, and checking your blind spot. If there is another lane beside the one you are moving into, check traffic in that lane to avoid colliding with a vehicle moving into the lane at the same time as you.
Official MTO Handbook text
Signal
Turn on your signal when there is enough space for you to change lanes. After signalling, check your blind spot one more time before starting to move into the other lane. Your signal should be on soon enough to give traffic behind you time to react to the signal. If traffic in the lane you are moving into is heavy, you may turn on your signal before there is enough space to change lanes. This will let traffic behind you know that you are looking for a space to change lanes.
Official MTO Handbook text
Space
Keep at least a two- to three-second distance behind the vehicle in front of you. If there is another lane beside the one you are moving into, be careful not to move in beside another vehicle or into the blind spot of another vehicle.
Official MTO Handbook text
Change lanes
Change lanes with a smooth, gradual movement into the new lane. Drive in the tire track that gives you the most space between vehicles in the lanes beside you.
Official MTO Handbook text
Cancel signal
Turn off your signal as soon as you have changed lanes.
Diagram showing a test for how to safely change lanes on the highway
Diagram showing a test for how to safely change lanes on the highway
Diagram not yet hosted here — the official figure is on ontario.ca.
View this figure on ontario.ca →© King’s Printer for Ontario — Official MTO Motorcycle Handbook. View this chapter on ontario.ca