In driving, why do you have to make a lane change?

Question

im in drivers ed right now and i drove for the first time on wednesday and i only did one lane change, before an intersection, i didnt understand why my instructor told me to do so. can someone help me out here?

Answer 1

Maybe I'm not reading your question right, it it seems like you want to know why your instructor told you to change lanes before entering the interesection?

It never good the change lanes inside an intersection, because it's a high risk for an accident.  It is always wise to change lanes either before you enter an intersection, or after an intersection.

Answer 2

It's in the book, I do hope you've read it.

You cannot possibly go from point A to point B without changing lanes.  Your instructor was looking to see if you checked your mirrors, gave the appropriate signal and proceeded when it was safe to do so.  

You can change lanes before an intersection but not AT an intersection.

A good defensive driver expects the unexpected.  We expect that children are playing in a residential neighborhood and our eyes are constantly moving, from mirror to mirror to windshield.  We always leave ourselves and "OUT". What do I do if a child darts out  from between 2 cars after a ball?   Where do I go if the other car does NOT stop as they are supposed too?

Peace.

Answer 3

It all depends on your driving speed and your vehicle type. Each lane is 'designated' for a specific driving speed, i.e. you find the lorry drivers on the outside lane and the showyoffy sports car owners in the inside lane burning out at 100 mph.

Answer 4

Changing lanes makes you aware of the vehicles around you, in front, beside, and behind. It teaches you to use your mirrors appropriately and your signals and to give other vehicles enough warning before you make a move so not to cut another car off and cause an accident.

Answer 5

May be,to  keep you awake.By the way,a life is not a one lane journey.So,better take it seriously.

Answer 6

to see if you could.... you'll figure it out.... I hope...

Answer 7

If your serious!, when you start driving on your own you need to change lanes to go left or right turns and they just want you to be able to do it safely without getting into a wreck, all roads go different places remember its a test ! and if you are on a freeway and are in the No# 2 lane and you need to get off , then you need to know how to change lanes safely and get off the off ramp OK, take care and listen to everything the Instructor says and does. good luck on driving, p/s I voted on all your above answers and as you can see there are a lot of reasons why and they all (most) are giving you different reasons and they are valid reason the ones I voted  for most are real life situations and take this drive stuff seriously Your Life and The Life Of Others will depend on your outcome I know you ll be fine take care Great Question

Answer 8

In Kentucky, we have these things called 'center turn lanes' strange critters that we did not have way up in Illinois where I had my drivers ed training (they don't offer training to kids here, either, so it is driver beware).

If you want to turn left and you are in the far right hand lane, you must move over 2 lanes to be able to turn!

Your instructor may have seen something up ahead that you did not see, a car turning, or a line of cars turning, and was just keeping you moving on the road.

Ask him, he may remember why he had you do that.

I have a question that you can ask him for me. 27 years ago, when I learned how to drive, we were told that it is not allowed to make lane changes in the MIDDLE of an intersection.

I see the wisdom of that, and I do not do it, but I see many drivers doing it.

Answer 9

That's what driver's ed people do, they teach you how to drive and changing lanes is part of driving.

Answer 10

Presumably you were in the right hand lane which is for turning right at an intersection and you were going straight on. Or you were in the center and had to move to the left-most lane to turn left.

Answer 11

You might have to make a lane change:

- to pass a slower vehicle

- to let a faster (or emergency) vehicle pass you

- to get around a parked car, animal, road hazard (pothole)

- to prepare for a turn from the other lane

Answer 12

This is all on multilane streets & roads as obviously you change lanes to pass cars, even on 2 lane roads.

At an intersection, you change lanes to get in the proper lane for turning - right lane for a right turn and left lane for a left turn - illegal to turn from other lanes unless specifically permitted by signs which usually also designate far lanes as turn only.  You also change lanes to avoid any back up of cars waiting to turn, especially left turns which have to yield to oncoming traffic.

In ordinary driving you change lanes to keep from following too closely or avoid a car that is slowing down or just slow.  In defensive driving (and in your basic course) you should be taught that a lane choice that reduces your risk of a rear end or any kind of accident is a better one.  If someone is tailgating you, the first step is to slow slightly to open space in front of you so you have more time to stop slowly and don't have to slam on the brakes, thus being hit from behind, but the second step is to change lanes to avoid the idiot.

  Some drivers change lanes constantly, speed up until they are tailgating the car in that lane, then cut abruptly to a new lane to gain a few yards on the general flow of traffic, usually without signalling.  Dangerous, stupid, irritating and to be avoided.

Answer 13

to go around someone or to get in the faster lane.

hope this helps!

Answer 14

You make a lane change when you're driving in lane and you want to move to another lane.  i.e.  Suppose you're on a three lane freeway on the far left hand lane.  Your exit is coming up in the next mile.  You make a lane change from the far left to the center lane, and from the center lane to the right lane, in time to make your exit.  You have to signal every time you make a lane change.